England Head Coach Gary Street said: “This is a very exciting tournament for us and crucially it’s all about trying to enhance our players’ development leading up to the 2010 IRB Rugby World Cup.

“We’ve identified that we need to have the depth and width across all playing positions if we are going to win the world cup in two years time. The Nations Cup, and the two international tests outside of the tournament, provides us with invaluable fixtures against two of the best sides in women’s rugby.”

Street has named a strong 30 women squad, with Bath’s Catherine Spencer once again leading the side and Saracens’ Rachel Burford as vice captain.

The squad includes several players who helped England win the Six Nations title for an unprecedented third time in March, while he has also included a number of up and coming young players like Richmond’s Fiona Pocock and Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt, who could be set to make her international debut next month.

England last played the USA in December 2007 and triumphed 34-0. They last played Canada in the 2006 IRB Rugby World Cup semi-finals. Then England won 20-14 to go on to finish as World Cup runners-up. Canada finished fourth.

Street added: “There is a real mix of experience and youth in this squad, and for the youngsters this is going to be a very important tournament. We have got quite a few players who have just a couple of caps under their belts, so it’s really important that they get some more international experience before next season’s RBS 6 Nations.”

England Nations Cup squad
Rochelle Clark           Henley
Sophie Hemming      Clifton
Katy    Storie              Blaydon Team Northumbria
Rosemarie Crowley  Lichfield
Samantha Dale         Worcester
Emma Layland           Richmond
Amy    Garnett           Saracens
Tamara Taylor           Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Joanna McGilchrist   Wasps
Natalie Binstead       Wasps
Karen  Jones  Richmond
Catherine Spencer (C) Bath
Sarah  Hunter Lichfield
Gemma Sharples      Worcester
Sarah  Beale              Leos
Margaret Alphonsi    Saracens
Georgina Rozario     Plymouth Albion
Amy Turner                Richmond
Katy McLean             Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Alice   Richardson    Richmond
Rachael Burford (VC)Saracens
Kimberley Oliver        Clifton
Georgina Roberts     Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Emily Scarratt            Lichfield
Francesca Matthews Richmond
Fiona Pocock            Richmond
Danielle Waterman   Clifton
Michaela Staniford    Wasps
Katherine Merchant  Worcester
Charlotte Barras        Saracens
 
Match Schedule:
England v USA, August 19th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm
England v USA August 22nd at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm
England v Canada August 24th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 5pm
USA v Canada August 26th at Esher RFC Nations Cup, KO 7pm
England v Canada August 29th at Esher RFC, KO 7pm