England women celebrating winning 2011 the Six Nations
With just under two weeks until the RBS 6 Nations kicks off England Women are aiming high and setting their sights on a record breaking seventh consecutive championship crown.
The reigning Grand Slam champions kick off their campaign against Scotland at Lasswade RFC, Edinburgh, on February 5th, kick off 5pm. England then take on Italy in Milan before England’s first game at home against Wales at Twickenham Stadium on February 25th. Street’s side then travel to France for a tough match in Paris, before ending the series at Esher RFC on March 19th against Ireland.
Street said: “After six successive wins in the Six Nations and beating the world champions New Zealand in the autumn people might think this title is a given for us but we are definitely not thinking like that. The Six Nations is always tough. Ireland and France have consistently put in good performances, with France most recently beating us in a two test series in France in November. Wales too beat us not too long ago, so we know we need to be at the top of our game and give everything we have in every game. We will take this championship one game at a time, but of course our ultimate aim is to defend our title.”
England head into the championship hoping to welcome back some big name players for the campaign. Wasps’ Joanna McGilchrist, Richmond’s Fiona Pocock and Worcester duo Heather Fisher and Danielle Waterman could all be back in the reckoning during the five-match tournament. All four players featured in the 2010 Rugby World Cup and share a massive 136 caps between them.
Street added: “Hopefully we will have handful of our experienced players returning to fitness for the Six Nations while at the same time I will certainly be looking at our young and up and coming players and involving them to ensure we continue to have a wide pool of players available.”
England Elite Playing Squad:
Claire Allan (Richmond)
Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens)
Jennifer Brightmore (Worcester)
Rowena Burnfield (Richmond)
Rochelle Clark (Worcester)
Rebecca Essex(Richmond)
Hannah Field (Wasps)
Heather Fisher (Worcester)
Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield)
Sonia Green (Saracens)
Sarah Guest (Worcester)
Sophie Hemming (Bristol)
Natasha Hunt (Lichfield)
Rose Jay (Lichfield)
Sarah Hunter (Lichfield)
Charlotte Keane (Worcester)
Laura Keates (Worcester)
Ruth Laybourne (Leodiensians)
Jane Leonard (Wasps)
La Toya Mason (Wasps)
Francesca Matthews (Richmond)
Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps)
Sarah McKenna (Old Albanians)
Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Katherine Merchant (Worcester)
Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield)
Isabelle Noel-Smith (Bristol)
Kimberley Oliver (Bristol)
Marlie Packer (Bristol)
Fiona Pocock (Richmond)
Claire Purdy (Wasps)
Amber Reed (Bristol)
Alice Richardson (Richmond)
Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Georgina Rozario (Lichfield)
Emily Scarratt (Lichfield)
Michaela Staniford (Wasps)
Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)
Geraldine Thomas (Wasps)
Amy Turner (Richmond)
Lydia Thompson (Worcester)
Danielle Waterman (Worcester)
Joanne Watmore (Worcester)
Charlotte Wild (Lichfield)
Kay Wilson (Richmond)
England’s Six Nations Fixtures:
February 5th 2012, Scotland v England, Lasswade, Edinburgh, KO 5pm
February 12th 2012, Italy v England, Parabiago, Nr Milan, KO 3pm
February 25th, 2012, England v Wales, Twickenham Stadium, KO 615pm
March 11th, 2012, France v England, Stade Charlety, Paris, KO 145pm
March 17th 2012 England v Ireland, Esher RFC, KO 2pm