Worcester Valkyries pair Bianca Blackburn and Lark Davies are among four newcomers in the England Women’s 33-strong squad for the Six Nations which gets underway on February 4.
Blackburn and Davies are joined in the squad by fellow newcomers Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) and Leanne Riley (Aylesford Bulls).
Darlington Mowden Park Sharks second-row forward Tamara Taylor will be looking to gain her 100th international appearance, entering the tournament just two short of the landmark. Amber Reed (Bristol) and Sarah McKenna (Saracens) are also named after time out through injury.
In addition to the opening game against France at Twickenham, England play twice at the Twickenham Stoop; against Italy on February 25 and Scotland on March 11.
They travel to Cardiff Arms Park on February 11 to take on Wales before their campaign in Dublin against Ireland, hosts of the 2017 Women’s World Cup, on March 17.
England Head Coach Simon Middleton said: “This is a huge year and we now have a squad training full time. Our preparation is based around a world-class programme and the Six Nations forms a key milestone ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in August.
“There is strength and depth in this squad and, while we will be taking one week at a time and working to build through the tournament, our ambition is to win the Six Nations trophy.”
England Women:
Backs:
Bianca Blackburn (Worcester Valkyries)
Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls)
Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
Megan Jones (Bristol)
La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Sarah McKenna (Saracens)
Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Fiona Pocock (Aylesford Bulls)
Amber Reed (Bristol)
Leanne Riley (Aylesford Bulls)
Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
Emily Scott (Saracens)
Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries)
Danielle Waterman (Bristol)
Kay Wilson (Richmond)
Amy Wilson Hardy (Bristol)
Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Sarah Bern (Bristol)
Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries)
Poppy Cleall (Bristol)
Amy Cokayne (Lichfield)
Vickii Cornborough (Aylesford Bulls) *suspended from 10 January to 27 February
Lark Davies (Worcester Valkyries)
Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens)
Sarah Hunter (Bristol)
Laura Keates (Worcester Valkyries)
Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Justine Lucas (Lichfield)
Alex Matthews (Richmond)
Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield)
Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol)
Marlie Packer (Bristol)
Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)