THE England women's national rugby union team are set to create history during the Six Nations Championship by making their international debut at Twickenham Stadium (writes TONY FLOOD).

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) have offered the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) the chance to play at Twickenham for the first time against France on February 15th at 1 p.m. as a double header before the men's side meet France on the same date.

Five Richmond players have been selected in the England squad - Chris Diver, Nicki Jupp, Selena Rudge, Jenny Sutton and Sharon Whitehead. Four of them will start, while Selena, having changed clubs and positions this year, is on the subs' bench.

Nicki, 27, who works in the RFU press office in Twickenham and lives in Isleworth, says: "Four of us, myself, Chris, Jenny and Sharon, have played at Twickenham before in the Rugby World National Cup final in 2000 when Richmond beat Wasps. But this is going to be an even bigger honour for all of us. It is a dream come true.

"The women have always wanted the chance to play at Twickenham and finally it has happened thanks to the progressive attitude of the RFU and new sponsors the Royal Bank of Scotland. We couldn't play a curtain raiser at Twickenham under previous agreements. Now this could be the first match of many because the invitation has been extended to future years."

Richmond have another five players - Rachel Vickers, Rachel Stribling, Helen Flippance, Lizzie Knowles, Emily Feltham - selected for the England A' team to meet Spain in Barcelona this Saturday.

Nicki adds: "Richmond have never had 10 women selected for England teams at the same time before.

"But it does not end there. We also have four current Scottish internationals who hope to be involved in the game against Ireland on February 16th - Lisa O'Keefe, Karen Findlay, Jeni Sheerin and Victoria Wiseman.

"And Richmond have an Irish and three Canadian internationals as well inTammy Durham, Becky Kay, Kelly McCallum and Ireland's Eryka Wessel."

England Women's home games against Spain on Sunday March 9th (12 noon) and against Scotland on Saturday March 22nd (1pm) are at The Stoop, Twickenham.

January 31, 2003 12:30