England World Cup-winning tighthead prop Laura Keates will make her first appearance in two seasons for Valkyries in Saturday’s Tyrrells Premier 15s match against Harlequins Ladies at the Surrey Sports Park (kick-off 1.30pm).
Keates has been sidelined for 19 months with a ruptured Achilles tendon, an injury she sustained on an England training camp.
She made her comeback for Valkyries Development XV against Wasps at Sixways last weekend and comes straight into the starting XV at Harlequins.
Having missed the whole of last season, Keates will be making her first-ever appearamce in the Tyrrells Premier 15s.
There is a double boost for Valkyries ahead of Saturday’s match as former England fly-half Megan Goddard has re-joined after a spell with league rivals Gloucester-Hartpury.
Goddard, a prolific goal kicker, will make her first start for Valkyries in two years.
Valkyries have continued their recruitment campaign and have signed Wales number eight Sioned Harries from Whitland.
Harries will make her debut at Harlequins along with wing Angharad De Smet who joined in September.
De Smet is a Wales Development sevens international but has been unavailable for Valkyries so far this season because of her international commitments.
Valkyries
15 Millie Williams
14 Angharad De Smet
13 Megan Varley
12 Vicky Foxwell
11 Vicky Laflin
10 Megan Goddard
9 Brooke Bradley
1 Akina Gondwe
2 Lark Davies
3 Laura Keates
4 Bec Clough
5 Lyndsay O’Donnell
6 Alex Callender
7 Charlie Wilcock
8 Sioned Harries
Replacements
16 Carmen Tremelling
17 Lauren Leatherland
18 Tilly Churm
19 Zoe Bennion
20 Sian Moore
21 Chloe-may Barton
22 Jada Bailey