England Women 7s squad announced for Sydney

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James Bailey has made two changes to the England Women Sevens squad which travels to Sydney tomorrow for the second leg of the World Rugby HSBC Women’s Sevens Series.

19-year-olds Rachael Woosey and Chantelle Miell, Bristol’s top points scorer of the season so far, are named in the 12-player squad to make their World Series debuts in the Sydney competition which takes place 3-4 February.

Abbie Brown will again captain the side and, as in Dubai, is joined by fellow Team GB names Heather Fisher, Alice Richardson-Watmore and Jo Richardson-Watmore, who alongside Brown was named in the World Rugby Dream Team following the Dubai tournament.  Amy Wilson Hardy is this time excluded after being named in the Six Nations squad earlier this month.

England are drawn in Pool C and will kick off the opening day against Spain, before facing USA and Russia. Pool games will be available to view online via WorldRugby.org with Sky broadcast live for the play off finals.

England Women Sevens assistant coach James Bailey said: “We got the season off to a promising start with a fourth place finish in Dubai. As a new squad it’s important we are constantly looking at ways we can improve and develop, and our preparation for Sydney has enabled us to focus on some key areas post Dubai.”

“Our focus this season remains very much to qualify for the 2018 World Cup through the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series. Sydney will be another great opportunity for the squad to test themselves against the best teams in the world.”

In the opening round of the World Rugby HSBC Women’s Sevens Series, England finished fourth having lost 17-14 to Russia in the bronze final match.

England Women squad, Sydney

1. Natasha Brennan
2. Abbie Brown (C)
3. Alice Richardson-Watmore
4. Millie Wood
5. Lauren Cattell
6. Rachael Woosey
7. Heather Fisher
8. Kelly Smith
9. Fran Matthews
10. Jo Richardson-Watmore
11. Katie Mason
12. Chantelle Miell

Schedule Pool C (all times GMT and games available via WorldRugby.org)

Friday 3 February

v Spain, KO 1.30am
v USA, KO 4.12am
v Russia, KO 7.16am

Report courtesy of England Rugby