Warriors Women continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2020/21 Tyrrells Premier 15s season, with Wales international back-rows Sioned Harries and Alex Callender the latest players to extend their stay at Sixways.
Harries and Callender join England World Cup-winning pair Lydia Thompson and Laura Keates as well as club captain Lyndsay O’Donnell and fellow Welsh powerhouse Carys Phillips in committing their future to Warriors.
A seasoned campaigner for Wales, Harries has 59 caps to her name having played in three World Cups and seven Six Nations.
“I can’t wait to play another season at Worcester,” said Harries, who was also part of the Wales Women’s sevens team at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“The support and belief that the club have shown in me has been a huge factor in my development and performance.
“I’m proud to be a Warrior.”
Callender has pulled on the Wales jersey ten times, the emerging talent featuring in this year’s Six Nations coupled with a series of autumn internationals in 2019.
“I’m really excited to be back at Worcester for the upcoming season,” said Callender.
“The environment that Jo and the coaching staff have created brings the best out of me as a player and as a person. I’m buzzing to get back out onto the field when we return to playing rugby.”
The pair began playing for Warriors during the 2018/19 season, Harries notching up seven appearances and Callender ten.
Harries’ most notable appearance for Warriors came against Richmond Women in front of the live TV cameras at Sixways back in January as she crossed for a brace of tries to earn the Tyrrells Player of the Match. Both scores underlined her upper body strength in addition to her ability to show opposing defenders a clean pair of heels with her sharp turn of pace.
She was also a try-scorer against reigning Tyrrells Premier 15s champions Saracens at Sixways in the final league game of the season as Warriors secured a hard-fought try bonus point to cap off a good run of form for Jo Yapp’s side.
Like Harries, Callender was also part of the Warriors squad that put together an impressive three home wins on the spin, a sequence that moved the Sixways outfit up the table as they defeated Bristol Bears, Firwood Waterloo and Richmond.
The all-action back-row was part of the Scarlets side that won the regional competition, culminating in a call-up to the Wales sevens squad.
Warriors Women Director of Rugby Jo Yapp added: “We are so pleased that Sioned has agreed to remain at Worcester. She brings with her a wealth of experience and is great with ball in hand.
“Alex is such an exciting player – defensively her work rate is outstanding. Both players finished the season with some really strong performances, and we are looking forward to seeing them back in a Worcester shirt.”