Five Oaklands College Players Represent England at U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival

Oaklands College is proud to celebrate the success of five players from the Saracens Women Rugby Academy based at the College, who represented England at the 2026 U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival held at Wellington College.

The festival brought together some of the most promising young rugby players from across Europe, with Saracens recording its highest ever number of representatives at the competition.

Selected for the England squad by head coach James Cooper and assistant coach Oli Perry were Oaklands College players Leila Crick, Alix Ahad, Scarlett Beech, Jemima Mitchell and Lily Pereira dos Santos. Their selection highlights both their individual talent and the strength of the elite rugby pathway delivered through the Saracens Women Rugby Academy at Oaklands College.

England faced strong competition throughout the festival, opening with a closely contested 32–24 match against Wales. On Matchday 2, the squad secured a 22–14 victory over Scotland before narrowly losing 12–5 to Ireland in another high intensity fixture. England’s final match saw them take on an unbeaten French side, with the team continuing to demonstrate resilience, skill and development throughout the tournament.

Niamh McHugh, Saracens Women U18 Pathway Lead, said:

“We are incredibly proud of these five exceptional young players. Their performances at the Six Nations Festival demonstrate not only their talent and dedication, but also reflect the rapid progression and strength of our pathway based here at Oaklands College. We are very excited to see how these players continue to progress in their rugby journeys and how this will inspire future cohorts of Saracens Academy players.”

The Saracens Women Rugby Academy at Oaklands College provides ambitious athletes with the opportunity to train within a full-time elite performance environment while continuing their academic studies. Players receive tailored support both on and off the pitch, helping them to succeed academically while preparing for future careers in professional sport and related industries.

This latest achievement further strengthens Oaklands College’s reputation as a leading pathway for young female rugby talent, with the success of Crick, Ahad, Beech, Mitchell and Pereira dos Santos showcasing the exceptional opportunities available through the Saracens Women Rugby Academy.