Matthews called up for England debut

11:30am Wednesday 14th May 2008

Richmond's Francesca Matthews is one of four players who will make their international debuts when England take on Sweden in the European Championship curtain raiser in Amsterdam on Saturday (4.30pm).

Lichfield duo Rosemarie Crowley and Vicki Jackson and Bath's Marlie Packer are the other three first-timers in England head coach Gary Street's starting XV.

Matthews' clubmate Fiona Pocock could also make her debut if called off the bench.

The team also includes some very experienced players, including a bench that can boast nearly 200 caps between them and current England captain Catherine Spencer.

Street, who guided England to a third and unprecedented RBS Six Nations Grand Slam in March, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the five uncapped players to show what they can do at this level.

"I am keen to blood these players so they can get settled early on in the tournament. This is still a strong starting line-up with a formidable bench to back them up.

"Sweden have progressed a lot over the past couple of years and have a new coaching team in place that I know are doing lots of good things. I have been over to see them and I know they also have some very good individual players.

"This is also their first European Championships so I'm sure they'll be looking to make an impression. For us, we need to make a strong start as this is a knock out tournament from the first game."

The European Championships will see 14 teams from across Europe compete for the coveted crown, including all the Home Nations teams as well as France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden.

If England, who are seeded in Group A, defeat Sweden they will compete in the semi-finals on May 20. The final takes place on May 24.

England Team: 1 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 2 Samantha Dale (Worcester), 3 Rosemarie Crowley (Lichfield), 4 Sarah Beale (Leos), 5 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps), 6 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield), 7 Marlie Packer (Bath), 8 Karen Jones (Richmond), 9 Georgina Rozario (Plymouth Albion), 10 Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 11 Francesca Matthews (Richmond), 12 Kimberley Oliver (Clifton), 13 Vicki Jackson (Lichfield), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 15 Vicky Massarella (Saracens).Replacements: Amy Garnett (Saracens), Rochelle Clark (Henley), Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Catherine Spencer (Worcester), Amy Turner (Richmond), Fiona Pocock (Richmond).

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