Hartpury student and Gloucester-Hartpury player Sophie McQueen has been named in the England Women squad, marking another major milestone in a journey that has taken her from Hartpury College through to postgraduate study, coaching and elite senior rugby.
Sophie is among seven Gloucester-Hartpury players selected in England’s 36-player squad for the WXV Global Series, alongside Mackenzie Carson, Alex Matthews, Maud Muir, Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt, Emma Sing and Mia Venner.
Her selection is especially significant for Hartpury, where Sophie has developed both academically and as a player over the past five years.
She first joined Hartpury in 2021 to study the BTEC Sport Extended Diploma (Rugby) at Hartpury College, completing the programme in 2023.
During that time, she was part of two ACE title-winning teams and captained the Hartpury College ACE side in her second year. She also captained England U18s, establishing herself as a leader as well as a promising player.
Sophie then progressed to Hartpury University, where she studied BSc Sports and Exercise Science, completing her degree this summer.
Her rugby development continued alongside her studies. She progressed into the Hartpury University BUCS team and captained the side during her final year, while also captaining England U21s last season.
During her time at university, Sophie was also part of the Gloucester Hartpury U23 set-up before signing for Gloucester Hartpury ahead of the current season. She is listed as a back row in the club’s senior squad.
Sophie has now begun an MSc Sports Coaching at Hartpury University and is combining her postgraduate studies with a sports coaching studentship, through which she coaches within the Hartpury U18 Women’s Rugby Academy.
Sophie said: “Hartpury has played a huge part in shaping me, both as a person and as a player. From starting here at college, before progressing onto university and then Gloucester Hartpury and England, I have been challenged and supported at every stage by the Hartpury and Gloucester Hartpury staff.
“I’m now continuing that journey through my master’s and coaching, and I’m really looking forward to developing further both as a player and as a coach.”
Her latest England selection represents another important step in that journey and puts her in contention to add senior international honours to the age-grade representation she has already achieved.
Sophie’s progression provides a strong example of Hartpury’s long-established approach to combining education with high-performance sport, enabling talented athletes to continue their academic development while progressing through elite sporting pathways.
That pathway has produced a significant number of international players over many years. Earlier in 2026, Hartpury students and alumni were represented across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland squads for the Women’s Six Nations, highlighting the breadth of the institution’s influence within the women’s game.
For Sophie, the pathway has extended beyond playing. Her move into postgraduate study and coaching means she is now contributing to the development of the next generation of Hartpury rugby players while continuing to pursue her own ambitions at the highest level.
The seven Gloucester Hartpury players selected for the latest England squad further underline the close links between Hartpury’s educational and performance environments and the professional and international game.
