WINGER JODIE OUNSLEY – WHO IS PROFOUNDLY DEAF – LAST FEATURED FOR ENGLAND SEVENS IN FEBRUARY 2020, AND RETURNS TO THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE FOLLOWING A SERIES OF IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCES FOR SALE SHARKS WOMEN.
Head coach James Rodwell has named his England Women Sevens squad for the forthcoming HSBC World Sevens Series tournament in Langford (30 April-1 May and live on www.World.Rugby).
Drawn in Pool C, England face New Zealand, Fiji and USA at Starlight Stadium.
Jodie Ounsley is set for her first sevens appearance since February 2020 while Worcester Warriors’ Jade Shekells, Exeter Chiefs’ Merryn Doidge and DMP Durham Sharks’ Lauren Torley are set for their World Series debuts and maiden England Sevens caps.
Abbie Brown captains the group with core players Ellie Boatman, Abi Burton, Heather Cowell, Grace Crompton, Alicia Maude, Isla Norman Bell, Emma Uren and Amy Wilson Hardy also included.
Rodwell said: “We have some really talented players in the under 20s programme who have joined us in camps in recent weeks which has made selection tough for Langford.
“We have real quality coming through within the women’s game and English rugby and it’s been exciting to see them in camp with us.
“We have some new faces in the squad among some familiar names. Jade (Shekells), Lauren (Torley) and Merryn (Doidge) all fully deserve the opportunity to represent England sevens and I’m really excited to see them play and what they can do on the pitch.
“We are in a tough pool where we welcome New Zealand and Fiji back to the World Sevens Series and for us as a group this is another chance for us to learn and grow together as we build throughout the season towards the Commonwealth Games.”
England Women 7s squad for Langford
Ellie Boatman
Abbie Brown (C)
Abi Burton
Heather Cowell
Grace Crompton
Merryn Doidge
Alicia Maude
Isla Norman-Bell
Jodie Ounsley
Jade Shekells
Lauren Torley
Emma Uren
Amy Wilson Hardy
Pool C Schedule
Saturday 30 April
England 7s v New Zealand 7s – 09.52 local time/17.52 UK time
England 7s v Fiji 7s – 12.56 local time/20.56 UK time
England 7s v USA 7s – 16.00 local time/ 00.00 UK time (Sunday 1 May)
