Source: Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images

A Side to take on the World

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Simon Middleton is keeping all his options firmly open in selecting no fewer than 40 players for his Six Nations training squad (full list below)

This is the next stage in fining down a squad to World Cup dimensions (30 players), but Middleton has continued to give chances to young players who have impressed him at Premier 15s level and in the few capped games they have enjoyed.

Source: Harlequins

Rosie Galligan

Important names returning are Emily Scarratt, Mo Hunt, Vicky Fleetwood and Bryony Cleall. At the other end of the experience scale May Campbell, Emma Sing and Ella Wyrwas are introduced. Many will be delighted to see Campbell’s name included; she has consistently been one of the leading hookers in the country for several seasons.
Other players recently capped are recalled: Lucy Packer, Maud Muir, Sadia Kabeya and Connie Powell. No surprises there. Rosie Galligan at last has a chance to build on her debut cap against Ireland three years ago. She deserves congratulation on withstanding successive blasts of ill-health and injury to find favour again.

But two players brought into the matchday squad to play France last year, Flo Robinson and Merryn Doidge, both of Exeter, do not find favour. They remain uncapped.

A squad of this enormous size serves more than one purpose: it brings a sense of proper matchplay intensity to practices; there is full opposition at every turn. It serves to remind all players that their position is not safe; and in the (very) long run, it points beyond the World Cup, a time when we have to expect the odd retirement or two. Continuity is assured.

The specialist positions are well catered for: four scrum-halves and four hookers (Muir a potential fifth)

The Training Squad (there are 17 backs and 23 forwards)

Backs
Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 4 caps)
Jess Breach (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Heather Cowell (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Abby Dow (Wasps, 22 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 34 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 55 caps)
Leanne Infante (Bristol Bears, 48 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 18 caps)
Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 39 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 58 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 10 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 96 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 12 caps)
Lydia Thompson (Worcester Warriors, 50 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, uncapped)

Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 28 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Harlequins, 22 caps)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 40 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 26 caps)
Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins, 24 caps)
Rowena Burnfield (Wasps, 50 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, uncapped)
Bryony Cleall (Wasps, 5 caps)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 50 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 60 caps)
Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 64 caps)
Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 35 caps)
Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 79 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Detysha Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 5 caps)
Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, 130 caps)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 45 caps)
Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps, 66 caps)
Maud Muir (Wasps, 4 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 79 caps)
Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 50 caps)