Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

England axe 3 players as 35-woman Red Roses squad named

Detysha Harper is tackled by Sarah Hunter of England looks on during a England Red Roses Training Session at Pennyhill Park on August 18, 2022 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Red Roses head coach Simon Middleton has dropped three players as he named an updated 35-player England Women’s squad ahead of this weekend’s Test match against USA.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gloucester full-back Emma Sing, Worcester prop Laura Keates, and Loughborough Lightning prop Detysha Harper do not feature in the squad.

The Test which is due to be played in Exeter forms part of England’s preparation for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The Red Roses are currently the bookies’ favourites to win the trophy after walking through their international opponents this last calendar year.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“We’ve had a good month of preparation at Pennyhill Park where the players have worked extremely hard,” said Middleton. “We’ve reduced the squad to 35 ahead of this weekend’s match. Those not selected in this squad remain very much part of the wider World Cup training squad and in contention. We feel it’s best for them to return to their clubs for their own pre-seasons and we will of course be monitoring and in touch throughout.

“We’re looking forward to spending the week in Exeter ahead of what is an exciting game.”

FORWARDS
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears)
Hannah Botterman (Saracens)
Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins)
Bryony Cleall (Wasps)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens)
Amy Cokayne (Harlequins)
Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins)
Lark Davies (Bristol Bears)
Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens)
Rosie Galligan (Harlequins)
Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning)
Marlie Packer (Saracens)
Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Morwenna Talling (Loughborough Lightning)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears)

BACKS
Holly Aitchison (Saracens)
Jess Breach (Saracens)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Leanne Infante (Saracens)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins)
Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
Sarah McKenna (Saracens)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins)
Amber Reed (Bristol Bears)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning)
Lydia Thompson (University of Worcester Warriors)

Abby Dow (Wasps; rehabilitation)

ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

c
cw 3 hours ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



...

220 Go to comments
Close
ADVERTISEMENT