FIVE Worcester Rugby Club players have been named in England women’s squad for Sunday’s Six Nations opener against Wales.
The vastly experienced Rochelle Clarke, Megan Goddard, Ceri Large and Laura Keates have all been picked in the starting line-up by England’s new acting head coach Nicola Ponsford.
Their Worcester team-mate Bianca Blackburn will start on the bench for world champions England.
Worcester flanker Sian Williams will be appearing for Wales in a much-anticipated curtain-raiser in Swansea.
Ponsford said: “This season is the start of a new World Cup cycle for England so the Six Nations is an opportunity to bring on a number of new players.
“The pack is particularly strong, led by Tamara Taylor as captain, with players like Rochelle Clark, who knows better than anyone the intensity of Six Nations rugby, in particular playing away against Wales.”
England head into this year’s Six Nations looking for their first championship success since 2012, with Ireland and France most recently taking the spoils.
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