ONE of the most promising rugby players to come out of Worcester has now been rewarded with an England U18 call-up.

RGS Worcester Sixth-Form student Haineala (Ala) Lutui has been selected for the Red Roses 2024 Elite Player Squad for the upcoming Under 18 Women’s Six Nations Festival.

Ala's inclusion in the squad follows her outstanding performance in two rounds of England Rugby Centre of Excellence fixtures earlier in the season. Expressing her excitement about the call-up, Ala said: "I was happy and very excited when I received news of my selection for the England training squad. I am looking forward to the match against Ireland."

In preparation for the Festival, Ala, alongside her teammates, will face Ireland Under 18 Women’s team in a training match on 2 March. The team will gather at Wellington College before heading to Ireland for the tournament.

This marks Ala's second call-up for England Rugby, highlighting her remarkable achievements on the field. Beyond rugby, Ala is an integral member of the RGS Worcester Netball 1st VII team, demonstrating her versatility and sporting talent.

Her father, Aleki Lutui, a former Worcester Warriors legend and Tongan international, who coaches at RGS, expressed immense pride, stating: "We are very proud of Ala for being selected. She has worked extremely hard and made a lot of sacrifices over the last few months which have really paid off with this selection."