Jo Yapp diary: Tuesday 29 August It's been a long time coming, but today we finally saw the official start to the 2006 IRB Women's World Cup. For England, the day kicked-off with the team announcement for our curtain-raiser game against the US on Thursday 31 August. Although only 22 players can be selected, I'd like to stress that this is a five game tournament and I know every player in this squad is good enough to be in that starting XV at some point. As a Worcester player, it was great to see my club and country teammate Kim Shaylor back in the starting XV for the first time this year, after an injury. She has been training like she's never been away and is certainly back to her best. Another highlight to the day was the official opening ceremony which saw all 12 team members come together in the one place. That doesn't happen often so it was a very special way to start the next 19 days of rugby. The 2006 Six Nations Grand Slam winners, who are ranked second for the tournament behind the reigning World champions the Black Ferns, will be led by Worcester scrum-half Jo Yapp. Jo, whose family farm in Clee Hill, is a P.E. teacher at Bewdley High School. This is her 3rd World Cup after representing England in Holland in 1998 and Spain in 2002. England prepared for the tournament with a three week programme in England and five days training in Calgary. Throughout the tournament BBC Hereford and Worcester will be running an exclusive diary from Jo in Canada. ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP SCHEDULE: August 31 England v USA at Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton. KO 5pm local time. September 4 England v South Africa at Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton. KO 2.30pm local time. September 8 England v France at St. Albert RFC, Edmonton. KO 5pm local time. September 12 - Semi-finals: 1st v 4th (M19), St. Albert. KO 5pm local time. 2nd v 3rd (M20), Ellerslie Rugby Park. KO 5pm local time. 5th v 8th (M21), St. Albert. KO 2.30pm local time. 6th v 7th (M22), Ellerslie Rugby Park. KO 2.30pm local time. 9th v 12th (M23), St. Albert. KO 12pm local time. 10th v 11th (M24), Ellerslie Rugby Park. KO 12pm. September 16 - Consolation Finals (All Ellerslie Rugby Park): Loser M21 v Loser M22. KO 5pm. Winner M23 v Winner M24. KO 2.30pm. Loser M23 v Loser M24. KO 12pm. September 17 - Finals (All at the Commonwealth Stadium) Winner M21 v Winner M 22. KO 12pm. Loser M19 v Loser M20. KO 2.30pm. Winner M19 v Winner M20. KO 5pm. | 
