Thirsk Sharks’ eighteen-year-old centre Michaela Staniford will become England’s youngest ever player in the 6 Nations when she lines up against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday 4th February.

Staniford, who was born in High Wycombe, but now studies at East Durham & Houghall Community College in the Northeast, first picked up a rugby ball at the age of 13 when introduced to the game by the school’s rugby coach Lee Parkin. She has since represented England at Under 19s and made the step up to the Elite Squad earlier this season when she scored for an England Fifteen against Wales in December.

Commenting on her selection Staniford said:

“When Geoff called and told me I would be starting against Wales I was lost for words… I was so surprised, but obviously really excited about getting my first full England cap. To play for England is the ultimate experience, especially alongside players who I use to watch from the sidelines.”

In addition to Staniford, Head Coach Geoff Richards has also named several other young players in the 22. Lichfield’s Charlotte Barras (age 22), Saracens’ Maggie Alphonsi (20), Worcester’s Kim Shaylor (23) and Henley’s Rochelle Clark (23) will all start, with Wasps’ scrum half Amy Turner (20) on the bench.

Despite several injuries that has kept some of England’s more senior members of the squad out of the reckoning, Richards says that the younger players are there on merit:

“We have a number of injuries at the moment, but I don’t feel that this has reduced the strength of the squad in any way. Those selected are there on merit, as a result of good performances week-in, week-out for their clubs, as well as a result of what they have already showed at an England representative level. It further emphasises how much strength in depth we have in women’s rugby in England. I am extremely excited about our prospects in this 6 Nations and we are all looking forward to the game against Wales in February.”
 
The squad in full is as follows:

1. ROCHELLE CLARKE (HENLEY)
2. SELENA RUDGE (WASPS)
3. VANESSA GRAY (WASPS)
4. JENNY SUTTON (RICHMOND)
5. RACHEL VICKERS (RICHMOND)
6. SHANNON BAKER (CLIFTON)
7. MARGARET ALPHONSIE (SARACENS)
8. CATHERINE SPENCER (FOLKESTONE)
9. JO YAPP (WORCESTER)
10. KAREN ANDREW (SARACENS)
11. KIM SHAYLOR (WORCESTER)
12. PAULA GEORGE (WASPS)
13. MICHAELA STANIFORD (THIRSK)
14. CHARLOTTE BARRAS (LICHFIELD)
15. SUE DAY (WASPS)

16. ANN O’FLYNN (ARMY)
17. VANESSA HUXFORD (WASPS)
18. KAREN JONES (WASPS)
19. HELEN CLAYTON (SARACENS)
20. AMY TURNER (WASPS)
21. SUSIE APPLEBY (CLIFTON)
22. EMILY COOKE (CLIFTON)

England play Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, on Friday 4th February, kick off 7.15pm. For tickets please call the Wales Rugby Football Union for Women on 029 2082 2442. For details on England’s home games against Spain and France at Imber Court, and Scotland at Twickenham, please visit www.rfu.com and select the women’s rugby tab, or contact the RFUW main office on 020 8831 7996.

Ends