Internationals Minori Yamamoto and Alycia Washington will make their Allianz Premier 15s bow as Warriors Women open up their account with a trip to Sale Sharks tomorrow (kick-off 1.30pm, live streamed).
Japan fly-half Yamamoto, who has already impressed since jetting into Sixways, partners scrum-half and skipper for the day Caity Mattinson at the heart of Warriors’ backline.
Meanwhile, USA Eagles second-row Washington packs down alongside Elizabeth Shermer with Jo Brown, Alex Callender and Sioned Harries all getting the nod in the back-row.
Experienced campaigner Carys Phillips starts at hooker, with props Flo Long and Akina Gondwe either side of her – the latter having worked incredibly hard to return from a lengthy injury lay-off towards the end of last season.
England star Lydia Thompson starts on the wing, while Canada international Paige Farries occupies the other wing with Meg Varley and Vicky Foxwell forming the centre partnership. Lowri Williams, who was the recipient of the Club Person of the Year Award last season, orchestrates proceedings at full-back.
Wales scrum-half Ffion Lewis is set to make her second debut from the bench, the dual coder having previously had a stint at Sixways. Fly-half Ellen Murphy, capped seven times by Ireland, is also ready to make her first Warriors appearance after making the move across the Irish Sea during the summer.
“We’re really excited to get our Allianz Premier 15s season underway and it will be great to see the new signings in action,” said Jo Yapp, Warriors Women Director of Rugby.
“With Katy Daley-McLean as the Sale number-ten, they will bring a strong kicking game. They are a tenacious team, so we are expecting a really physical encounter.”
Warriors | 15 Lowri Williams, 14 Lydia Thompson, 13 Vicky Foxwell, 12 Meg Varley, 11 Paige Farries, 10 Minori Yamamoto, 9 Caity Mattinson ©, 1 Akina Gondwe, 2 Carys Philips, 3 Flo Long, 4 Elizabeth Shermer, 5 Alycia Washington, 6 Jo Brown, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Sioned Harries (vc)
Replacements | 16 Carmen Tremelling, 17 Lisa Campbell, 18 Abby Smitheman, 19 Lyndsay O’Donnell, 20 Charlotte Wright Haley, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Ellen Murphy, 23 Carys Cox