Hunter to captain England’s Euro squad
England have named their women’s rugby squad to compete in next month’s FIRA-AER European Cup in Italy. With the tournament clashing with the London Sevens and England deciding to give a number of new players their debuts – the squad mixes experience with youth.
Published by Scrum Queens, April 16th, 2012
3 minute read
There are 26 in the squad which is captained by Lichfields Sarah Hunter(pictured)with her side taking on Spain, Italy and France in Treviso.
England Assistant Coach Graham Smith will take on the role of Head Coach with Gary Street unavailable. Simon Middleton, former Leeds Carnegie player and Defence and Skills coach, will be Assistant Coach. Middleton, who is now the Director of Rugby at Bishop Burton College, has worked with the England Womens squad for some years as an invitational coach but this will be his first official coaching role within the international set-up.
There are 17 players in the squad who featured in this seasons record breaking Six Nations campaign.
Emma Croker, who featured in the 2010 Rugby World Cup, also returns to action after having a baby whilst Worcesters Danielle Waterman will make her first start since the autumn international series against world champions New Zealand.
Six players could be set to win their first caps for England; Darlington Mowden Parks Ruth Laybourn, Richmonds Fiona Davidson, Worcesters Lydia Thompson and Bristol trio Kate Newton, Amber Reed and Sally Tuson.
Smith said: This is an exciting squad to be taking to the European Cup. Whilst we have some real experience in the forwards our backs are relatively young and new to this level of international rugby. However, all six of them have shown real potential at EPS training and this is now their opportunity to show what they can do.
We discovered Ruth and Sally at the Open Sevens trials we held last year, whilst Amber Reed and Fiona Davidson have both played England U20s rugby Fiona most recently captained England U20s against France. Lydia played in our uncapped game against France in November so has already had a taste of what is to come whilst Kate Newton has proved herself in the RFUW Divisional Programme.
England head to Italy as reigning European Cup holders.
England Women European Cup squad
Emily Braund (Lichfield)Rowena Burnfield (Richmond)Rochelle Clark (Worcester)Emma Croker (Richmond)Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield)Fiona Davidson (Richmond)Rebecca Essex (Richmond)Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)Hannah Gallagher (Saracens)Sarah Hunter (C) (Lichfield)Laura Keates (Worcester)Ceri Large (Worcester)Ruth Laybourn (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)Kat Merchant (Worcester)Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield)Kate Newton (Bristol)Kim Oliver (Bristol)Marlie Packer (Bristol)Amber Reed (Bristol)Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)Georgina Rozario (Lichfield)Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)Lydia Thompson (Worcester)Sally Tuson (Bristol)Danielle Waterman (Worcester)