Six Lightning players selected for Red Roses squad

sarah hunter

Sarah Hunter will look to add to her 126 England caps whilst fellow Lightning forward Sadia Kabeya could make her international debut.

Lightning forward Sadia Kabeya has been called up to the England Red Roses side for the first time.

Kabeya will join fellow º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ-based players Lark Davies, Detysha Harper, Sarah Hunter, Cath O’Donnell, and Helena Rowland in head coach Simon Middleton’s 40-player training squad for the upcoming autumn internationals.

The group assemble for the first of two preparation camps at Bisham Abbey next week (11-14 October) with the second camp taking place (18-21 October) before coming together to begin their Autumn International campaign on Tuesday 26 October.

During that period, the Red Roses take on New Zealand, firstly at Sandy Park, Exeter (Sunday 31 October, kick-off 2.30pm) before a second meeting with the Black Ferns at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton (Sunday 7 November, kick-off 2.45pm).

England then return to Twickenham Stoop to host third-ranked in the world Canada (Sunday 14 November, kick-off 2.30pm). Their final Test is a meeting with USA at Worcester Warriors’ Sixways home ground (Sunday 21 November, kick-off 2.45pm). All fixtures will be broadcast live on BBC Two.

England Women squad for the 2021 autumn internationals 

Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 24 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Harlequins, 21 caps)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 36 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Saracens, 22 caps)
Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins, 24 caps)
Bryony Cleall (Wasps, 5 caps)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 47 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Harlequins, 57 caps)
Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 60 caps)
Lark Davies (º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Lightning, 31 caps) 
Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 79 caps)
Detysha Harper (º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Lightning, 5 caps)*
Sarah Hunter (º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Lightning, 126 caps)
Sadia Kabeya (º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Lightning, uncapped)*
Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 41 caps)
Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps, 62 caps)*
Maud Muir (Wasps, uncapped)*
Cath O’Donnell (º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Lightning, 19 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 76 caps)
Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)*
Emily Robinson (Harlequins, uncapped)*
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 47 caps) 

Backs
Holly Aitchison (Saracens, uncapped)
Jess Breach (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Heather Cowell (Harlequins, uncapped)*
Merryn Doidge (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)*
Abby Dow (Wasps, 18 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 30 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 15 caps)
Claudia MacDonald (Wasps, 15 caps)
Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 36 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, uncapped)*
Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 58 caps)
Leanne Riley (Bristol Bears, 44 caps) 
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)*
Helena Rowland (º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Lightning, 6 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)*
Lydia Thompson (Worcester Warriors, 47 caps)
Lagi Tuima (Harlequins, 8 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, uncapped)*

*denotes non-contracted player

Autumn fixture schedule and ticket information 

ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND
Sunday 31 October, KO 2.30pm
Sandy Park, Exeter
Tickets: tickethub.exeterchiefs.co.uk

ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND
Sunday 7 November, KO 2.45pm
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Tickets: northamptonsaints.co.uk/buytickets

ENGLAND V CANADA
Sunday 14 November, KO 2.30pm
Twickenham Stoop, London
Tickets: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/harlequins

ENGLAND V USA
Sunday 21 November, KO 2.45pm
Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Tickets: warriors.co.uk/tickets