TALENTED TRIO RE-SIGN WITH WARRIORS WOMEN

Warriors Women Director of Rugby Jo Yapp has re-signed forward USA international student Narcisse Jordan, England Under-20 wing Cara Clarke and former England international fly-half Megan Goddard ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The trio’s decision to ink fresh terms with the club brings the total number of re-signings to 23, with a new arrival of international quality expected to be announced tomorrow.

Jordan, 26, joined Warriors last summer after impressing for Cardiff Met University where she is studying a Masters in Fine Art. A versatile forward having played at loosehead and tighthead prop as well as in the back-row, Jordan started playing rugby at the age of 18 for Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio.

“I’m super excited to come back to play another season with such amazing athletes and to be coached by some of the most amazing staff,” said Jordan, who after graduating from Notre Dame College, moved to Tampa, Florida where she played flanker at Tampa Bay Krewe Women’s Rugby Club.

“This upcoming season is going to be amazing and I’m so excited at what’s to come.”

Academy Forwards Transition Coach and Warriors Women Forwards Coach Mike Hill, added: “Narcisse is a powerful athlete, who really started to show her potential as we went through the season.

“She is hungry to develop and will be invaluable next season as she brings so much energy to us as a squad.”

Joining Jordan in committing her future to Warriors, is 20-year-old Clarke who won the Tri-Nations with England Under-20s last year. Racking up five tries in five games for the Red Roses Under-20s in 2019, Clarke was recalled to the squad earlier this year, prior to the campaign being curtailed for Covid-19.

As well as lifting the Tri-Nations with England Under-20s, Clarke won the Under-18s European Sevens Championships with England in 2017, with her form earning her a move to Warriors in the build-up to the 2017/18 season.

“I’m extremely excited to be re-signing with Worcester,” said Clarke, who comes from a talented rugby family having seen her elder sister Brooke also represent England Under-20s.

“Warriors Women has got such a family feel and Jo has created such an incredible environment. I’m looking forward to getting out and playing with the girls when rugby resumes.”

Rounding off the trio of re-signings is Warriors Women stalwart Goddard, who won the Premiership title with Worcester in 2013aged just 18.

Winning five England caps, the talented fly-half made history in 2017 when she was selected to represent the first ever women’s Barbarians team and was named Player of the Match as she helped the Baa-Baas to a 19-0 victory over Munster at Thomond Park.

Cutting her rugby playing teeth at the age of 11, Goddard progressed through the Gloucestershire County and South West regional programmes before attending Hartpury College where she was part of the Advanced Apprenticeship Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme. It was there that she blossomed as a rugby player and was soon named in the England Under-20 squad, captaining them on a number of occasions.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenges that next season will bring,” said Goddard, 26.

“I’ve been training hard over this period, so I’m looking forward to getting back to playing in the Premier 15s with Worcester.”

Warriors Women Lead Coach Sian Moore, a former Wales international with a raft of caps, said: “It’s great to have Cara and Megan re-sign with us. Cara is a local talent that we haven’t seen the best of yet. She has pace that will frighten any defensive team and having had a frustrating season due to injury, I’m in no doubt that she will be hungrier than ever to perform in a Warriors shirt.

“It’s also great to have Megan on board with us as she’s one of our more experienced players within the squad. Her rugby achievements to date are impressive and she still has much more to showcase with her natural ability with ball in hand, her coolness under pressure and her passion to perform.”

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