Valkyries pair to tour Down Under - The Worcester Observer

Valkyries pair to tour Down Under

Worcester Editorial 31st May, 2017   0

TWO Worcester Valkyries players have been named in the England Women’s squad for their three-Test tour of New Zealand.

Winger Lydia Thompson and prop Rochelle Clark will be part of the 28-player squad to face Australia on June 9, Canada on June 13 and the Black Ferns on June 17, in the International Women’s Series.

Of the England squad, 15 players were part of England’s 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup-winning side, but Valkyries’ Laura Keates misses out on selection through injury.

England head coach Simon Middleton said: “With the World Cup just around the corner, this tour provides an excellent opportunity for us to test ourselves in an unfamiliar environment against some of the leading teams in the world.




“The squad have been training together for the last six weeks and I’m looking forward to seeing players translate their hard work into first-class performances on the pitch.

“Sadly Laura Keates will miss the Women’s Rugby World Cup after sustaining a long-term injury in training. It’s a great loss to the squad after she played such a vital role throughout the Six Nations and we all greatly feel for her.”


WARRIORS academy players Will Butler and Justin Clegg have been selected in the England Under-20s side to play Samoa in the opening match of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Georgia today (kick-off 10am).

Butler will start at centre, while Clegg has been named on the bench as England look to retain the championship they won on home soil last year.

WARRIORS tighthead prop Nick Schonert has been named in the England squad ahead of their two-Test series in Argentina.

Schonert will travel alongside Warriors coach Sam Vesty, who has been appointed to work alongside Eddie Jones as skills coach, as England prepare to face the Pumas in San Juan on Saturday, June 10 and then in Sante Fe on Saturday, June 17.

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