Hunter returns for Red Roses’ clash with France
SIX LOUGHBOROUGH PLAYERS IN TRAINING SQUAD
ENGLAND props Sarah Bern and Hannah Botterman will miss Saturday’s match away to France through injury.
Bern picked up a knock in Bristol’s weekend win over Sale Sharks, while Botterman was injured in Saracens’ win over Gloucester-Hartpury.
Wing Lydia Thompson is also ruled out but captain Sarah Hunter returns after missing the Six Nations win over Italy with injury.
Her Loughborough clubmate Emily Scarratt was the stand-in skipper as the Red Roses clinched their second successive Grand Slam in Parma.
The 2014 World Cup-winning prop Laura Keates is selected following impressive performances in Worcester Warriors’ Allianz Premier 15s matches.
Wasps forward Abi Burton, uncapped at 15-a-side but a key part of England’s sevens team, is also included.
Saracens’ Holly Aitchison is the other uncapped player in the 30-strong training squad.
England play France, their closest rivals in this year’s Six Nations, on successive weekends this autumn.
Their first meeting is in Grenoble on Saturday before the two sides meet again at Twickenham on Saturday, November 21.
England’s matchday squad will be named tomorrow.
Head coach Simon Middleton said: “We were absolutely delighted to win the Grand Slam in Italy.
“This is a group that’s trained really well and we’re pleased with how we’re progressing.
“Training is competitive and that was reflected in our performance over in Italy.
“Our focus now moves onto the game against France on Saturday.
“While we have a number of absentees, we have real strength-indepth as shown in our training squad selection.
“We’re looking forward to two days of preparation before heading out to France later this week.”
Forwards
Sarah Beckett (Harlequins Women, 18 caps), Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Women, 18 caps), Abi Burton (Wasps FC Ladies, 0 caps), Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 41 caps), Amy Cokayne (Harlequins Women, 51 caps), Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Women, 54 caps), Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 26 caps)
Detysha Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps), Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, 123 caps), Laura Keates (Worcester Warriors, 60 caps), Heather Kerr (Wasps FC Ladies, 23 caps), Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 37 caps), Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps FC Ladies, 56 caps), Marlie Packer (Saracens Women, 72 caps), Morwenna Talling (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap), Abbie Ward (Harlequins Women, 43 caps).
Backs
Holly Aitchison (Saracens Women, 0 caps), Jess Breach (Harlequins Women, 14 caps), Katy Daley-Mclean (Sale Sharks Women, 115 caps), Abby Dow (Wasps FC Ladies, 13 caps), Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women, 24 caps), Megan Jones (Wasps FC Ladies, 9 caps), Ellie Kildunne (Wasps FC Ladies, 9 caps), Claudia MacDonald (Wasps FC Ladies, 10 caps), Amber Reed (Bristol Bears Women, 58 caps), Leanne Riley (Harlequins Women, 37 caps), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 90 caps), Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury Women, 13 caps), Lagi Tuima (Harlequins Women, 5 caps).