SIX Worcester players have been called up for England's final trial match before the Women's Rugby World Cup squad is chosen.

Head coach Geoff Richards has chosen 45 players for the England elite squad, which will be whittled down to 26 for the World Cup campaign in Canada in August and September.

Fly-half Alice Richardson, wings Kim Shaylor and Nicola Crawford and centre Claire Allan are in the two trial teams who will face each other at Heythorpe Park, Oxford, while Lois Moulding and Rebecca Essex are among the replacements.

Another Worcester player, Jo Yapp, is unavailable for the trial because of injury.

"This is effectively a World Cup trial match and certainly the players' last opportunity to put themselves in contention for a squad place," said Richards.

"All the players know exactly what is at stake and that nobody's place in the squad is guaranteed yet.

"The trial match will certainly be an intense contest on Saturday and the players will all be going hell for leather.

"It is going to be a real pressure match and that's exactly what we need because that is the sort of pressure we're going to face in the World Cup."

The successful 26 players will head into an intense three-week training camp at Loughborough University and at the Commando Training Centre for Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon, in August, before heading off to Calgary for another week's preparation.

The World Cup kicks-off on August 29 with the final being held on September 17. England, ranked second for the tournament, will be hoping to be involved in that final for a second World Cup running.