Five former Welwyn RFC juniors in England training squad

Hannah Botterman, Sydney Gregson, Ellena Perry, Helena Rowland and Ella Wyrwas all had spells as youngsters with the Hobbs Way-based club and the quintet are all included in head coach John Mitchell's first training squad of 2024.

There could have been one more too but Zoe Harrison is carrying an injury.

The squad will spend three days together with eyes fully turned towards the Women's Six Nations which begins in March.

Sydney Gregson has won three caps for England, the first of them in 2015. Picture: DANNY LOO PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Danny Loo Photography)

Mitchell said: "We are excited to come together for our first camp of 2024 and build on the positive experience of the WXV tournament and introduce some new people to what we are about.
 
"It is our first opportunity to revisit what we value, update our athletic profiling data of the group and re-focus on where our game is working and where we take it to next."

The current crop of ladies are starting to find their feet after a slow start to the season.

They had lost five of the opening six games following their promotion to Women's NC Division One South East (North), the only break in that sequence a 22-22 draw away to Cobham.

However, December saw three wins on the bounce and the first two league games in January have followed suit.

They beat London Welsh 32-25 away before picking up 10-0 success against Cobham in the return.

It has lifted them to fourth in the 10-team division and seemingly safe for another season at the level.

Their next match is at home to league leaders Thamesians on January 28.

Welwyn's senior men are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run but were unable to take it any further when their away game at Hitchin on Saturday was called off due to a frozen pitch.

They travel to London Scottish Lions on Saturday, the home side second in the Counties One Herts Middlesex table in contrast to Welwyn's fifth position. 

England's 38-player training squad:

Forwards (21)
Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 54 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 34 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 42 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 3 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 14 caps)
Lizzie Hanlon (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 13 caps)
Sharifa Kasolo (Saracens, uncapped)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 62 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 25 caps)
Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 99 caps)
Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
 
Backs (17)
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 25 caps)
Sophie Bridger (Saracens, 2 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 33 caps)
Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Merryn Doidge (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 40 caps)
Sydney Gregson (Saracens, 3 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 18 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)
Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 38 caps)
Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 16 caps)
Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 67 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
 
Unavailable for camp due to injury:
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 48 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 72 caps)
Lizzie Duffy (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 46 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 108 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)