Eight Valkyries players are set for more international action this weekend when the fourth round of the Women’s Six Nations gets underway.
Rochelle Clark and Lydia Thompson have been named in the England starting line-up for their clash with Scotland at Twickenham Stoop on Saturday (kick-off 1pm), while Bianca Blackburn has been named on the bench.
The trio will go head-to-head with Valkyries teammates Tracy Balmer, who has been named at loosehead prop for Scotland, and Lyndsay O’Donnell, who has been named on the bench.
Meanwhile Dyddgu Hywel will start at full-back in Wales’ clash with Ireland at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday (kick-off 11.30am), while fellow Valkyries player Shona Powell-Hughes will wear the number eight shirt. Rhi Parker has been named on the bench.
England Head Coach Simon Middleton said: “We are looking forward to what we expect will be a challenging contest and hope to have strong support from a good crowd for our last home game of the championship.”
Scotland Head Coach Shade Munro said: “We are under no illusion how difficult England are going to be given they are top of the table having won all their games in this year’s championship. But I have every faith our players will rise to the challenge and remain focused on improving our performance.”
Wales Head Coach Rowland Phillips said: “This has been our most difficult team selection so far. We got together for training on Saturday and certain players trained their way back into contention, which we were very happy to see.”
England Squad
15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol)
14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries)
13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
12 Amber Reed (Bristol)
11 Kay Wilson (Richmond)
10 Emily Scott (Saracens)
9 La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries)
2 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield)
3 Justine Lucas (Lichfield)
4 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield)
5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
6 Alex Matthews (Richmond)
7 Marlie Packer (Bristol)
8 Sarah Hunter (C) (Bristol)
Replacements
16 Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens)
17 Vickii Cornborough (Aylesford Bulls)
18 Sarah Bern (Bristol)
19 Poppy Cleall (Bristol)
20 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol)
21 Bianca Blackburn (Worcester Valkyries)
22 Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls)
23 Sarah McKenna (Saracens)
Scotland Squad
15 Chloe Rollie (Murrayfield Wanderers)
14 Megan Gaffney (Edinburgh University)
13 Lisa Thomson (Edinburgh University)
12 Lisa Martin (C) (Murrayfield Wanderers)
11 Rhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University)
10 Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers)
9 Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers/Edinburgh University)
1 Tracy Balmer (Worcester Valkyries)
2 Lana Skeldon (Hillhead Jordanhill)
3 Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill)
4 Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers)
5 Deborah McCormack (Aylesford Bulls)
6 Sarah Bonar (Lichfield)
7 Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill)
8 Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Replacements
16 Lucy Park (Murrayfield Wanderers)
17 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill)
18 Katie Dougan (Edinburgh University)
19 Rachael Cook (Murrayfield Wanderers)
20 Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester Valkyries)
21 Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield)
22 Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers)
23 Abi Evans (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Wales Squad
15 Dyddgu Hywel (Worcester Valkyries)
14 Elen Evans (Scarlets)
13 Kerin Lake (Ospreys)
12 Rebecca de Filippo (Newport Gwent Dragons)
11 Adi Taviner (Ospreys)
10 Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys)
9 Keira Bevan (Ospreys)
1 Caryl Thomas (Scarlets)
2 Carys Phillips (C) (Ospreys)
3 Amy Evans (Ospreys)
4 Rebecca Rowe (Newport Gwent Dragons)
5 Mel Clay (Ospreys)
6 Sioned Harries (Scarlets)
7 Rachel Taylor (Scarlets)
8 Shona Powell-Hughes (Worcester Valkyries)
Replacements
16 Lowri Harries (Scarlets)
17 Cerys Hale (Newport Gwent Dragons)
18 Gwenllian Pyrs (Scarlets)
19 Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys)
20 Alisha Butchers (Scarlets)
21 Rhi Parker (Worcester Valkyries)
22 Elinor Snowsill (Newport Gwent Dragons)
23 Gemma Rowland (Newport Gwent Dragons)