Huge excitement as Simon Middleton announces his latest selections to the Red Roses squad.
38 players can hope to look forward to a 6 Nations programme, then a World Cup and the very exciting WXV in 2023.
This is a large group (it contains 21 forwards and 17 backs) as Middleton sees the need to introduce six new young faces who have been deprived of the normal path to the top level by the absence of any Under 20 programme for nearly two years.
There are timely returns to fitness for the captain Sarah Hunter and other senior figures, especially Lydia Thompson. Both have been missing for a distressingly long period.
Also back to rude health are Shaunagh Brown, Hannah Botterman, Bryony Cleall, Claudia Macdonald and Amber Reed, though we may not see all of them performing till later in the tournament.
As the Cleall sisters reunite in the squad, there is joy too in the Robinson household as Flo (Exeter) and Emily (Quins) are both called to the colours for the first time.
Flo and Merryn Doidge (full-back) become the very first Exeter players to reach the top level inside the new Prem 15s format.
It’s a relief to see some Sevens players included (Alex Matthews, Helena Rowland and Meg Jones), though we still can’t be sure of their longer term availability.
When Middleton says ‘it will be great to see how our young fly-halves, Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland steer the ship’, that leaves Meg Jones out of the mix. She could of course slip into a No 12 shirt, but on present form is the Number One choice. A striking case of ‘embarras de richesses’.
It’s an ongoing concern that no fewer than 24 of the 38 players are based in London.
The unlucky ones to miss out through injury are Sarah Bern, Laura Keates, Mo Hunt and Morwenna Talling.
At first glance this looks like a group to carry all before them through the 6N. Selection for the three games may prove among the toughest the management have faced for quite a while.
It’s hard to remember another occasion where an England squad has been announced on the same morning as the ten English elite clubs do the same.
The Squad:
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 20 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Harlequins Women, 20 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women, 20 caps)
Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Women, 20 caps)
Bryony Cleall (Saracens Women, 1 cap)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 43 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Harlequins Women, 53 caps)
Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Women, 56 caps)
Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens Women, 76 caps)
Detysha Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps)
Sarah Hunter (captain; Loughborough Lightning 123 caps)
Flo Long (Worcester Warriors Women, uncapped)*
Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors Women, 40 caps)
Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps FC Ladies, 58 caps)
Maud Muir (Wasps FC Ladies, uncapped)*
Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 16 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens Women, 74 caps)
Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
Emily Robinson (Harlequins Women, uncapped)
Abbie Ward (Harlequins Women, 45 caps)
Jess Breach (Harlequins Women, 15 caps)
Merryn Doidge (Exeter Chiefs Women, uncapped)*
Abby Dow (Wasps FC Ladies, 15 caps)
Ellie Green (Harlequins Women, uncapped)*
Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women, 27 caps)
Megan Jones (Wasps FC Ladies, 10 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Wasps FC Ladies, 11 caps)
Claudia MacDonald (Wasps FC Ladies, 12 caps)
Sarah McKenna (Saracens Women, 32 caps)
Amber Reed (Bristol Bears Women, 58 caps)
Leanne Riley (Harlequins Women, 40 caps)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)*
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps)
Emily Scarratt (vice-captain; Loughborough Lighting, 92 caps)
Lydia Thompson (Worcester Warriors, 46 caps)
Lagi Tuima (Harlequins Women, 6 caps)
Beth Wilcock (Harlequins Women, uncapped)*
*Denotes development players
