The Red Roses have selected six Loughborough Lightning players in their 40-strong squad to kick-start the Red Roses’ WXV Global Series preparations.
The group – which contains 22 forwards and 18 backs – will assemble at the University of Nottingham today (Monday) for the start of pre-season training.
Amongst them will be Lightning forwards Lilli Ives Campion, Keevy Fitzpatrick, Haineala Lutui, Sadia Kabeya and backs Carmela Morrall and Helena Rowland.
They will spend the first three weeks of pre-season in Nottingham before returning to London at the Lensbury ahead of their opening match of the series against Australia on Saturday 12 September, CorpAcq Stadium, Salford.
The Red Roses then take on Canada at Exeter’s Sandy Park a week later before ending their home leg of WXV fixtures at Allianz Stadium against New Zealand on Saturday 26 September.
Head coach John Mitchell said: “The naming of this squad is only the beginning; it’s not the reward.
“These 40 have been selected because we believe they have what it takes to build something real together as a squad; firstly, through building better connections to make us stronger, and then with how we want to play this game.
“We’re identifying the players who we think will buy into the Red Roses spirit; those who will elevate their connections, those who will develop their repeat physical capacity, and those who will approach their skillsets with enthusiasm and show the necessary hunger to compete under pressure. That's the standard this programme is setting.
“We're focused on building and playing lethal exciting rugby which requires us to train above the game level with an intensity that allows every selected player to adapt seamlessly into Test rugby when the moment comes. That’s what we do here, and it starts now!”
Red Roses squad for pre-season training
Forwards
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 84 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 9 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 5 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 28 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 25 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 94 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 27 caps)
Bryony Field (Saracens, uncapped)
Keevy Fitzpatrick (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Haidee Head (Trailfinders Women, 1 cap)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 8 caps)
Hayley Jones (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 32 caps)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 82 caps)
Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 53 caps)
Marlie Packer (Harlequins, 116 caps)
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 29 caps)
Backs
Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 49 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 57 caps)
Millie David (Bristol Bears, 1 cap)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 70 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 89 caps)
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 38 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Amelia MacDougall (Saracens, uncapped)
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 40 caps)
Carmela Morrall (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 44 caps)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 51 caps)
Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, 4 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 17 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 4 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)
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