June 21st, 2006 

England Women’s Rugby World Cup hopefuls face a crucial test this Saturday with a final trial match from which head coach Geoff Richards will select his squad of 26 players to spearhead England’s World Cup campaign in Edmonton, Canada this August and September.

45 members of the England Elite Squad have been chosen to play off against each other for world cup selection at Heythrope Park, Oxford this Saturday, kick-off 12.15pm. 

The successful 26 players, which will be announced on Monday 3rd July, will then head into an intense three week training camp at Loughborough University and at the Commando Training Centre for Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon in August, before heading off to Calgary for another week’s preparation. 

“This is effectively a world cup trial match and certainly the players' last opportunity to put themselves in contention for a squad place,” said Richards. “All the players know exactly what is at stake and that nobody’s place in the squad is guaranteed yet.

“The trial match will certainly be an intense contest on Saturday and the players will all be going hell for leather. It is going to be a real pressure match and that’s exactly what we need because that is the sort of pressure we’ve going to face in the world cup.”

The IRB’s Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks-off on August 29th with the final being held on September 17th. England, ranked second for the tournament, will be hoping to be involved in that final for a second World Cup running, though this time they’ll be looking to avoid coming off second-best.

The reigning Six Nations champions have been drawn against Australia and Ireland in their tournament pool with their World Cup campaign kicking off with a tough clash against the powerful US Eagles on August 31st at Ellerslie Rugby Park. Richards’ side will then face South Africa and France before the knock-out stages commence.

England trial teams

1 Rochelle Clark (Henley)   1 Vanessa Huxford (Wasps)
2 Amy Garnett (Saracens)  2 Selena Rudge (Wasps)
3 Vanessa Gray (Wasps)  3 Katy Storie (Clifton)
4 Rachel Vickers (Richmond) 4 Jenny Sutton (Richmond)
5 Jenny Lyne (Richmond)   5 Tamara Taylor (Thirsk)
6 Shannon Baker (Shannon Baker) 6 Georgia Stevens (Clifton)
7 Helen Clayton (Saracens)  7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
8 Catherine Spencer (Folkestone)8 Karen Jones (Wasps)
9 Danielle Waterman (Henley)  9 Amy Turner (Wasps)
10 Alice Richardson (Worcester) 10 Shelley Rae (Wasps)
11 Kimberley Shaylor (Worcester)11 Emily Cooke (Clifton)
12 Kimberley Oliver (Clifton) 12 Rachel Burford (Henley)
13 Claire Allan (Worcester) 13 Michaela Staniford (Henley)
14 Charlotte Barras (Lichfield) 14 Nicola Crawford (Worcester)
15 Susan Day (Wasps)  15 Victoria Massarella (Saracens)
Replacements:     
16 Ann O’Flynn (Army/Lichfield) 16 Emma Layland (Richmond)
17 Sophie Hemming (Clifton) 17 Clare Purdy (Wasps)
18 Lois Moulding (Worcester)  18 Rebecca Essex (Worcester)
19 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) 19 Heather Fisher (Clifton)
20 Nicola Meston (Richmond) 20 Louisa Seymour(Saracens)
21 Katy McLean (Thirsk)  21 Karen Andrew (Saracens)
22 Sarah Marsh (Wasps)  22 Shauna Vetch (Thirsk)
23 Emma Dresser (Lichfield) 

NB: Jo Yapp of Worcester RFC and Hannah Dawson of Thirsk Sharks are both unavailable for the trial match because of injuries.

England’s World Cup Schedule:

August 31  England v USA at Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton,
KO 5.30pm local time
September 4th  England v South Africa at Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton, KO 2.30pm local time
September 8th  England v France at St. Albert, Edmonton, KO 4pm local time
September 12th  Semi-finals:
1st v 4th (M19), St. Albert, KO 5pm local time 
2nd v 3rd (M20), Ellerslie Rugby Park, KO 5pm local time
5th v 8th (M21), St. Albert, KO 2.30pm local time
6th v 7th (M22), Ellerslie Rugby Park, KO 2.30pm local time
9th v 12th (M23), St. Albert, KO 12pm local time
10th v 11th (M24), Ellerslie Rugby Park, KO 12pm
September 16th  Consolation Finals (All Ellerslie Rugby Park):
Loser M21 v Loser M22, KO 5pm
Winner M23 v Winner M24, KO 2.30pm
Loser M23 v Loser M24, KO 12pm   
September 17th  Finals (All at the Commonwealth Stadium)
Winner M21 v Winner M 22, KO 12pm
Loser M19 v Loser M20, KO 2.30pm
Winner M19 v Winner M20, KO 5pm,   

Ends…