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Halsey puts spring in England’s step

MaggieAlphonsiKatyMcLeanIre11SB
Women’s U20 coach Steve Halsey will be jumping for joy if England emerge victorious from their autumn international series after convincing the senior team to take up trampolining training.

Women’s U20 coach Steve Halsey will be jumping for joy if England emerge victorious from their autumn international series after convincing the senior team to take up trampolining training.

England, who swept all before them to claim the RBS 6 Nations title last season, take on France in Marseille on November 2 before a rematch three days later in Aix-en-Provence.

That precedes three games against New Zealand from the end of November and the former London Welsh lock is adamant of the benefits trampolining can provide.

Halsey, a former PE teacher, sees a direct link between the two sports and enlisted the help of former Olympian Jaime Moore and GB trampolinist coach Tracy Whittaker at the Northampton Trampoline Gymnastics Academy.

And after inviting England’s forwards to take part he said: “The idea of the trampolining lineout jumping session came from my own experiences of the sport. As a former player and a PE teacher I know that there is a real cross over in skills between the two disciplines.

“As part of incorporating specialist sessions for our players this season this training session was aimed at improving our forwards’ body management in the air and improving their jumping techniques.

“It will also help develop their height and speed confidence in the air and improve their high hand skills such as catching and manipulation of the ball, again in the air.”

England Elite Squad:

Claire Allan – Richmond

Maggie Alphonsi – Saracens

Rowena Burnfield – Richmond

Rochelle Clark – Worcester)

Emma Croker – Richmond

Rebecca Essex – Richmond

Heather Fisher – Worcester

Victoria Fleetwood – Lichfield

Sophie Hemming – Bristol

Natasha Hunt – Lichfield

Sarah Hunter – Lichfield

Laura Keates – Worcester

Jane Leonard – Wasps

La Toya Mason – Wasps

Francesca Matthews – Richmond

Joanna McGilchrist – Wasps

Sarah McKenna – Wasps

Katy McLean – Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

Katherine Merchant – Worcester

Harriet Millar-Mills – Lichfield

Isabelle Noel-Smith – Bristol

Kimberley Oliver – Bristol

MarliePacker – Bristol

Fiona Pocock – Richmond

Claire Purdy – Wasps

Amber Reed – Bristol

Alice Richardson – Richmond

Georgina Roberts – Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

Georgina Rozario – Lichfield

Emily Scarratt – Lichfield

Tamara Taylor – Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

Amy Turner – Richmond

Danielle Waterman – Worcester

Kay Wilson – Richmond

Jennifer Brightmore – Worcester

Hannah Field – Wasps

Sonia Green – Saracens

Rose Jay – Lichfield

Charlotte Keane – Worcester

Ruth Laybourn – Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

Michaela Staniford – Wasps

Lydia  Thompson – Worcester

Charlotte Wild – Lichfield