Valkyries’ loosehead prop Akina Gondwe has been called up by England Women National Academy for their match against Canada A at Cobham RFC on Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm).
Gondwe, who is a member of this season’s England Under-20s squad, has been called up to the bench along with Bristol Bears winger Lilly Stoegar-Goddard, Wasps Ladies back Lizzie Goulden and Darlington Mowden Park back-row Rianna Manson.
There are three changes to the starting 15 who narrowly lost 24-25 to USA at Newbury last week, with Merryn Doidge moving from the bench to start at full-back, Detysha Harper replacing Bryony Cleall, who has been called into the Red Roses squad, at loosehead prop, and Olivia Jones moving from full-back to right wing.
The squad combines a mix of England pathway players and more established names, and is again captained by Richmond FC lock Rowena Burnfield, one of five players with senior international experience.
England Women U20 Head Coach Jo Yapp, a former Worcester scrum-half, takes over from Simon Middleton who will remain with the Red Roses during their preparations for their final Quilter Internationals Test against Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.
Yapp said: “We are looking forward to building on last week’s very tight game against the USA Selects. Canada will bring a different challenge for this squad, but it will be another good test for them as a team and individuals.
“We enjoyed a great crowd at Newbury last week and hope to have the same atmosphere at Cobham again on Wednesday.”
England Women National Academy
15 Merryn Doidge (Bristol Bears Women)
14 Olivia Jones (Loughborough Lightning)
13 Shauna Bennett (Gloucester-Hartpury)
12 Lauren Cattell (Saracens)
11 Georgie Lingham (Saracens)
10 Ellie Green (Harlequins)
9 Megan Davey (Loughborough Lightning)
1 Detysha Harper (Firwood Waterloo Ladies)
2 Clara Nielson (Bristol Bears Women)
3 Sasha Acheson (Gloucester-Hartpury)
4 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond FC) (C)
5 Rosie Galligan (Saracens)
6 Katherine Hobson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
7 Poppy Leitch (Bristol Bears Women)
8 Elizabeth Crake (Wasps FC Ladies)
Replacements
16 Hannah West (Wasps FC Ladies)
17 Akina Gondwe (Worcester Valkyries)
18 Chloe Edwards (Harlequins)
19 Amelia Buckland-Hurry (Bristol Bears Women)
20 Rianna Manson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
21 Caity Mattinson (Bristol Bears Women)
22 Lizzie Goulden (Wasps FC Ladies)
23 Lily Stoegar-Goddard (Bristol Bears Women)