KEATES AND MATTHEWS IN ENGLAND TRAINING SQUAD

Laura Keates and Alex Matthews have been named in England’s 31-player training squad ahead of Saturday’s meeting with France.

The Red Roses, whose 33-10 victory in Grenoble saw them return to the top of the world rankings, take on Les Bleues at Twickenham Stadium (kick-off 12 noon live on BBC Two and iPlayer) in the second of a two-Test series.

Matthews, who bagged herself a try in Grenoble on Saturday, is set to win her 40th Red Roses cap if selected this weekend, while Keates would add to her 61 appearances.

Gloucester-Hartpury prop Ellena Perry is selected while club team-mate Natasha Hunt returns.

Loughborough Lightning’s Abbie Brown receives her first training camp call-up of the season.

The group will be training at Rams RFC Reading in the build-up to the game and the matchday squad will be announced on Thursday.

Head coach Simon Middleton said: “Last Saturday’s game against France was a tough and physical affair and we expect more of the same.

“We’ve spoken a lot about resilience which we’ve shown in our training and our two matches at the start of the season to date.

“While we were delighted with the result and much of the performance in France, we know we need to be better this weekend.

“We’re looking forward to a big week of preparation.

“We want to keep putting smiles on people’s faces and have a big opportunity on Saturday to thank everybody who has worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes to get the game on at Twickenham.”

Training squad

Forwards
Sarah Beckett (Harlequins Women, 19 caps)
Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Women, 19 caps)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 42 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Harlequins Women, 52 caps)
Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Women, 55 caps)
Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 27 caps)
Detysha Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps)
Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, 123 caps)
Laura Keates (Worcester Warriors Women, 61 caps)
Heather Kerr (Wasps FC Ladies, 23 caps)
Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors Women, 39 caps)
Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps FC Ladies, 57 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens Women, 73 caps)
Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury Women, 9 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
Abbie Ward (Harlequins Women, 44 caps)

Backs
Holly Aitchison (Saracens Women, 0 caps)
Jess Breach (Harlequins Women, 15 caps)
Abbie Brown (Loughborough Lighting, 5 caps)
Katy Daley-Mclean (Sale Sharks Women, 115 caps)
Abby Dow (Wasps FC Ladies, 14 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women, 26 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury Women, 54 caps)
Megan Jones (Wasps FC Ladies, 10 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Wasps FC Ladies, 10 caps)
Claudia MacDonald (Wasps FC Ladies, 11 caps)
Leanne Riley (Harlequins Women, 39 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 91 caps)
Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury, 14 caps)
Lagi Tuima (Harlequins Women, 5 caps)

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