PLYMOUTH rugby player Lagi Tuima has kept her place in the England Women’s Under-20 team to face France in Mont-de-Marsan on Friday night.

The former Devonport Services junior, who is now playing senior rugby for Plymouth Albion, will start at outside centre at Stade Guy Boniface.

Her Albion team-mate Michaella Roberts is also named on the bench.

England head across the Channel looking for revenge after losing 17-7 to France at Esher last month.

In the light of that defeat, England, who are captained by Devon’s Poppy Leitch, have made three changes to their backs.

“We dominated possession and territory in the first match at Esher RFC but we just weren’t clinical enough and France punished us by taking their chances well,” said England head coach Yapp,

“The players were disappointed but this level of rugby is a steep learning curve and the way they have applied themselves in our recent training camp has been a credit to them.

“We know how strong France will be at home so it’s another huge challenge for our players but we are looking forward to seeing how they respond from the recent defeat.”

England Women U20: 15. Catriona McNaney (Bristol, University of Exeter), 14. Emma Uren (Saracens, St Mary’s University, Twickenham), 13. Lagilagi Tuima (Plymouth Albion), 12. Lucy Attwood (Bristol, University of Bristol), 11. Jessica Breach (Aylesford Bulls, Chichester University), 10. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, Middlesex University), 9. Chantelle Miell (Bristol, University of Bath), 1. Ellena Perry (Saracens, Coventry University), 2. Hannah West (Wasps, Brunel University), 3. Ellie Mulhearn (Bristol, Filton College), 4. Molly Morrissey (Lichfield, Hartpury College), 5. Anna Wolf (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Northumbria University), 6. Sally Stott (Vale of Lune, Edinburgh University), 7. Poppy Leitch (Bristol, University of Exeter) ©, 8. Zoe Aldcroft (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Northumbria University).

Replacements: 16. Ellie Gilbert (Exeter Saracens, Hartpury College), 17. Michaella Roberts (Plymouth Albion), 18. Jeanine Stephenson (Bristol, University of Exeter), 19. Holly Cunningham (Cleve RFC, Hartpury College), 20. Rosanna Moynihan (Welwyn, Hartpury College), 21. Brooke Bradley (Bristol), 22. Rowan White (Saracens), 23. Sophie Tandy (Aylesford Bulls).