Natalie McClarnon gets England Call Up

Harlow College student Natalie McClarnon is celebrating winning a place in the England under 20  ladies’ rugby squad.  She is one of 34 squad players from which the England under 20 team will be selected.  Natalie started her rugby in Harlow Rugby Club Mini section at Harlow at the age of 8.  In her teens she played at Basildon where they had a strong squad in her age group before returning to Harlow Ladies in the second half of last season on her 18th birthday when she became eligible for senior rugby.  This season has moved to play for premiership club Saracens where she will get the experience necessary to develop her international potential.

Natalie has already made a successful debut in the Saracens team and in the coming weeks will be training very hard in the hope of making the England team for the matches to come in the new year.

In announcing the squad the RFUW said

“England Under 20s Head Coach Giselle Mather has selected a squad of 34 players who will compete in an international fixture against Wales in April and then the Under 20s Nations Cup in July.The Under 20s squad for the new season includes 18 players who featured in last season’s 20s campaign, which saw England record a clean sweep of wins and lift the Nations Cup.“

Mather said: “This year we have a much larger training squad and that means we will have more competition for places, with players having to work really hard to earn their England place.”

Natalie has captained the Essex and Eastern Region under 18s teams for the last two seasons so is used to the pressure of high level competition  and this year will be working flat out to win her first England cap. Having made the national under 20 squad at 18 she has the advantage of two seasons at this level before moving on to try for her ultimate goal of the senior team.