Friends will become foes for England captain Sophie McQueen when her side face Wales in the Six Nations Under-18 Women’s Festival.
The flanker attends Hartpury College with teammate Lucy Simpson and Wales stars Alaw Pyrs, Gwennan Hopkins, Kelsie Webster and Carys Hughes.
However, her school pals will turn into international rivals when Wales and England collide in the Matchday 1 opener, hosted at Wellington College.
“It was definitely something I had to manage before coming into camp,” McQueen said.
“Some of my best friends play for Wales, and I had to sit down with them before I came into camp and say that I will say hello to them, but I won’t properly speak to them until after we play.
“We have got that environment away from, but when we are here, we are here with our team and our girls as England.
“I am sure it is the same with Wales, they want to focus on themselves.
“It is great having that friendship but also bringing that professionalism with it.”
England’s opener against Wales is followed immediately by a fascinating fixture with Scotland, in two 35-minute clashes.
Matchday 2 will see James Cooper’s side face Ireland and Italy, again in 35-minute matches, ahead of a final-day 70-minute clash with France.
And McQueen believes the Six Nations Under-18 Women’s Festival shows the strength of the pathway to international rugby for young women and girls in the professional era.
She added: “Seeing the Under-20s and how well they are going and seeing how well the Roses are going, you just know that it is all consistent.
“You just know that everything is working in the order it should and it means that you can really trust England Rugby and the pathway we are in.
“I think the pathway within the women’s game works really well.
“We have our centres of excellence which feed in really well because we get to experience everything.
“It is a step up when you come into the England one but it is a simple one to take because you have been at the centre of excellence first.”