Six Worcester Valkyries have been named in the England Women squad to face France in their second game of the Women’s Rugby Super Series today (kick-off 10pm BST).
Following a disappointing 52-17 defeat to Canada on Friday, England have made seven changes to the starting line-up for the match at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, USA.
Lauren Cattell comes in at outside centre while Fiona Pocock, Alex Matthews, Poppy Leitch and Worcester’s Laura Keates,, who all started on the bench against Canada, earn a call-up to the starting XV.
Worcester stars Rochelle Clark, Ceri Large and Lydia Thompson also start for England Women in the USA.
Meanwhile Bianca Blackburn, who scored one of England’s three tries in the defeat to Canada, is on the bench along with fellow Valkyries player Lark Davies.
The game will be broadcast live on TheRugbyChannel.TV.
England and France last played in the final game of the 2016 Six Nations, where France, playing at home, narrowly saw-off England 17-12 to clinch the title.
Lead Coach Scott Bemand said: “We have regrouped since the Canada game and are ready to face France, a side we know well. We were disappointed by our performance last time as we didn’t adapt well enough on the day.
“We have looked at what we need to improve, as well as the things we did well, and we want to make amends for the Six Nations result in March.”
England Women fixtures/results:
Canada 52-17 England
England v France, July 5
England v USA, July 9
England Women team vs France
15 Fiona Pocock (Richmond) (27 caps)
14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester) (23 caps)
13 Lauren Cattell (Saracens) (18 caps)
12 Ceri Large (Worcester) (48 caps)
11 Katie Mason (Bristol) (11 caps)
10 Amber Reed (Bristol) (30 caps)
9 La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park) (55 caps)
1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester) (111 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield) (14 caps)
3 Laura Keates (Worcester) (50 caps)
4 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield) (32 caps)
5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park) (92 caps)
6 Alex Matthews (Richmond) (22 caps)
7 Poppy Leitch (Bristol) (4 caps)
8 Sarah Hunter (Bristol) (79 caps) (C)
Replacements
16 Lark Davies (Worcester) (2 caps)
17 Victoria Cornborough (Richmond) (15 caps)
18 Sarah Bern (Bristol) (uncapped)
19 Zoe Aldrcoft (Darlington Mowden Park) (uncapped)
20 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol) (18 caps)
21 Bianca Blackburn (Worcester) (14 caps)
22 Millie Wood (Lichfield) (1 cap)
23 Lotte Clapp (Saracens) (8 caps)
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