Valkyries will give a debut to Wales Sevens international flanker Alex Callender in Sunday’s Tyrrells Premier 15s match against Richmond at the Richmond Athletic Ground (kick-off 12.00pm).
Callender was signed this week from Scarlets and goes straight into the Valkyries’ starting XV having been part of the Wales senior squad for their recent Autumn Internationals.
Callender is the second major signing made by Valkyries in recent weeks, following Australia lock Bec Clough, and her arrival at Sixways has been welcomed by Director of Rugby Roy Davies.
“I’m really pleased to get Alex on board. She’s a player we’ve been tracking since the Emerging Wales v England game last season, and since then she’s gone on to represent Wales Sevens and was included in the 15s Squad for the Autumn Internationals. I think she has lots of potential and I’m looking forward to working with her going forward,” Davies said.
Valkyries also welcome back wing Jada Bailey from injury and Scotland international lock Lyndsay O’Donnell who will start for the first time this season.
Half-back replacement Chloe-May Barton is set to make her first appearance of the season after eight months out with injury.
Barton has been named among the replacements along with hooker Georgia Rossi, another recent recruit, who is set to make her Valkyries debut having played for the Development XV last week.
But Valkyries will again be without England wing Lydia Thompson who is sidelined by a shoulder injury sustained in the Autumn International against Ireland two weeks ago.
Valkyries Development XV will play their Richmond counterparts in the second match of Sunday’s double-header at 2pm.
Valkyries
15 Josie Symonds
14 Jada Bailey
13 Megan Varley
12 Vicky Foxwell
11 Vicky Laflin
10 Sian Moore
9 Brooke Bradley
1 Akina Gondwe
2 Lark Davies (C)
3 Lauren Leatherland
4 Bec Clough
5 Lyndsay O’Donnell
6 Alex Callender
7 Charlie Wilcock
8 Zoe Bennion
Replacements
16 Georgia Rossi
17 Carmen Tremelling
18 Sarah Bill
19 Cara Brincat
20 Ally Taft
21 Chloe-May Barton
22 Jasmine Gibbons