Latest news with #SixNationsRugby
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Hyett relishing chance to show what England can do
The two sides face off against one another in the opening round of fixtures of the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, South Wales. It is the second edition of the U20 tournament, which debuted in Italy last year, when England won two of their three matches. Twenty-year-old centre Hyett, who tasted Premiership Women's Rugby glory with Gloucester Hartpury earlier this year, is keen for England to focus on their own game and let everything else take care of itself. 'I'm excited for [the Scotland game] and I think it'll be a really good battle,' said Worcester native Hyett. 'We know they're going to be physical and turn up on the day, but it's just about playing our game and doing what we're good at. 'It's a really good chance for this U20 group to showcase what they can do. We've been working really hard this past six or seven months and it's exciting to show what we're about on the pitch.' Following on from the 2024 Women's Summer Series, 14 players across the six countries went on to achieve senior honours during the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations, including England's Lilli Ives Campion. And Hyett, who took up rugby aged four after growing up with three brothers who all played the sport, highlighted the importance of the Women's Summer Series for giving players the opportunity to stand out and to use it as a springboard to break into the senior team. 'In the top bracket of the older year of U20s, it's a good step and good time to prepare yourself for senior rugby, whether that's for PWR or the Red Roses. It's everyone's dream to play for the Red Roses,' she added. 'Senior coaches are watching this, and we've already seen players like Millie David, Sarah Parry and Lilli too kick on, so it's great that progression is there.' With women's rugby on an upward trajectory, the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series is a big chance for stars of the future to gain vital international experience, graduate along the development pathway, while also inspiring a new generation of rugby fans. Spread across three dates during July, England will also face Italy on 11 July before rounding off their campaign against France six days later. Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, added: 'The Women's Summer Series is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women's game.'
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Elena Errichiello relishing chance to repeat U20 Six Nations success
The 22-year-old is returning for the second edition of the U20 tournament, which debuted in her native Italy, and after finishing with a 100% record after wins over Ireland, Scotland and Wales 12 months ago, Errichiello is relishing the challenge of repeating the feat. Standing in Italy's way during the opening round of 2025 U20 Six Nations Women's Summer Series fixtures is France, another side who also claimed three wins last year, at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, South Wales. And No. 8 Errichiello is expecting her side's opponents to be a tough test. 'We are so excited [to play France] but also, we feel a bit of pressure on us because we want to do well and better than last year,' she said. 'We won three of our three games, and we hope to do the same this year.' Errichiello plays domestically for Unione Rugby Capitolina in Rome, having started playing the sport aged 10, and explained there's a good feeling around the camp ahead of their opening clash. 'We are so excited, because we trained a lot to get here,' she continued. 'Last year we did good things, and I hope we can build on those. 'In the time we have been together, we have created a good team and we are ready to go.' Following on from the 2024 U20 Six Nations Women's Summer Series, 14 players across the six countries went on to achieve senior honours during the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations, including Italy's Alia Antonietta Bitonci, with Errichiello, despite not winning a cap, also being called up to the senior side during the 2024 WXV. And Errichiello highlighted the importance of the tournament for giving players the opportunity to stand out and to use it as a springboard to break into the senior team. 'It's a great opportunity, with me, I went to train with the major team thanks to the Summer Series, so it's a really good chance for us,' she added. 'It is important for us because it is a good opportunity, and it is a step to get to the major team. It's a better level and we want to get there.' With women's rugby on an upward trajectory, the Summer Series is a big chance for stars of the future to gain vital international experience, graduate along the development pathway, while also inspiring a new generation of rugby fans. Spread across three dates during July, Italy will also face England on 11 July before rounding off their campaign against Wales six days later. Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, added: 'The Women's Summer Series is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women's game.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Gunderson: Scotland 'ready for battle' against England
The two sides face off against one another in the opening round of fixtures of the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly. It is the second edition of the U20 tournament, which debuted in Italy, and after suffering three defeats out of three 12 months ago, the class of 2025 only have eyes for success in Wales this time around. And Gunderson, who is part of a leadership group of four and will captain her country against England, knows her team is ready for the challenge ahead. 'Every single one of the girls is up for the battle that we're going to be given, which will be really good,' the 21-year-old back rower said. 'We will fight for it, we're ready to go out there and show what we can do and what we're worth.' Gunderson plays domestically for Corstorphine Cougars/Edinburgh Rugby, having started playing the sport aged four due to her father being a coach at Forrester Rugby Club, and explained there's a good feeling around the camp ahead of their opening clash. 'We're really excited, we've had such a big build-up this year which has been really nice,' she continued. 'Going from Italy last year to come to [Wales] this year, it's good vibes. We've had really good vibes in the squad, and it's been really nice to be around.' Following on from the 2024 Women's Summer Series, 14 players across the six countries went on to achieve senior honours during the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations, including Scotland's Molly Poolman. And Gunderson highlighted the importance of the competition for giving players the opportunity to standout and to use it as a springboard to break into the senior team. 'It's a massive incentive for the girls,' she added. 'It's a great incentive to kick-off the World Cup too; that we can play before it and show what we can do. 'It's massively important this tournament exists and is shown on the platforms that they've got. We can show that women's rugby is growing and going from strength to strength.' With women's rugby on an upward trajectory, the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series is a big chance for stars of the future to gain vital international experience, graduate along the development pathway, while also inspiring a new generation of rugby fans. Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, said: 'The Women's Summer Series is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women's game.' Spread across three dates during July, Scotland will also face Wales on 11 July before rounding off their campaign against Ireland six days later.
