England Women’s Head Coach Simon Middleton will hand five players their first sevens starts of the season at the first leg of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix in Kazan this weekend (June 13-14).

Francesca Matthews, Lydia Thompson, Abbie Brown, Heather Fisher and Victoria Fleetwood have all been named in the 12–woman squad with Fleetwood, who has 49 XVs caps, set to make her England Sevens debut.

Richmond’s Abigail Chamberlain will captain the new look Sevens squad and she is joined by Claire Allan, Alexandra Matthews, Emily Scott, Rachael Burford, Sarah McKenna and Leanne Riley who all helped England secure automatic Olympic qualification through the World Sevens Series this season. The second round of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix takes place in Brive on June 20-21.

England will face Germany, Wales and the Netherlands in the pool games, with Germany and the Netherlands battling it out with their European counterparts to secure a place at next year’s Olympic Games.

Middleton said: “This tournament is an opportunity for us to look at some exciting players outside of our Sevens programme  as well as provide some more game time to players who are in the squad. Vicky, for example, is a seasoned XVs international player, but it will be great to see her in a competitive sevens environment. It is also fantastic to welcome Fran, Emily and Heather back into the squad as they have missed a lot of rugby through injuries this season.

“We play Germany in the opening game and we are expecting them to be a very organised side, while Wales will certainly want to give England a typically tough game. The Netherlands, meanwhile, are an experienced Sevens outfit who’ll be intent on securing that all important Olympic spot.”

England Sevens 

Claire Allan   (Richmond)

Francesca Matthews (Richmond)

Lydia Thompson (Worcester)

Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)

Rachael Burford (Thurrock)

Sarah             McKenna (Saracens)

Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond) C

Abbie  Brown            (Bristol)

Leanne Riley (Saracens)

Emily Scott (Thurrock)

Heather Fisher (Thurrock)

Victoria Fleetwood (Saracens)

Rugby Europe Kazan Playing Schedule:

Saturday June 13

England v Germany, KO 844am BST

England v Wales, KO 1144am BST

England v Netherlands, KO 350pm BST

Sunday June 14

Knock-out stages TBC