NEWS EXTRA
SIMON Middleton has included 11 uncapped players in his 40-woman England squad for the Autumn Internationals against world champions New Zealand, Canada and the USA.
They face the Black Ferns twice, with the first match on Sunday, October 31 in Exeter.
“We've got a host of potential debutants in the squad who are there because they impressed in the league or they've been on our radar for a while and have upped their game again this season,” Middleton said.
“Sometimes opportunities present themselves but they never present themselves again so you've got to grasp them while they're in front of you.”
The uncapped players include Exeter pair Flo Robinson and Merryn Doidge, who missed out on being capped earlier in the year when a floodlight failure in France prevented them being used off the bench.
Bristol's Sarah Bern is in line for her first international run-out in a year after missing most of the 2020-21 season through injury.
A notable absentee from the squad is Wasps fly-half Meg Jones, who has turned down a XVs contract to play Sevens instead.
England squad
Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft, Sarah Beckett, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Shaunagh Brown, Bryony Cleall, Poppy Cleall, Amy Cokayne, Vickii Cornborough, Lark Davies, Vicky Fleetwood, Detysha Harper, Sarah Hunter, Sadia Kabeya*, Alex Matthews, Harriet Millar- Mills, Maud Muir*, Cath O'- Donnell, Marlie Packer, Connie Powell*, Emily Robinson*, Abbie Ward Backs: Holly Aitchison*, Jess Breach, Heather Cowell*, Merryn Doidge*, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison, Ellie Kildunne, Claudia MacDonald, Sarah McKenna, Lucy Packer*, Amber Reed, Leanne Riley, Flo Robinson*, Helena Rowland, Emma Sing*, Lydia Thompson, Lagi Tuima, Ella Wyrwas*
*uncapped players
