International rugby returns to St. Albans this Saturday (February 3^rd) with the reigning Six Nations Grand Slam Champions and 2006 IRB Rugby World Cup finalists, England, kicking off their defence of the RBS Six Nations crown with an exciting clash against Scotland at Old Albanians RFC, kick-off 230pm.

England have nominated the impressive facilities at Old Albanians RFC as their home venue for two of their games during the 2007 tournament, which also sees England take on France at the Hertfordshire club on March 11^th, kick-off 145pm.

England Women’s head coach, Geoff Richards, said: “I am excited that our home ground this season will again be at Old Albanians RFC. It is a fabulous venue, with a great surface and good facilities. We played last year’s Six Nations championship there and it proved a winning arena for us.

“With the England men’s team kicking off their RBS Six Nations championship on Saturday at Twickenham an hour and a half after our game hopefully people will come and watch some great women’s rugby live action before enjoying the men’s match in the club house.”

Richards has named a team to face Scotland brimming with experience and youth. Clifton’s Georgia Stevens, Saracens’ Maggie Alphonsi and Worcester’s Catherine Spencer, all 2006 IRB Rugby World Cup finalists, will form an experienced backrow unit while fellow Rugby World Cup players Amy Garnett, Katy Storie, Tamara Taylor, Karen Andrew, Danielle Waterman, Rachel Burford and Charlotte Barras also start against Scotland. Clifton scrum-half Susie Appleby, who has 63 caps for her country, returns to the England starting line-up at number nine.

Saracens’ Claire Allan, Clifton’s Sophie Hemming and Wasps lock Jo McGilchrist will all make their England debuts on February 3^rd.

Richards added: “Although we have eight new caps in the 22 and three in the starting side I believe this to be a very strong 22 and I am looking forward to the RBS Six Nations kicking off. This is going to be a tough tournament and playing Scotland first will be difficult. Like us they have had a lot of players retire after the World Cup and generally across the board, most teams are rebuilding but that I think will make for a very exciting RBS Six Nations. However, we are obviously going into this tournament to defend out Six Nations crown and I am confident we can do that.

“Sophie, Jo and Claire all deserve their place in the starting line-up and I am looking forward to seeing them start as well as blooding the players who are on the bench. All these players have come though the RFUW’s successful player development system and have played regularly at a very high and competitive level.”

Tickets for England’s games at Old Albanians RFC are available on the gate for £7.50 (adults) and £2.50 (Under 16s). For England’s home game against Italy at Twickenham Stadium entry is free but only after the men’s match against Italy has concluded.

1 Sophie Hemming Clifton *

2 Amy Garnett Saracens

3 Katy Storie Blaydon

4 Tamara Taylor Thirsk

5 Jo McGilchrist Wasps *

6 Georgia Stevens Clifton

7 Maggie Alphonsi (VC) Saracens

8 Catherine Spencer Worcester

9 Susie Appleby Clifton

10 Karen Andrew Saracens

11 Danielle Waterman Clifton

12 Rachel Burford Saracens

13 Claire Allan Saracens *

14 Sue Day (C) Wasps

15 Charlotte Barras Saracens

16 Emma Layland Richmond *

17 Vanessa Gray Wasps

18 Sarah Beale Leos *

19 Sarah Hunter Lichfield *

20 Katy McLean Thirsk *

21 Michaela Staniford Wasps

22 Amber Penrith Cardiff Quins *

* Players to make their England debut

England v Scotland, February 3^rd, kick-off 230pm at Old Albanians RFC

England v Italy, February 10^th, kick-off 415pm at Twickenham

Ireland v England, February 26^th, kick-off 2pm at Thomond Park, Limerick

England v France, March 11^th, kick-off 145pm at Old Albanians RFC

Wales v England, March 17^th, kick-off 230pm at Taffs Wells, near Cardiff RFC