WORCESTER'S England Women's internationals Kim Shaylor and Nicky Crawford have retired from playing international rugby.

Crawford, 35, and 25-year-old Shaylor, who have been regular fixtures in the England side clocking up 63 and 20 caps respectively, decided to call it a day after helping the side to a second-placed finish in the IRB World Cup in Canada in September.

Jo Yapp, a fellow England international who plays for Worcester, will also miss the forthcoming Six Nations as she has opted to take a year off from rugby to go travelling.

The 27-year-old intends to carry on playing when she returns to England though.

Shaylor said: "I am a medical student at Birmingham University and it was impossible to dedicate enough time to that as well as being an international rugby player.

"I have also had a lot of injuries and my body was saying it was time to quit too.

"I missed England's Grand Slam win through injury, but I was delighted to be able to play in this year's World Cup final.

"Playing at Twickenham was another one of the highlights of my career."

Meanwhile, three Worcester players have been named in head coach Geoff Richards' 41-player elite squad ahead of the Six Nations in February and March next year.

Prop Samantha Dale has graduated from the students and regional playing teams to win her first England squad selection. Winger Katherine Merchant and number eight Catherine Spencer have also been included.

Also included in the squad are 17 members of England's World Cup squad, including Wasps' Sue Day, Clifton's Georgia Stevens and Saracens' Maggie Alphonsi.