FIVE Worcester rugby players have been picked to play for England women's national academy against Canada's Maple Leafs tonight at Esher (7pm).

Rachel Lund, Bianca Blackburn, Lark Davies, Courtney Gill and Abbie Walker will be in England’s starting line-up.

The squads, who meet again at Esher on Saturday (2pm), are a combination of players who would be considered at "A" level and current or recent U20s players.

The squads of both nations are shorn of almost all of their top sevens’ players who are away in Dubai.

“The National Academy Programme aims to bridge the gap into senior international rugby,” said Nicky Ponsford, England’s head of performance.

“We have an ever strengthening under 20s programme but there is a big gap from there to a full cap so this programme is designed to support individual players with their development.

“The games give an opportunity for players to practice the skills they have been working on and also provides an opportunity for a number of players who have been performing really well in club games to be seen against really good quality international competition”

England National Academy: Sydney Gregson (Bristol); Debs Fleming (Saracens), Rachel Lund (Worcester), Lauren Cattell (Saracens), Lotte Clapp (Saracens); Latoya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park), Bianca Blackburn (Worcester); Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park), Lark Davies (Worcester), Justine Lucas (Lichfield), Zoe Saynor (Richmond), Courtney Gill (Worcester), Poppy Cleall (Saracens), Abbie Walker (Worcester), Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park). Replacements: Clara Nielson (Bristol), Vickii Cornborough (Richmond), Bee Dawson (Wasps), Zoe Aldcroft (Darlington Mowden Park), Poppy Leitch (Bristol), Leanne Riley (Richmond), Natasha Jones (Lichfield), Lucy Demaine (Whitland), Holly Myers (Richmond).