Spain, USA, Canada and South Africa meet in Madrid in a series that also forms part of the WXV.
Here are the four squads:
Spain
New Head Coach, Juan Gonzalez, has chosen the following 30 players:
Maria Miguel, Cristina Blanco, Sidorella Bracic, Maria del CastilloMaria de las Huertas Roman, Laura Delgado, Anna Puig, Kassandra Sylla, Carmen Castellucci, Alba Capell, Lucia Gayoso, Nerea Garcia, Maria del Mar Escusa, Lucia Diaz, Alba Alpin, Julia Castro, Zahia Perez, Maider Aresti, Alba Vinuesa, Cecilia Huarte, Ines Bueso-Inchausti, Vico Gorrocho Tegui, Cristina Garcia,
Martina Marquez, Claudia Pena, Clara Piquero, Ines Antonilez, Marta Carmona,Claudia Perez, Cristina Lopez (30)
This is the team that can claim to be Champions of Europe for the tenth time! England must stand back and admire!
USA
New Head Coach Rich Ashfield has selected these 30 players:
*Tiara A’au (Rhino Academy), Catie Benson (Sale Sharks), Maya Learned (Gloucester-Hartpury), Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs), *Mae Sagapolu (Central Washington), *Jett Hayward (Life West), Joanna Kitlinski (Sale Sharks), Kathryn Treder (Darlington Mowden Park), Evi Ashenbrucker (San Diego Surfers), Jenny Kronish (Harlequins), *Megan Neyen (Beantown), Alycia Washington (Sale Sharks), Tahlia Brody (Cheltenham Tigers), Rachel Ehrecke (Darlington Mowden Park), *Sophia Haley (Dartmouth), Rachel Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Georgie Perris-Redding (Sale Sharks), Kate Zackary (captain, Exeter Chiefs), Olivia Ortiz (Darlington Mowden Park), Carly Waters (Sale Sharks), *Kristin Bitter (Dartmouth), McKenzie Hawkins (Colorado Grey Wolves), Meya Bizer (Darlington Mowden Park), Gabby Cantorna (Exeter Chiefs), Eti Haungatau (Sale Sharks), Lotte Clapp (Saracens), *Autumn Czaplicki (Eagles Sevens), Tess Feury (Darlington Mowden Park),
*Summer Harris-Jones (Eagles Sevens), Bulou Mataitoga (Loughborough Lightning)
*uncapped
Rob Cain’s handiwork is plain to see here. No fewer than 20 Eagles now ply their trade in England. More figure among the non-travelling reserves.
The Eagles’ two tests show a marked difference; they play Spain for the very first time, the Maple Leafs for the umpteenth.
Canada
Kevin Rouet has announced this squad to play in Spain:
Alexandra Tessier (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue), Alexandria Ellis (Saracens), *Audrey Champagne (Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval), Brittany Kassil (Guelph Redcoats), *Cassandra Tuffnail Fergus Highland / Richmond / Brunel), Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans), DaLeaka Menin (Exeter Chiefs), Emily Tuttosi (Exeter Chiefs), Emma Taylor (Halifax), Fabiola Forteza (Stade Bordelais), *Fancy Bermudez (Westshore), Gillian Boag (Capilano), *Holly Phillips (Bristol Bears), Julia Schell (Guelph Redcoats / Castaway Wanderers), *Justine Blatt-Janmaat (Stade Bordelais), Laetitia Royer (ASM Romagnat), *Mahalia Robinson (TMR / Concordia Université), Marie-Pier Fauteux (Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval), Maya Montiel (University of Ottawa / Saracens), Paige Farries (Worcester Warriors), Pamphinette Buisa (Ottawa Irish), Renee Gonzalez (Westshore / University of Victoria), Sabrina Poulin (TMR / Eibar Rugby Taldea), Sara Kaljuvee (Toronto Scottish / Westshore), Sara Svoboda (Loughborough Lightning), Sarah-Maude Lachance (Club de rugby de Québec / Lons Section Paloise), Sophie de Goede (Castaway Wanderers), Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan), *Zoe Williams (Westshore / University of Victoria)
*uncapped
Unavailable:
Alysha Corrigan, Brianna Miller, Chloe Daniels, Elissa Alarie, Gabi Senft, Karen Paquin, Maddy Grant, McKinley Hunt, Mikiela Nelson, Olivia DeMerchant, Taylor Perry, Veronica Harrigan
That is a pretty serious list of missing persons, but Canadians are made of tough material. They must still be hot favourites to come out top of the competing quartet.
South Africa
Louis Koen has been appointed as interim head coach of the Springbok team for their tour to Spain. This is his first squad:
Aphiwe Ngwevu (Border), Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Unam Tose, Rumandi Potgieter, Jakkie Cilliers, *Byrhandre Dolf (Bulls Daisies), *Mary Zulu, Tayla Kinsey (Cell C Sharks), Nomawethu Mabenge (EP Queens), Chumisa Qawe, *Asiphe Mayaba, *Shaunique Hess (DHL Western Province), Aseza Hele (Boland Dames), Lerato Makua, *Lebogang Ralebona, Lusanda Dumke, Yonela Ngxingolo, (Bulls Daisies), Lindelwa Gwala, Nompumelelo Mathe (Cell C Sharks Women), Sanelisiwe Charlie (EP Queens), *Vainah Ubisi (Mastercard Golden Lions), Nolusindiso Booi (captain), Azisa Mkiva, Sinazo Mcatshulwa, Roseline Botes, *Luchell Hanekom, *Danelle Lochner (DHL Western Province), Babalwa Latsha (Harlequins), Catha Jacobs (Saracens).
*uncapped
The line-up includes eight new faces, of whom five have appeared in the Junior Springboks squad. They form part of the management’s glimpse of a possible 2025 World Cup selection.
Fixtures take place over two successive weekends (March 25 and April 1), all at the Estadio Nacional de la Universidad Complutense, Madrid.
Best of luck to all the players.
