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England have named a 28-strong squad to prepare for their November international series that includes test matches against the USA, Canada, and Ireland. World Cup skipper Sarah Hunter returns and is set to be joined in the centurion club by Katy Daley-Mclean who is currently on 99 caps.
Seven players who were part of England’s u20 side that claimed victory at the Tri-Nations Cup in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this summer are included. Props Hannah Botterman, Ellena Perry, and Ellie Mulhearn, No8 Sarah Beckett, flyhalf Zoe Harrison, midfielder Lucy Attwood, and flying winger Abby Dow all earn senior selection. Botterman, Harrison, and Dow have already had a taste of test rugby.
Three further uncapped players are Claudia MacDonald of Wasps, who has switched from fullback to scrumhalf, Gloucester-Hartpury midfielder Tatyana Heard and Loughborough outside back Carys Williams.
Other World Cup team members include front rowers Vickii Cornborough, Vicky Fleetwood, and Heather Kerr, second rows Abbie Scott and Zoe Aldcroft, flanker Marlie Packer, scrumhalf Leanne Riley, midfielder Rachael Burford, and fullback Lydia Thompson.
Added to the test series are mid-week games for the England Academy side who will play the USA Selects on November 13 and Canada ‘A’ on November 21.
FORWARDS
Hannah Botterman (Saracens), Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins), Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens), Ellie Mulhearn (Bristol), Ellena Perry (Saracens), Lark Davies (Worcester), Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park), Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough), Abbie Scott (Harlequins), Sarah Beckett (Waterloo), Jo Brown (Loughborough), Poppy Cleall (Saracens), Sarah Hunter (capt., Lougborough), Marlie Packer (Saracens)
BACKS
Claudia MacDonald (Wasps), Leanne Riley (Harlequins), Katy Daley-Mclean (Loughborough), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Lucy Attwood (Bristol), Sarah McKenna (Saracens), Rachael Burford (Harlequins), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Carys Williams (Loughborough), Abby Dow (Wasps), Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lydia Thompson (Worcester)
FIXTURES
Fri, Nov 9 – 19:45 local, 14:45 ET – England vs USA – Allianz Park, London
Tue, Nov 13 – 19:30 local, 14:30 ET – England Academy vs USA Selects – Monks Lane, Newbury
Sun, Nov 18 – 14:00 local, 09:00 ET – England vs Canada – Castle Park, Doncaster
Wed, Nov 21 – 19:30 local, 14:30 ET – England Academy vs Canada ‘A’ – Memorial Ground, Cobham
Sat, Nov 24 – 17:40 local, 12:40 ET – England vs Ireland – Twickenham, London
