Darlington Mowden Park Sharks fly half Katy McLean will skipper England during their second Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) encounter against Kazakhstan on Tuesday August 24th at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford, kick off 630pm. McLean takes over the captaincy armband from No. 8 Catherine Spencer who is being rested. McLean has been England’s vice captain for two seasons and last wore the captaincy armband when England defeated Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations. McLean is one of 12 changes to the starting line-up, which also sees Saracens’ Charlotte Barras return having missed the entire Six Nations through injury, while Wasps’ Michaela Staniford gets her first start after her late call up to the squad after Claire Allan’s injury withdrawal. Only lock Becky Essex, McLean, flanker Heather Fisher, back Fiona Pocock and centre Rachael Burford will start their second successive world cup game of 2010. England Head Coach Gary Street, whose side defeated Ireland 27-0 in England’s opening WRWC match, said: “We have been working hard over the last three years to reach our goal of being able to field a squad of 26 who are as strong from 1 to 26 and we have achieved this. This team is an extremely strong side and I am confident they will perform against Kazakhstan. Katy also has a wealth of captaincy experience and has done a great job in leading the team in the past, most recently in the Six Nations. She is a natural leader. “Kazakhstan are a team we have had little experience of but we do know they will be very physical. They are a hard working side with some very talented sevens players so we know it is vital to play to our potential ahead of this tough and busy week of rugby.” For WRWC 2010 tickets visit the Ticketmaster website or call 0844 844 2010. Rugby fans who buy tickets for the WRWC 2010 will also be put on a priority ticketing information list for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. For a full schedule of fixtures and to follow England in the WRWC visit www.rfu.com/wrwc
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