England Women announce their RWC training squad
England Women Head Coach Gary Street has today (Tuesday) announced a 27-Woman Rugby World Cup training squad.
Street, who will expand his squad to 30 in the New Year following several players return from injury, will have access to increased training time with the squad from January onwards, seven months out from the RWC in France.
The selected squad will meet each month, through to August, and there they will also receive enhanced strength and conditioning, nutritional, lifestyle and sports psychologist support.
England Head Coach Gary Street, who will lead the programme alongside Assistant Coach Graham Smith, said: “This is a really exciting squad of players, 14 of whom contested the RWC in 2010. At the same time there are some real quality players who have not been picked. Three players will make up the full complement in the New Year but this squad is by no means a definitive list. Players outside of this squad can still be in contention for a RWC spot if they can prove their form and fitness over the next eight months.”
England had to settle for second best at the 2010 RWC after a 13-10 defeat to New Zealand, and in 2006 they also finished as runners-up to the Black Ferns. Rochelle Clark, Margaret Alphonsi, Tamara Taylor, Rachael Burford and Michaela Staniford are the only players to have featured in both RWCs and selected into this training squad.
Street has included several players who last week secured back-to-back victories over France and Canada, but for Thurrock hooker, Mercedes Foy, this will be her first call-up since winning three caps in last season’s Nations Cup.
“Getting two good wins over France and Canada has given the whole squad a lift after a tough year in 2013,” said Street. “It proves we still have real quality in our ranks and that’s important for us going into the Six Nations next year.
“Those wins also underline that having consistent and more camp time with our players makes a significant difference and I am confident that having more quality time with the players, starting next year, will put us in a good position come August.”
England RWC Training Squad
Claire Allan (Richmond)
Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
Emma Braund (Lichfield)
Rachael Burford (Thurrock)
Rochelle Clark (Worcester)
Emma Croker (Richmond)
Rebecca Essex (Richmond)
Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
Mercedes Foy (Thurrock)
Hannah Gallagher (Saracens)
Georgina Gulliver (Lichfield)
Sophie Hemming (Bristol)
Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)
Laura Keates (Worcester)
Ceri Large (Worcester)
La Toya Mason (Wasps)
Joanne McGilchrist (Wasps)
Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Katherine Merchant (Worcester)
Marlie Packer (Wasps)
Claire Purdy (Wasps)
Amber Reed (Bristol)
Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Lydia Thompson (Worcester)
Kay Wilson (Bristol)
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