WORCESTER Rugby Club's Nicola Crawford and Joanne Yapp are included in the 26-strong England Women's squad for the inaugural Churchill Cup in Vancouver next month.

Saracens' Maxine Edwards will lead the party to Vancouver, where they will play Canada on June 14 and the USA on June 18, with a potential final on June 28 at The Thunderbird Stadium.

England have become a formidable force under the coaching of Geoff Richards and Performance Director Carol Isherwood. They are Six Nations Grand Slam champions, having demolished Spain (74-0), holders France (57-0), Wales (69-7), Scotland (31-0) and Ireland (46-3).

They are ranked second in the world following their 19-9 loss to New Zealand in the World Cup in Barcelona last May. Since playing USA and Canada in the Canada Cup in September 2000 they have won 21 of their 25 Test matches, their only defeats coming at the hands of New Zealand three times and France.

Meanwhile, Worcester's Tony Windo has escaped a ban following his sending off against Birmingham & Solihull last month. He received his marching orders in the second of his side's 17-6 victory at Sixways on April 19.

Window was dismissed by controversial French referee Eric Gauzins after yellow carding the visitors Neil Fletcher, Andy Collins and Terry Sigley.