EIGHT Worcester players have been included in a 26-strong England Under 20s squad for this summer’s Nations Cup at Trent College in Nottingham.

The eight Sixways players are Lucy Aylesbury, Bianca Blackburn, Lauren Chenoweth, Scarlett Cooper-Wall, Lark Davies, Courtney Gill, Caity Mattinson and Lucie Wood.

Head coach Amanda Bennett has made a number of changes for the tournament that will see England take on South Africa, Canada and the USA in July.

She has called up 10 players who are set to make their U20s bow, including Worcester’s Davies and Mattinson, and they’ll be led by Bristol’s and Penryn’s Kayleigh Callway-Bawden.

Blackburn has been named as vice-captain.

“The Nations Cup squad shows a balance of under 20s experience set against the raw talent of new players who we hope will step up to the mark on an international stage,” said Bennett.

“The talent coming through the system gets stronger and more impressive each year.”

England head into the Nations Cup on the back of two defeats against France this season but they are the reigning tournament champions and in fact have never been defeated in the competition.

England will play South Africa on July 11, Canada on July 14 and the USA on July 17. The final will be played on July 21.