May 13th, 2008

Richmond’s Fiona Pocock has been called into the England Women’s squad to compete in the FIRA AER European Championship in Amsterdam later this week.

Pocock, who can play on the wing or at fullback, has replaced Darlington Mowden Park Sharks’ Georgina Roberts who has been forced to withdraw from the squad through injury.

Pocock, who is just 18, has made a number of impressive performances for England A this season and now she could be set to win her first cap for England.

The tournament kicks off on Saturday May 17th and will see England, seeded in Group A, take on Sweden on May 17th. If England are successful they will next play in the semi-finals on May 20th with the final taking place on May 24th.

England Head Coach Gary Street has named a strong squad of 26 players which includes 20 players that helped England win this season’s RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam crown. The squad will once again be led by captain Catherine Spencer with Saracens’ Rachel Burford as Vice Captain.

The European Championships will see 14 teams from across Europe compete for the coveted crown, including all the Home Nations teams as well as France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden.

England squad 

Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
Charlotte Barras Saracens
Sarah Beale  Leos
Rachael Burford (vc)Saracens
Rochelle Clark Henley
Rosemarie Crowley Lichfield
Samantha Dale Worcester
Amy Garnett  Saracens
Sophie Hemming Clifton
Sarah Hunter  Lichfield
Vicki Jackson Lichfield
Karen Jones  Richmond
Vicky Massarella Saracens
Francesca MatthewsRichmond
Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
Katy McLean  Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Katherine Merchant Worcester
Kimberley Oliver Clifton
Marlie Packer Bath
Fiona Pocock Richmond
Claire Purdy  Wasps
Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
Catherine Spencer (C)Worcester
Michaela Staniford Wasps
Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Amy Turner  Richmond

Head Coach Gary Street 
Assistant Coach Graham Smith

Ends…