The England Women’s squad to compete in the FIRA AER European Cup in Amsterdam next month has today (Thursday) been announced.
England Head Coach Gary Street has named a strong squad of 26 players which includes 20 players that helped England win this season’s RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam crown. The squad will once again be led by captain Catherine Spencer with Saracens’ Rachel Burford as Vice Captain.
There are call-ups too for Lichfield duo Rosemarie Crowley and Vicki Jackson as well as Richmond’s Francesca Matthews and Bath’s Marlie Packer, all of whom could earn their first cap for England.
There is also a return to international action for Clifton’s Kim Oliver who has been out of action all season with a knee injury. Oliver was a key member of the England squad that reached the IRB Rugby World Cup final in 2006 and she will be looking to build on the ten caps she’s already amassed.
The European Cup is a tournament which takes place every four years and will see 14 teams from across Europe compete for the coveted crown, including all the Home Nations teams as well as France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden. England last won the European Cup in 1997.
The tournament kicks off on Saturday May 17th and will see England, seeded in Group A, take on Sweden on May 17th. If England are successful they will next play in the semi-finals on May 20th with the final taking place on May 24th.
England Head Coach Street said: “Having not won this tournament since 1997 we are taking a very strong squad to Amsterdam. This championship comes around once every four years and we are keen to build on the progress we have been making this season and win the European crown.
“It’s also important that we look at the bigger picture and give members of our elite 44 the chance to show their potential and that is why we are taking four uncapped players. For some of them this is going to be a big step-up. Marlie and Roz have been playing for the under 20s this season and this is going to be an important tournament for them as it will be for Vicki Jackson and Fran Matthews.
“It’s also fantastic to have Kim back in action. She has missed a lot of rugby since the rugby world cup final, but she is back and is in impressive form and will add invaluable strength to our squad as not only is she a talented centre but is also a talented player at fly half.”
Street added: “Our ambition, as always, is to win. This has been a difficult tournament in the past for us so this is an ideal opportunity for us to continue to raise the bar with the 2010 IRB Rugby World Cup not far away.
“I am expecting it to be another tough tournament for us. The European teams really target this as their big tournament so that will be a challenge for us, as will playing a championship abroad and in different conditions.”
England squad
Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
Charlotte Barras Saracens
Sarah Beale Leos
Rachael Burford (vc)Saracens
Rochelle Clark Henley
Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield
Samantha Dale Worcester
Amy Garnett Saracens
Sophie Hemming Clifton
Sarah Hunter Lichfield
Vicki Jackson Lichfield
Karen Jones Richmond
Vicky Massarella Saracens
Francesca MatthewsRichmond
Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
Katy McLean Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Katherine Merchant Worcester
Kimberley Oliver Clifton
Marlie Packer Bath
Claire Purdy Wasps
Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
Catherine Spencer (C)Worcester
Michaela Staniford Wasps
Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Amy Turner Richmond
Head Coach Gary Street
Assistant Coach Graham Smith
by Julia Hutton
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