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Rugby: England Women’s Elite Squad named

October 23, 2008

England Head Coach Gary Street has named his Elite Squad of 44 players to spearhead England’s international season this term.

Street has named Bath’s Catherine Spencer as captain for the second year running, while Rachael Burford will again be Vice Captain. (Read our interview with Rachel Burford here).

He has also called up 11 new players to the elite squad which includes several players that ran out for the successful England Under 20s side last season.

Clifton’s Monica Lewinska, who has progressed through the RFUW’s equally successful regional programme, has also been called up while Wasps’ Heather Fisher, Saracens’ Sonia Green, Lichfield’s Lois Moulding and Clifton’s Kim Oliver are also welcomed back into the squad.

The remainder of the squad consists of players that featured heavily in England’s winning RBS 6 Nations, Nations Cup and European Championship campaigns last season, as well as England’s A successful run.

Street said, “This is an exciting squad. We have got lots of experience here but also youth and these young players have demonstrated their potential through a really good Under 20s campaign.

I am also pleased to welcome back the likes of Kim Oliver, who has been sidelined with an injury, while players like Heather Fisher and Lois Moulding have worked really hard to get back into the squad.”

England face one of their toughest season’s this year since the 2006 iRB Rugby World Cup, with the RBS 6 Nations and the iRB inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup 7s running concurrently in March.

Street added, “We have known for some time that our players will be competing in two different tournaments at the same time in March and obviously that is going to stretch us. I don’t think there is another side in this season’s RBS 6 Nations that will be affected as much as us.”

England’s international campaign kicks-off with the 7s team travelling to Dubai in November, before England and England A play Ireland and Italy respectively in December. England will then begin their defence of their triple RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam title on February 7th against Italy.

England Elite Squad 2008/2009 

Claire Allan                Saracens                                          Centre

Margaret Alphonsi    Saracens                                           Flanker

Charlotte Barras        Saracens                                           Winger

Sarah  Beale              Lichfield                                            No 8

Natalie Binstead       Wasps                                                Second Row

Rachael Burford        Saracens                                            Centre            VC

*Rowena Burnfield    Richmond                                          Second Row

Rochelle Clark           Blaydon Team Northumbria             Prop

Rosemarie Crowley  Lichfield                                             Prop

Becky Essex              Richmond                                          Flanker

*Heather Fisher         Wasps                                               Flanker

Amy Garnett               Saracens                                          Hooker

*Sonia Green             Saracens                                           Flanker

*Sarah Guest            Worcester                                          Scrum Half

Sophie Hemming      Clifton                                                 Prop

Sarah  Hunter           Lichfield                                              Flanker

Vicki   Jackson         Lichfield                                              Centre

Karen  Jones             Richmond                                           No 8

*Dani  Knight            Lichfield                                             Fly Half

Emma  Layland         Richmond                                           Hooker

Tina     Lee                 Clifton                                              Fly Half

*Monica Lewinska     Clifton                                                 Prop

*Latoya Mason           Wasps                                                Scrum Half

Victoria Massarella    Saracens                                           Fullback

Francesca Matthews  Richmond                                           Winger

Joanna McGilchrist    Wasps                                                Second Row

Katy    McLean          Darlington Mowden Park Sharks         Fly Half

Katherine Merchant   Worcester                                          Winger

*Lois   Moulding        Lichfield                                              Flanker

*Kimberley Oliver      Clifton                                                 Centre

*Olivia Poore             Lichfield                                              Hooker

Fiona  Pocock           Richmond                                           Winger

Claire  Purdy              Wasps                                                Prop

Sam Reeves(Nee Dale)   Worcester                                      Hooker

Alice   Richardson    Richmond                                           Fly Half

Georgina Rozario     Plymouth Albion                                Scrum Half

*Emily Scarratt          Lichfield                                              Centre

Gemma Sharples      Worcester                                          Flanker

Catherine Spencer    Bath                                                    No 8                Captain

Michaela Staniford    Wasps                                                Winger

Katy Storie                Blaydon Team Northumbria              Prop

Tamara  Taylor          Darlington Mowden Park Sharks    Second Row

Amy Turner               Richmond                                           Scrum Half

Danielle Waterman   Blaydon Team Northumbria Fullback

*Indicates new Elite Squad 44 member

Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

Read Sportsister’s interview with Rachael Burford here

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