Worcester Valkyries have named their 12-woman squad for the Women’s Premiership Sevens at Broadstreet Rugby Club this Sunday 7 August.
Seven of the Valkyries side for the tournament have been internationally-capped in the XVs format of the game while five of them have played international Sevens Rugby.
England internationals Ceri Large, Megan Goddard, Bianca Blackburn and Lydia Thompson are all in the side alongside Welsh star Sian Williams and Scotland’s Lyndsay O’Donnell.
Both Williams, Thompson and O’Donnell have international Sevens experience too while Alexia Mavroudis, who has played both formats on the big stage for Holland, is in the 12-woman squad.
Drawn into a pool with Richmond, Aylesford Bulls and Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, Valkyries will be targeting a top-two finish to set up a semi-final clash with either Saracens, Lichfield, Wasps or Bristol.
They will be bidding to make history by becoming one of the first Women’s Premiership teams to compete in the Singha Sevens Premiership Rugby Series Final, which takes place over at the Ricoh Arena at 5.20pm on Sunday.
Valkyries' day kicks off at 11.30am against DMP Sharks before taking on Aylesford at 12.10pm and Richmond at 12.50pm.
Kat Merchant, Valkyries Head Coach for the Sevens, said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity to be a part of the Sevens. I just think the game is moving so far forward and tournaments like this where the women get to take centre stage can feel surreal.
“So the experience will be on another level if we make the Ricoh Arena and definitely a highlight for us.
“We have quite a few young girls at Worcester and they’ll definitely be looking to soak up the experience and build into that.
“The Sevens alone is a perfect platform and a real chance for these girls to prove themselves at a big tournament that binds you together and will be a big confidence boost for these girls just being a part of the squad, before the Women’s Premiership season starts.
“I'm excited to see Ceri Large and Bianca Blackburn playing together. Bianca is really quick and Ceri can score tries from anywhere while Lydia Thompson on the wing is an absolute flyer, so they’re definitely players to watch out for.”
Valkyries Sevens squad:
1 Ceri Large
2 Megan Goddard
3 Bianca Blackburn
4 Josie Symonds
5 Sian Williams
6 Lydia Thompson
7 Lyndsay O’Donnell
8 Rhi Parker
9 Sam Bree
10 Zoe Bennion
11 Alexia Mavroudis
12 Sarah Davey
Valkyries Sevens fixture times
Valkyries vs Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 11.30am
Valkyries vs Aylesford Bulls, 12.10pm
Valkyries vs Richmond, 12.50pm
Plate semi-final, 2pm
Cup semi-final, 2.20pm
Plate final, 2.45pm
Cup final, Ricoh Arena, 5.20pm
For tickets to the Singha Premiership Rugby Sevens Series Final, please visit www.premiershiprugby.com/singha7stickets