Twenty-four Hartpury graduates or current students have been named in the latest England Women rugby squads to be announced, providing further cause for celebration within Hartpury’s Women’s Rugby Academy.

Current students Zoe Aldcroft and Sarah Bern and graduates Kelly Smith, Amy Cockayne, Natasha Hunt and Zoe Harrison have been awarded full-time deals by the RFU to play 15-a-side rugby for England Women.

The England Women Sevens squad for the 2019-20 campaign includes six former Hartpury students – Holly Aitchison, Sydney Gregson, Abbie Brown, Abi Burton, Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne and Alex Matthews.

The star-studded squad will fly the flag for Great Britain at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo after winning their qualifying tournament in July.

Eleven players with strong ties to Hartpury have been selected to play for England Women Under-20s this season, including current students Tabitha Copson, Alicia Maude, Charlie Mai-Manns, Connie Powell, Emma Sing and Mia Venner.

Five former students – Iona Antwis, Jessica Cooksey, Caitlin Simpson, Fiona McIntosh and Eleanor Febrey – have also been named in the squad.

Tom Radcliffe, Director of Elite Sport at Hartpury, said: “Well done to all the members of the Hartpury family who have been awarded professional contracts by the RFU and named in the England Sevens and England Under-20s squad.

“It’s a massive honour to represent your country and I’m sure all the players, even those who have played for England on many occasions, always feel an immense sense of pride every time they pull on the Red Rose jersey.

“For so many players in the squads to have studied and trained at Hartpury is also a real testament to the success of our rugby programmes and reflects the quality of our squads and our coaches.”