Hunter leads England out against Canada in  the 2014 WRWC

England Women’s Head Coach Simon Middleton has named a squad of 28 players for this month’s Rugby Super Series in Canada where England will play the USA, New Zealand and Canada.

Rugby World Cup winner Sarah Hunter will captain England as she returns to play in her first tournament since helping England to win the Rugby World Cup in August. Hunter has been side-lined with a knee injury since the start of the year. Katy Mclean, who captained England during the Six Nations, is ruled out through injury.

Emily Scarratt, who scored a 16 point haul in the victorious 21-9 Rugby World Cup final against Canada, also returns to XVs rugby for the first time this season having been involved in England’s sevens Olympic qualification campaign. The centre/fullback has been named as vice-captain. Marlie Packer and Heather Fisher are also back for their first starts in ten months having been involved with England Sevens.

At the other end of the experience scale, England will travel to Canada with two uncapped players in Megan Jones and Lark Davies. Fly-half/centre Jones has been on England’s radar for some time now, and played in the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Sevens last season, but has been unlucky with injuries while hooker Davies has progressed through the England Under 20s ranks.

Middleton, who travels to Canada with new XVs Lead Coach Scott Bemand and XV Assistant Coach Matt Ferguson, said: “This is a really exciting squad and we are really looking forward to developing as a team, and playing against some stellar opposition.

“We have brought back some experienced names in Sarah Hunter, Heather Fisher and Marlie Packer. They will bolster our already strong backrow options with Hannah Gallagher and Alex Matthews doing a great job during the Six Nations.

“Emily will also be vital both on and off the field. She is a world class player and can offer so much experience to our younger squad members.

“We have our sights set on the 2017 Rugby World Cup so I am really excited to see how players like Lark Davies and Megan Jones fair on this tour as this is their opportunity to step up. Players like Bianca Blackburn, Abbie Brown and Amy Cokayne also showed their potential during the Six Nations. By nurturing this talent now, we will bolster the depth in our squad which is really exciting for the future.”

England will play the USA on June 27 in Calgary before taking on fierce rivals New Zealand on July 1 in Red Deer. England then take on Rugby World Cup runners-up Canada in the tournament finale on July 5 in Edmonton.

Middleton added: “The most important things for us in Canada is our performance and developing that winning mentality. With this new squad, we are working hard to develop the style of play we want to play, and finding out as much as we can about each other. I have confidence in this squad and I know that if we get the performance right, the results will come.”

England summer tour squad 

Bianca Blackburn    (Worcester)

Abbie  Brown            (Bristol)

Rowena Burnfield (Richmond)

Rochelle Clark (Worcester)

Amy Cokayne (Lichfield)

Victoria Cornborough (Richmond)

Lark Davies (Worcester)

Heather Fisher (Thurrock)

Vicky  Fleetwood (Saracens)

Hannah Gallagher  (Saracens)

Sarah             Hunter (Captain) (Lichfield)

Megan Jones (Bristol)

Laura  Keates (Worcester)

Ceri Large (Worcester)

Justine Lucas (Lichfield)

Katie Mason  (Bristol)

Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)

Sarah McKenna (Saracens)

Marlie Packer (Wasps)

Fiona  Pocock (Richmond)

Amber            Reed  (Bristol)

Leanne Riley (Saracens)

Emily Scarratt (VC)  (Lichfield)

Abbie  Scott   (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

Emily Scott (Thurrock)

Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

Lydia Thompson (Worcester)

Kay Wilson (Thurrock)

Rugby Super Series Fixtures

June 27

England v USA, KO 11pm BST

Canada v NZ, KO 130am BST (June 28)

Calgary Rugby Park

July 1

England v NZ, KO 11pm BST

Canada v USA, KO 130am BST (July 2)

Red Deer Titans Park

July 5

New Zealand v USA, KO 11pm BST

England v Canada, 130am BST (July 6)

Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton