Akina Gondwe will make her 50th appearance for Warriors Women when they welcome Sale Sharks to Sixways Stadium tomorrow in the Allianz Cup (kick-off 2pm).
The former England U20 prop captains a team which sees seven changes from the narrow 15-12 Allianz Premier 15s defeat at Gloucester-Hartpury.
El Febrey, who gets better and better with each game, starts at hooker while Elizabeth Shermer and Charlotte Wright Haley get the nod at second-row and openside flanker respectively.
Promising scrum-half Jess Kershaw partners fly-half Ellen Murphy at the heart of Warriors’ backline, with Jade Shekells making a welcome return to outside centre.
Lydia Thompson starts on the wing having been released by England to play in tomorrow’s fixture as the Red Roses look at new combinations on the opening weekend of the TikTok Six Nations.
“We have eight players representing their country in the Six Nations as well as two players playing for England U20s in France, so it’s a great opportunity for a number of players to show what they can do,” said Director of Rugby Jo Yapp.
“Sale are a very tenacious side, and they never roll over, so we know that it is going to be a very difficult confrontation.”
Reflecting on the number of players on international duty this weekend, Yapp added: “It’s great to see so many players pulling on their international colours and it shows how much we’ve improved as a side and we’re really proud of each of them.
“England spoke to us and Lydia isn’t involved this weekend and they want her to get some more game time.
“It’s great for us not only for what she does on the field, but she is a fantastic leader too and I’m sure it will put her in a good position for the rest of the Six nations.”
Tickets for the game are available here.
Warriors Women | 15 Cays Cox, 14 Lydia Thompson, 13 Jade Shekells, 12 Minori Yamamoto, 11 Vicky Laflin, 10 Ellen Murphy, 9 Jess Kershaw, 1 Akina Gondwe (c), 2 El Febrey, 3 Laura Keates, 4 Elizabeth Shermer, 5 Amelia Buckland Hurry, 6 Cara Brincat, 7 Charlotte Wright Haley, 8 Jo Brown
Replacements | 16 Carmen Tremelling, 17 Stef Evans, 18 Flo Long, 19 Alycia Washington, 20 Sara Moreira, 21 Meg Varley, 22 Vicky Foxwell, 23 Paige Farries