Worcester Valkyries pair Lydia Thompson and Lark Davies have been included in the England Women’s squad for a four-day training camp this weekend.
Wing Thompson, a Women’s World Cup winner in 2014, returns to the squad after a spell playing for the England Sevens during which she won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal on Australia’s Gold Coast earlier this year.
Hooker Davies, the Valkyries captain in the Tyrrells Premier 15s, has won 10 England caps in four seasons including her first-ever start in last season’s Six Nations against Italy.
Thompson and Davies are among 36 players who will report for training at Loughborough University on Thursday October 4 ahead of next month’s three-match Quilter International series.
England Women have also appointed former Worcester Warriors and Leicester Tigers lock Richard Blaze as forwards coach.
“The training camp in Loughborough is our first opportunity to get the squad together this season,” said England Women head coach Simon Middleton.
“With the Quilter Internationals fast approaching, we will be looking to lay down expectations and introduce Richard Blaze as forwards coach to the squad as a whole.
“This is a really exciting time for the team and I will be looking for players to lay down markers and stake their claim for selection in the Quilter Internationals. We are continuing to evolve and grow and I look forward to getting out on the pitch and training underway.”
Ahead of the Quilter Internationals in November, an England squad will be named on October 18 before the first Test against USA at Allianz Park on November 9.
The Red Roses then travel to Doncaster to play Canada at Castle Park on November 18 before heading to Twickenham Stadium where they play Ireland on November 24 following the conclusion of the men’s game that day.
England Women will play the Quilter Internationals under an EPS agreement before 28 full-time contracts are introduced on January 1.
England Women training squad
Forwards
Sasha Acheson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sarah Beckett (Firwood Waterloo), Hannah Botterman (Saracens), Jo Brown (Loughborough Lightning), Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins), Rowena Burnfield (Richmond FC), Poppy Cleall (Saracens), Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins), Lark Davies (Worcester Valkyries), Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens), Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning), Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Justine Lucas (Loughborough Lightning), Catherine O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Ellena Perry (Saracens), Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury), Abbie Scott (Harlequins).
Backs
Lucy Attwood (Bristol Bears), Racheal Burford (Harlequins), Katy Daly-Mclean (Loughborough Lightning), Abby Dow (Wasps FC Ladies), Ellie Green (Harlequins), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Claudia Macdonald (Wasps FC Ladies), Caity Mattinson (Bristol Bears), Sarah McKenna (Saracens), Charlotte Pearce (Loughborough Lightning), Amber Reed (Bristol Bears), Leanne Riley (Harlequins), Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries), Millie Wood (Gloucester-Hartpury), Carys Williams (Loughborough Lightning)
Unavailable through injury
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), Lagi Tuima (Bristol Bears)