October 31st, 2007
England Women's home international fixtures will all be hosted by London Irish ARFC this season, the Rugby Football Union for Women is pleased to announce.
The reigning RBS 6 Nations champions, who are ranked second in world, will play fixtures against the USA, Wales and Ireland this season. England A will also be in action against the USA and the Nomads at the Avenue in Sunbury-on-Thames.
The international action at Sunbury kicks-off on Wednesday December 12th when England A play the USA, kick-off 7pm, shortly followed by England's first international of the season against the USA on December 15th, kick-off 230pm. Entry to the England A game is free while entry to the England game is �3 for adults and �1 for Under 16s.
England next take to the field at the Avenue on February 2nd, 2008 for their first game of the RBS 6 Nations against Wales. They return to South West London for their final game of the tournament against Ireland on March 15th. England A will also be in action against the Nomads on that same weekend.
England Head Coach Gary Street said: "London Irish ARFC is a fantastic facility and over the years the club have been very supportive of women's rugby and all the work the RFUW do so I am delighted that we will be playing all our home games at London Irish this season.
"The club is in an area that is a real hot-bed of rugby within London and the country and it has a fantastic rugby tradition. England women last played at Sunbury against Ireland in the Six Nations a couple of years ago and it was a very successful international.
"It also has a superb playing surface which will give us the opportunity to play the style of rugby we want to play and I am sure that we will see some more fantastic games of rugby here this season. With it being so close to Twickenham it will give the England teams a real feeling of a true home fixture."
ENGLAND WOMEN'S ELITE SQUAD 2007/2008
Claire Allen Centre Saracens
Margaret Alphonsi Flanker Saracens
*Sara Anastasi Lock Richmond
Charlotte Barras Full-back Saracens
Sarah Beale No. 8/lock Leos
Natalie Binstead Lock Wasps
Rachael Burford Centre Saracens
Rochelle Clark Prop Henley
Rosemarie CrowleyProp Lichfield
Samantha Dale Hooker Worcester
Becky Essex Second & back-row Richmond
Amy Garnett Hooker Saracens
Sophie Hemming Prop Clifton
Sarah Hunter Back-row Lichfield
*Vicki Jackson Full-back/centre Lichfield
*Samantha JamiesonHooker Darlington Mowden Sharks
Karen Jones Back-row Richmond
Emma Layland Hooker Richmond
*Tina Lee Centre Clifton
Jane Leonard Back-row Wasps/Army
Vicky Massarella Full-back/centre Saracens
*Fran Matthews Centre Richmond
*Joanna McGilchrist Lock Wasps
Katy McLean Fly-half Darlington Mowden Sharks
Katherine Merchant Wing Worcester
Amber Penrith Wing Cardiff Quins
Fiona Pocock Wing Richmond
*Helen Price Wing Waterloo
*Claire Purdy Prop Wasps
Shelley Rae Fly-half Wasps
Alice Richardson Fly-half Richmond
Georgina Roberts Centre Darlington Mowden Sharks
Georgina Rozario Scrum-half Plymouth Albion
*Gemma Sharples Flanker Worcester
*Heidi Shelburg No.8 Wasps
Harriet Slynn Scrum-half Richmond
*Katherine Smith Prop Richmond
Catherine Spencer No.8 Worcester
Michaela Staniford Centre Wasps
*Alexandra Stevens Lock Lichfield
Katy Storie Prop Blaydon
Tamara Taylor Lock Darlington Mowden Sharks
Amy Turner Scrum-half Richmond
Danielle Waterman Wing Clifton
*new England Elite Squad member
Ends�
