Warriors Women welcome back a number of their internationals for tomorrow’s Allianz Premier 15s clash with Exeter Chiefs at Sixways (kick-off 5.30pm).
Jo Yapp’s side take to the field for the second part of a double-header with the men, who take on Wasps in the Gallagher Premiership.
Red Roses duo Lydia Thompson and Alex Matthews return to Warriors’ starting XV, explosive wing Thompson having won her 50th England cap at Sixways last month.
Canada wing Paige Farries starts, while Japan international Minori Yamamoto gets the nod at fly-half alongside co-captain Caity Mattinson.
Carys Phillips, buoyant from scoring four tries for Wales during the autumn internationals, packs down at hooker. Phillips is joined in the front-row by Flo Long and Akina Gondwe, with Wales international back-row Alex Callender also making her return to the club scene.
“It’s great to get back to the Allianz Premier 15s and we’re all looking forward to the challenge of going up against Exeter,” said Warriors Director of Rugby Yapp.
“The Allianz Cup competition has been really good for us and it has given us a good opportunity to see some of our younger players in action, and we’ve been able to get an idea of where they are at.
“The internationals are back, and everyone is up for selection and we actually have a few selection headaches, but that’s exactly what we want.
“Exeter are a really physical and well organised side, and we know that they’re going to come hard off the line – they’re a tough side and they’re doing well in the league.”
Delighted to see the club staging a double-header again, the second this season, Yapp added: “It’s exciting to have a double-header at Sixways again. It’s been promoted nice and early, and hopefully supporters will stay after the men’s game and enjoy two games for the price of one.”
Warriors Women | 15 Cat McNaney, 14 Lydia Thompson, 13 Carys Cox, 12 Meg Varley, 11 Paige Farries, 10 Minori Yamamoto, 9 Caity Mattinson (cc), 1 Akina Gondwe, 2 Carys Phillips, 3 Flo Long, 4 Lyndsay O’Donnell (cc), 5 Amelia Buckland Hurry, 6 Alex Matthews, 7 Alex Callender, 8 Jo Brown
Replacements | 16 Lana Skeldon, 17 Carmen Tremelling, 18 Abby Smitheman, 19 Alycia Washington, 20 Sioned Harries, 21 Taz Bricknell, 22 Ellen Murphy, 23 Jade Shekells