December 21, 2005

England Women’s head coach Geoff Richards has called up three new players to the England Elite squad ahead of next year’s Six Nations campaign and the Rugby Word Cup.

Richards has strengthened his squad by recalling Richmond backrow Jenny Lyne, who has shown her calibre through some sterling performances in the successful Super League series.

Lyne’s Richmond teammate Emma Layland has earned her first call-up to the elite squad as has Saracens scrum-half Louisa Seymour, again after some impressive performances in the Super League.

After several years of hard service and 63 caps for England Clifton scrum-half Susie Appleby has stepped down from the elite squad due to work commitments this season, while Worcester backrow Kerry Barber misses out on a place in the elite squad of 44.

Richards said: “We are constantly reviewing our squad ahead of what is an immensely important year for us and I am delighted to include Jenny, Louisa and Emma in the revised squad. They have been in impressive form this season and fully deserve to be involved in the 44.”

England’s 2006 international campaign gets underway on February 4th with a home fixture against Wales at Old Albanians RFC before they take on Spain, Scotland, France and Ireland in the Six Nations championship.

The Rugby World Cup, for which England are ranked second, gets underway in Canada in August.

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