England Women’s Head Coach Gary Street has today (Friday) announced his team for their clash against the USA Eagles on Tuesday August 19th at Esher Rugby, kick-off 7pm.
 
The RBS 6 Nations and European Champions will take on the Eagles as a pre-cursor game to the Nations Cup which gets underway on Friday August 22nd, also at Esher Rugby. The Eagles’ neighbours, Canada, are the other team competing in the Nations Cup and England will face them on Sunday August 24th, kick-off 5pm. 
 
Street has named an experienced starting XV which sees the return of Clifton’s Kim Oliver. The centre was an instrumental member of the team that helped England reach the final of the 2006 IRB Rugby World Cup. Since then she has been sidelined with injuries until making her comeback during the European Championships in May.
 
Bath No. 8 Catherine Spencer is captain once again with Darlington Mowden Park’s Katy McLean taking over as Vice Captain with Saracens’ Rachel Burford currently sidelined. 
 

Catherine Spencer

Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt could also be set to make her England debut after being named on the bench. The 18-year-old has impressed Street and assistant coach Graham Smith after her performances in the Under 20s Nations Cup in Canada in July. 
 
Street said: “Although this is not a Nations Cup game, this is the start of a tough schedule of games. We will play four games in ten days against two sides who are ranked within the top six of world rugby. 
 
“We have named a strong starting team for our first match, but it’s very important we get the balance right over the four games to win and to make sure everyone gets enough game time as we look ahead to next season’s Six Nations also.
 
“It’s great to have Kim Oliver back in the starting line-up and I am also excited to see Katy as Vice Captain. There is also the possibility that Emily, who has shown tremendous potential this season, could earn her first England cap.”
 
England last played the USA in December and won 34-0. Street added: “The USA came here last season with lots of new caps. This time around they are going to be more experienced and I am expecting a very different game. They’ll be very competitive opposition and very different opposition to the European sides we are used to playing.”
 
 
Entry to Tuesday’s game costs just £4 for adults, £1 for children and adult members get a £1 discount.
 
England 
 
1 Rochelle Clark Henley
2 Amy Garnett Saracens
3 Katy Storie Blaydon Team Northumbria
4 Tamara Taylor Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
5 Joanna McGilchrist Wasps
6 Sarah Beale Leos
7 Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
8 Catherine Spencer (C) Bath
9 Amy Turner Richmond
10 Katy McLean (vc) Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
11 Michaela Staniford Wasps
12 Kim Oliver Clifton
13 Georgina Roberts Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
14 Charlotte Barras Saracens
15 Danielle Waterman Clifton
Replacements:  
16 Emma Layland Richmond
17 Sophie Hemming Clifton
18 Natalie Binstead Wasps
19 Gemma Sharples Worcester
20 Georgina Rozario Plymouth Albion
21 Emily Scarratt Lichfield
22 Francesca Matthews Richmond

 
Match Schedule: 
England v USA, August 19th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm
England v USA August 22nd at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm
England v Canada August 24th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 5pm 
USA v Canada August 26th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm 
England v Canada August 29th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm