February 20th, 2006

Worcester’s Claire Allan will start her first ever England A game this Saturday when Amanda Bennett’s side take on the Nomads at Henley RFC, kick-off 3pm.

Allan, who is not even a member of the England Elite 44 squad, has worked her way up the ladder from the England Women’s Students team thanks to some impressive performances this season.

The 20-year-old full-back has benched for England A against both the US Eagles and Italy this season but this will be the first time she has been given the nod to start. Allan takes over in the number 15. jersey from Saracens’ Vicky Massarella, who will play for England against Scotland in the Six Nations championship on the same day.

Head coach Bennett said: “This will be the biggest game of Claire’s international career so far. She has come off the bench for England A in the past, but has never started. As a player who has jumped up the ranks from the England Students team this is going to be a massive game for her but I am sure she will hold her own.”

Bennett has made a number of changes to the starting XV including the inclusion of Clifton’s Heather Fisher in the backrow. Fisher came off the bench against Italy and gave England A the extra edge they needed to see off the tourists. The flanker replaces Lichfield’s Sarah Hunter who moves on to the bench.

Thirsk’s Katie McLean replaces Alice Richardson at fly-half while Amy Turner will give the team an added boost in the centre having played for England in their Six Nations campaign this season. With Turner’s inclusion in the starting line-up Thirsk’s Shauna Vetch moves to outside centre.

Bennett said on taking on the Nomads, a representative side similar to that of the men’s Barbarians: “Playing the Nomads is always difficult because they are such a strong outfit. Fielding a team comprising of several Premiership and retired internationals, who are very experienced players that comes as no surprise.

“Last year we won one game and lost one. We are playing them twice again this season and I am certainly expecting this to be a very tough game, but one that is exciting and challenging.”

England A:
1 Hannah Dawson (Thirsk), 
2 Ann O’Flynn (Lichfield/Army)
3 Katy Storie (Clifton)
4 Rebecca Essex (Worcester)
5 Jennifer Lyne (Richmond) (C)
6 Heather Fisher (Clifton)
7 Lois Moulding (Worcester)
8 Karen Jones (Wasps)
9 Louisa Seymour (Saracens)
10 Katie McLean (Thirsk)
11 Emily Cooke (Clifton)
12 Amy Turner (Wasps)
13 Shauna Vetch (Thirsk)
14 Amber Penrith (Worcester)
15 Claire Allan (Worcester)
Replacements:   
16 Emma Layland (Richmond)
17 Sophie Hemming (Clifton)
18 Emma Dresser (Lichfield)
19 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)
20 Sonia Green (Saracens)
21 Alice Richardson (Worcester)
22 Rachael Burford (Henley)

England A fixtures & results:

England A v USA, January 29th, Imber Court, lost 8- 21
England A v Italy February 12th, Imber Court, won 17-10
England A v Nomads, February 25th, Henley RFC, kick-off 3.00pm
England A v France, March 11th, Bondoufle, Paris, kick-off 3pm
England A v Nomads, March 18th, Old Albanians RFC, kick-off1pm

Ends…