Two rugby players from North Somerset clubs represented England this weekend against France.

Lia Green and Reneeqa Bonner both played in England’s U20s match up against France U20s on Saturday.

Green started playing rugby at Winscombe RFC and has since gone on to play for both Loughborough University, a university known for its sporting prowess, and Premiership club Loughborough Lightning.

Clevedon Rugby Club was the home of Bonner’s youth rugby and the start of her career.

She has since played for Hartpury University, another institution well known for its sports programmes, and most recently local Premiership team Bristol Bears.

The England pathway squad took on the French U20s team away at the Stade Jean-Mermoz in their second fixture of this campaign.

England went into the match with high hopes after coming off the back of a 99-5 win against the Army Women, but the match ended up being extremely one sided, and not in England’s favour.

The young Red Roses lost 74-0, recording the worst ever defeat for an England Women’s team, but were up against an ultra-talented French squad who could lay claim to being the best in the world.

Green and Bonner will be in action again with England soon though, and will look for redemption when they play Wales’ U20s Women at Dings Crusaders' Stadium on May 4th.