| Jo Yapp | 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. |
Thursday 14 September With a four day break between the semi-finals and the finals, rather than the usual three day break cycle at this World Cup, we had a day off! It was great, although the weather did try and spoil things. Originally, the whole squad and management team were supposed to be going canoeing in the morning, followed by shopping in the West Edmonton Mall (apparently the biggest shopping centre in the world) before heading off to a water-park. As it had been hammering it down all day, canoeing was cancelled, but we still went to the shops, then had some lunch, before going on the water-slides. All the players really enjoyed some time out, and also having time to spend with their families and friends ahead of tomorrow, which is when all the hard works starts again as we continue our build-up to the World Cup final against the Black Ferns. ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP SCHEDULE: 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. | 
