Eight of women's rugby's biggest names are back in the England squad for the series against the Black Fern.
The squad announced today includes 18 players from the party that went to France, but replaces Rosemarie Crowley, Rose Jay, Ceri Large, Sarah McKenna, Harriet Millar-Mills, Isobel Noel-Smith, Tamara Taylor and Lydia Thompson with Maggie Alphonsi, Rachael Burford, Becky Essex, Sophie Hemming, Katy McLean, Claire Purdy, Tamara Taylor, and Nollie Waterman.
However, two new caps from the French tour are retained - Hannah Gallagher and Alex Matthews.
This is clearly a squad that means business. Every player has played at least one test match - following the last Six Nations England have had both the Nations Cup and the French tour to experiment with new players, positions and tactics - five tests and one uncapped international, so there is no need to try anything new. The result is a pretty awesome team.
The challenge, of course, will be to keep the team on top form over a challenging three games in just over a week - but again England's preparation for that could hardly have been better, with four test in a fortnight in Canada and now two in four days in France.
The full squad is:
- Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
- Rachael Burford (Richmond)
- Rowena Burnfield (Richmond)
- Rochelle Clark (Worcester)
- Rebecca Essex(Richmond)
- Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
- Hannah Gallagher (Saracens)
- Sophie Hemming (Bristol)
- Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
- Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)
- Laura Keates (Worcester)
- La Toya Mason (Wasps)
- Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)
- Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
- Katherine Merchant (Worcester)
- Kimberley Oliver (Bristol)
- Marlie Packer (Bristol)
- Claire Purdy(Wasps)
- Alice Richardson (Richmond)
- Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
- Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
- Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
- Amy Turner (Richmond)
- Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
- Danielle Waterman (Worcester)
- Kay Wilson (Richmond)
The dates for the three tests are:
- Nov 26th England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, KO 5pm, live on Sky Sports
- Nov 29th England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, KO 7pm
- Dec 3rd England v New Zealand, Esher RFC, 2pm
Tickets for the game at Twickenham on November 26th are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk and group booking are available from the RFU by calling 0871 22 22 017, option 6. Prices range from £65 to £35. Junior tickets cost just £15.
Tickets for the international tests at Esher RFC on November 29th and December 3rd will be available on the gate and cost £10 for adults and £5 for juniors. They can also be purchased in advance at www.esherrugby.com
