Head coach James Rodwell has named his England Women Sevens squad for their Rugby Europe World Cup qualifying tournament at National Rugby Stadium Arcul de Triumf, in Bucharest (16-17 July).
Drawn in Pool B, England take on hosts Romania, Italy and Belgium with all matches streamed on RugbyEurope.tv.
The tournament is made up of three pools of four teams. The top eight teams will progress from the pools and be reseeded for the quarter-finals where the winners of each will qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens which takes place in South Africa in September.
Abbie Brown captains the side which is made up of players who have represented England Sevens on the 2022 World Series and Rugby Europe tournaments.
Rodwell said: “As a group we are really looking forward to getting back on the pitch with the aim to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Cape Town.
“We’ve had an intensive training block since we returned from the Rugby Europe tournaments and want to continue the progress made there.
“This is separate from the Commonwealth Games and a big opportunity to be involved in another major tournament in what is a really exciting year for sevens.”
England Women Sevens squad
Ellie Boatman
Abbie Brown (C)
Heather Cowell
Grace Crompton
Merryn Doidge
Amy Wilson Hardy
Alicia Maude
Isla Norman-Bell
Jodie Ounsley
Celia Quansah
Jade Shekells
Lauren Torley
Emma Uren
Pool B schedule
Saturday 16 July
England Women 7s v Romania Women 7s – KO 11.06 local time/9.06 UK time
England Women 7s v Italy Women 7s – KO 18.06 local time/16.06 UK time
Sunday 17 July
England Women 7s v Belgium Women 7s – KO 11.06 local time/9.06 UK time
With thanks to the RFU
