RN Women See Success At England Academy Trials
3 members of the RN Women’s team have been selected for the England Academy squads at the recent trials. LWtr Lauren Morton (HMS Dragon) and AB Stacey Hargrave (HMS Richmond) have both been selected for the London and South East Academy squad whilst Mid Olivia Critchley (DTUS Trojan Sqn) has been selected for the North of England squad.
This is a fantastic achievement for the players and shows the amount of hard work that they have put in over the past season. Never before have the RN(W) had as much representation at this level and so we are really proud that these players have been successful at this standard.
All 3 players were key in the RN(W) Inter Services campaign last season, with Morton playing at inside centre, Hargrave in the back row and Critchley at scrum half. Morton and Hargrave are both capped members of the RN(W) squad with Critchley having played in her first Inter Services competition last season. This will be the second season where Morton has been involved in the Academy system and she now plays for Premiership club Saracens where she started at 12 last weekend. Hargrave plays her civilian rugby for Fakenham Foxes.
This was her 3rd England Academy trial and it was definitely 3rd time lucky! Critchley plays for both Newcastle University rugby club and Novocastrians Ladies. The players will now take part in a number of training weekends throughout the season with their academy sides. This will culminate in an Inter-Academy competition in May 15.
Images by Alligin Photography / © Geraint Ashton Jones