England name squad to face Canada

England have named 28 players in their squad to play Canada in a three-match series beginning on November 17. There are 18 members of the Women’s World Cup squad that finished runners-up to New Zealand in August including nine of the team that started the final.

Head Coach Simon Middleton will have plenty of experience in the forwards with two test centurions in prop Rochelle Clark and second row Tamara Taylor available as well as captain and No 8 Sarah Hunter. Only flanker Alex Matthews is missing from the starting pack that took on the Black Ferns. There is one new name up front in Darlington Mowden Park back row Jo Brown.

The backs are a different matter. Natasha Hunt, Megan Jones, and Emily Scarratt are among those joining Matthews in switching their focus to sevens, with only veteran flyhalf Katy Mclean and midfielders Rachael Burford and Amber Reed remaining from the final. Star fullback Danielle Waterman is named after missing out on the New Zealand test.

New caps named in the backs are scrumhalf Caity Mattinson, flyhalf Zoe Harrison, centres Jess Breach and Lagi Tuima, winger Abby Dow, and highly rated teenage fullback Ellie Kildunne.

FORWARDS
Sarah Bern (Gloucester-Hartpury), Rochelle Clark (Wasps), Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins), Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park), Justine Lucas (Wasps), Amy Cokayne (Wasps), Lark Davies (Worcester), Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), Poppy Cleall (Saracens), Abbie Scott (Harlequins), Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park), Jo Brown (Darlington Mowden Park), Sarah Hunter (Loughborough), Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps), Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol), Marlie Packer (Saracens)

BACKS
Caity Mattinson (Bristol), Leanne Riley (Harlequins), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park), Jess Breach (Harlequins), Rachael Burford (Harlequins), Amber Reed (Bristol), Lagi Tuima (Bristol), Charlotte Clapp (Saracens), Abby Dow (Wasps), Ellie Kildunne (Gloucester-Hartpury), Danielle Waterman (Wasps)

FIXTURES
Nov 17 – vs Canada – Allianz Park, London
Nov 21 – vs Canada – The Stoop, London
Nov 25 – vs Canada – Twickenham, London