Valkyries pair Alisha Butchers and Jasmine Joyce have been called up by the Barbarians for their first international assignment against the USA Women’s Eagles in Colorado next month.
Back-row forward Butchers and wing Joyce impressed for Wales in this season’s Women’s Six Nations and will be among ninet nations represented in the Barbarians’ squad.
Head coach Anna Richards has also invited players from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Scotland and the USA with more to be added following the play-off stages of the Tyrrells Premier 15s competition.
The Barbarians take on the USA for the first time at Infinity Park in Glendale on April 26 (5pm) with the match streamed live by FloRugby.com
The 129 year-old Barbarians club launched their women’s team in 2017-18 with wins against Munster (19-0) and the British Army (37-0). They will take on England for the first time as part of a double-header at Twickenham on June 2.
Barbarians
Forwards | Gill Bourke (Stade Francais and Ireland), Amelia Buckland-Hurry (Bristol Bears), Alisha Butchers (Worcester Valkyries and Wales), Dalena Dennison (Warringah and Australia), Fiao’o Fa’amausili (Auckland Marist and New Zealand), Carmen Farmer (Glendale and USA), Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s and Ireland), Samantha Martinez Gion (Amsterdam and Netherlands), Linda Itunu (Ponsonby and New Zealand), Heather Kerr (Darlington MP Sharks and England), Steph Te Ohaere-Fox (Christchurch and New Zealand).
Backs | Andrea Burke (Capilanos and Canada), Julia Folk (Castaway Wanderers and Canada), Emma Jensen (Hastings and New Zealand), Jasmine Joyce (Worcester Valkyries and Wales), Helen Nelson (Montpellier and Scotland), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears and Wales), Hannah Stolba (Glendale and USA), Amanda Thornborough (Westshore and Canada).