Somerset Team Mates Star in Allianz Premier 15s

The first Saturday of the Allianz Premier15s in 2021 saw four recent former Somerset U18s playing in the same match, Florence Long and Charlotte Wright Haley for Worcester Warriors Women and Jess Cooksey and Jess Dadds for Darlington Mowden Park. All were teammates for both their club, Winscombe, and Somerset U18s only a couple of seasons ago.

On the same day across the AP15s from the same vintage Lucy Burgess and Amy Cole turned out for and Bristol and, only a couple of years their senior, Chantelle Miel represented Saracens.

Overall, recent Somerset Alumnae have excelled. Lucy Burgess and Chantelle Miel have represented England at Sevens. Jess Cooksey, Iona Antwis, Flo Long and Ellie Mulhearn have played for England at U20s level. Iona is currently injured but has played for Loughborough lightning and all are current AP15s regulars, as are El Febrey and Sophie Phillips who play for Worcester and Bristol espectively.

Lilliana Podpadec (Winscombe) plays for Cardiff University and has captained the Emerging Wales v Emerging England team. Evie Roach, Amy Godwin, Olivia Ball , Esme Bird, Lois Bird, Robin Price, Gabby Gower, Beth Wyatt and Sophie Peters have all been part of either the Bristol Bears Women, Gloucester Hartpury WRFC or Exeter Chiefs Women squads and most have played in the Prem 15s. Additionally a total of 15 others are playing for their universities in the top divisions of the BUCS competition. Robin, Esme, Lois and Abby Sowerby now play for Bath Ladies in the Championship.

Whilst these are challenging times for all female rugby players in Somerset, everyone from U13 to U18 can take inspiration from those young women now playing at the highest level who so recently pulled on the Somerset jersey as U18s with pride.