Powys County Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Gunderson: Scotland 'ready for battle' against England
There's always an edge when Scotland take on England and one of the Scottish U20 women's captains Merryn Gunderson has said her side is ready for the battle when they take on their Red Rose counterparts on Saturday. The two sides face off against one another in the opening round of fixtures of the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly. It is the second edition of the U20 tournament, which debuted in Italy, and after suffering three defeats out of three 12 months ago, the class of 2025 only have eyes for success in Wales this time around. And Gunderson, who is part of a leadership group of four and will captain her country against England, knows her team is ready for the challenge ahead. 'Every single one of the girls is up for the battle that we're going to be given, which will be really good,' the 21-year-old back rower said. 'We will fight for it, we're ready to go out there and show what we can do and what we're worth.' Gunderson plays domestically for Corstorphine Cougars/Edinburgh Rugby, having started playing the sport aged four due to her father being a coach at Forrester Rugby Club, and explained there's a good feeling around the camp ahead of their opening clash. 'We're really excited, we've had such a big build-up this year which has been really nice,' she continued. 'Going from Italy last year to come to [Wales] this year, it's good vibes. We've had really good vibes in the squad, and it's been really nice to be around.' Following on from the 2024 Women's Summer Series, 14 players across the six countries went on to achieve senior honours during the 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations, including Scotland's Molly Poolman. And Gunderson highlighted the importance of the competition for giving players the opportunity to standout and to use it as a springboard to break into the senior team. 'It's a massive incentive for the girls,' she added. 'It's a great incentive to kick-off the World Cup too; that we can play before it and show what we can do. 'It's massively important this tournament exists and is shown on the platforms that they've got. We can show that women's rugby is growing and going from strength to strength.' With women's rugby on an upward trajectory, the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series is a big chance for stars of the future to gain vital international experience, graduate along the development pathway, while also inspiring a new generation of rugby fans. Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, said: 'The Women's Summer Series is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women's game.' Spread across three dates during July, Scotland will also face Wales on 11 July before rounding off their campaign against Ireland six days later.
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Ireland captain Neill raring for Six Nations Women's Summer Series
Ireland captain Jane Neill is raring to go at this year's Six Nations Women's Summer Series as she returns for her second tilt at success in the competition. Neill's side begin against Wales in the opening round of fixtures at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, South Wales. It is the second edition of the U20 tournament, which debuted in Italy 12 months ago when Ireland won one of their three games. Neill, who also skippered the side on that occasion, is looking forward to another go. 'I'm absolutely buzzing,' the 21-year-old said. 'We're really excited as a team and we're obviously playing the host nation Wales so that'll be tough, they'll probably have a really big crowd 'We've trained well over the last couple of days so we're ready to get going.' The Arklow native has enjoyed the good feeling around the camp ahead of their opening clash after a strong build-up which saw them face Canada U20 twice, splitting the two-game series 1-1. 'We've been lucky enough to have got going in April, that's when we had our first camp, so we've been building since then,' Neill continued. 'We were lucky enough to play Canada twice in May, which was really interesting for us to get a game out there as a team.' Following on from the 2024 Women's Summer Series, 14 players across the six countries have since gone on to win full international caps, including Ireland's Ruth Campbell, who made her senior bow in September 2024 against Australia. And Neill highlighted the importance of the competition for giving players the opportunity to standout and to use it as a springboard to break into the senior team. 'It's amazing to see the growth,' she added. 'I was fortunate enough to captain last year's squad, and I think six or seven of the girls have since been involved with the senior camp. I know Ruth Campbell is now consistently with that team, and she was playing with us last year. 'It's really inspiring to see the senior team is achievable through this.' With women's rugby on an upward trajectory, the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series is a big chance for stars of the future to gain vital international experience, graduate along the development pathway, while also inspiring a new generation of rugby fans. Spread across three dates during July, Ireland will also face France on 11 July before rounding off their campaign against Scotland six days later. Julie Paterson, Chief of Rugby at Six Nations Rugby, added: 'The Women's Summer Series is an essential part of the strategy and commitment of Six Nations Rugby, and the six unions and federations, to proactively support the creation and growth of opportunities in the women's game.' Discover the future of international rugby at the 2025 Women's Summer Series – where rising stars shine. Follow the action live at and on Instagram @u20sixnations.
