Cumbrian rugby union stars Abbie Ward and Cath O’Donnell have received their latest call-up to the England squad.

They are named in a group of 40 players for the Red Roses’ first training camp of the 2024/25 season.

Ward, from Keswick, and Maryport’s O’Donnell will spend five weeks with the squad before facing France and New Zealand next month.

England then head to Canada to take on the hosts, USA and New Zealand in WXV1.

Bristol Bears player Ward and Loughborough Lightning star O'Donnell are regulars on the England scene and head coach John Mitchell said: “Our first camp of 2024/25 allows us to reset what we stand for and how we will carry ourselves as Red Roses moving forward.

“Our game is working, and we have an opportunity to dial it up again.

“There is a massive amount of room to improve individually and evolve our game over the next five weeks.”