England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has today (Friday) announced his team for their clash against the USA Eagles on Tuesday August 19th at Esher Rugby, kick-off 7pm.

The RBS 6 Nations and European Champions will take on the Eagles as a pre-cursor game to the Nations Cup which gets underway on Friday August 22nd, also at Esher Rugby. The Eagles’ neighbours, Canada, are the other team competing in the Nations Cup and England will face them on Sunday August 24th, kick-off 5pm.

Street has named an experienced starting XV which sees the return of Clifton’s Kim Oliver. The centre was an instrumental member of the team that helped England reach the final of the 2006 IRB Rugby World Cup. Since then she has been sidelined with injuries until making her comeback during the European Championships in May.

Bath No. 8 Catherine Spencer is captain once again with Darlington Mowden Park’s Katy McLean taking over as Vice Captain with Saracens’ Rachel Burford currently sidelined.

Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt could also be set to make her England debut after being named on the bench. The 18-year-old has impressed Street and assistant coach Graham Smith after her performances in the Under 20s Nations Cup in Canada in July.

Street said: “Although this is not a Nations Cup game, this is the start of a tough schedule of games. We will play four games in ten days against two sides who are ranked within the top six of world rugby.

“We have named a strong starting team for our first match, but it’s very important we get the balance right over the four games to win and to make sure everyone gets enough game time as we look ahead to next season’s Six Nations also.

“It’s great to have Kim Oliver back in the starting line-up and I am also excited to see Katy as Vice Captain. There is also the possibility that Emily, who has shown tremendous potential this season, could earn her first England cap.”

England last played the USA in December and won 34-0. Street added: “The USA came here last season with lots of new caps. This time around they are going to be more experienced and I am expecting a very different game. They’ll be very competitive opposition and very different opposition to the European sides we are used to playing.”

Entry to Tuesday’s game costs just £4 for adults, £1 for children and adult members get a £1 discount.

England

1          Rochelle Clark                       Henley

2          Amy    Garnett                       Saracens

3          Katy    Storie                          Blaydon Team Northumbria

4          Tamara Taylor                       Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

5          Joanna McGilchrist               Wasps

6          Sarah  Beale                          Leos

7          Margaret Alphonsi                Saracens

8          Catherine Spencer (C)         Bath

9          Amy Turner                            Richmond

10        Katy McLean (vc)                  Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

11        Michaela Staniford                Wasps

12        Kim     Oliver                          Clifton

13        Georgina Roberts                 Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

14        Charlotte Barras                    Saracens

15        Danielle Waterman               Clifton

Replacements:                                 

16        Emma Layland                       Richmond

17        Sophie Hemming                  Clifton

18        Natalie Binstead                   Wasps

19        Gemma Sharples                  Worcester

20        Georgina Rozario                 Plymouth Albion

21        Emily   Scarratt                      Lichfield

22        Francesca Matthews            Richmond

Match Schedule:

England v USA, August 19th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm

England v USA August 22nd at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm

England v Canada August 24th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 5pm

USA v Canada August 26th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm

England v Canada August 29th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm

Ends…