England Women have made three changes for the final round of the Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix in Brive this weekend (20-21 June).
England, who finished third in round one in Russia on Sunday, will be led by Susie Appleby as she takes over the coaching reigns for this tournament. Appleby has named Abigail Chamberlain captain of this new look sevens side.
Richmond’s Fiona Pocock and Bristol’s Megan Jones have been called into the starting line-up for the first time this season and they join Vicky Fleetwood and Abbie Brown who also have a handful of sevens caps between them. The experienced Alice Richardson is recalled though, and is joined by Rachael Burford, Claire Allan and Leanne Riley who have all played on the World Sevens Series circuit this season.
England will take on Ireland, Germany and Scotland in the pool stages. England defeated Ireland 17-14 in the quarter-finals last weekend while they also saw off Germany 40-7.
Appleby said: “We are experimenting with the squad again as we want to have a look at different players, and provide them with the opportunity to show us what they can do. Megan has been injured most of the season but we know she is a young, talented player who could offer us a different dynamic. Fiona has come back from injury as well this season, and has made real progress. We think she can bring a lot to sevens in the role of wing or at 9 so it will be good to see her back in a sevens shirt again.
“It is once again going to be a challenging weekend. Germany is a side that is always improving and Scotland won the Bowl last time out in Russia, though I think they played better than their ninth place finish. Ireland, meanwhile, gave us a really tough quarter-final match last weekend so we know we have to be at our best to beat them on Saturday.”
England Sevens
Claire Allan (Richmond)
Abbie Brown (Bristol)
Rachael Burford (VC) (Thurrock)
Abigail Chamberlain (C) (Richmond)
Heather Fisher (Thurrock)
Victoria Fleetwood (Saracens)
Megan Jones (Bristol)
Francesca Matthews (Richmond)
Fiona Pocock (Richmond)
Leanne Riley (Saracens)
Alice Richardson (Richmond)
Lydia Thompson (Worcester)
England Playing Schedule
20 June
England v Germany, KO 9.44am BST
England v Scotland, KO 12.44pm BST
England v Ireland, KO 4.28pm BST
21 June
Knock-out stages TBC
Ends…
