Keates and Joyce in Barbarians squad

Valkyries pair Laura Keates and Jasmine Joyce have been named in the Barbarians squad to face England Women at Twickenham on June 2.

Tighthead prop Keates, who has 60 England caps, will make her Barbarians debut while Wales international wing Joyce will go into the England match on a high having scored four tries on her Barbarians debut against USA Women last month.

Joyce is one of nine players who started in Denver in the Barbarians squad to face England.

Also making their Barbarians debuts will be three more England internationals – full-back Danielle Waterman, fly-half Ceri Large and lock Tamara Taylor – in a squad that includes eight nationalities.

New Zealand’s Linda Itunu captained that side and the No.8 returns with four other Black Ferns’ World Cup winners in hooker Fiao’o Fa’amausili, flanker Justine Lavea, prop Steph Te Ohaere-Fox, and centre Kristina Sue.

In line with the club’s traditions, the Barbarians also include two exciting uncapped players in centre Kayla Ahki and wing Tova Derk.

Centre Ahki was an Olympic Sevens star with New Zealand and made her Barbarians debut against the British Army in 2018.

Swedish sevens player Derk featured against Munster in 2017 and against the USA last month.

BARBARIANS SQUAD

Forwards
Rochelle Clark (Wasps & England)
Dalena Dennison (Warringah & Australia)
Fiao’o Fa’amausili (Auckland Marist & New Zealand)
Carmen Farmer (Glendale & USA)
Linda Itunu (Ponsonby & New Zealand)
Laura Keates (Worcester Valkyries & England)
Heather Kerr (Darlington MP & England)
Justine Lavea (Ardmore Marist & New Zealand)
Claire Molloy (Wasps & Ireland)
Gaelle Mignot (Montpellier & France)
Tamara Taylor (Darlington MP & England)
Steph Te Ohaere-Fox (Christchurch & New Zealand)

Backs
Kayla Ahki (Unattached)
Hannah Casey (Saracens & Ireland)
Tova Derk (Wasps)
Georgina Gulliver (Saracens & England)
Jasmine Joyce (Worcester Valkyries & Wales)
Kristina Sue (Manawatu Cyclones & New Zealand)
Ceri Large (Gloucester Hartpury & England)
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere & Ireland)
Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears & Wales)
Danielle Waterman (Wasps & England)
Emily Wood (Gloucester Hartpury & England)

SIGN UP TO THE WARRIORS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER