Three members of Worcester Rugby Club's ladies' first team will leave for a four-week tour of Australia and New Zealand this weekend.

Wing Nicola Crawford, scrum half Joanne Yapp and hooker Nicola Goodwin are all included in the 28-strong England squad that will play four Tests against the Southern Hemisphere greats.

England will fly from Heathrow tomorrow to Sydney where they will be based for ten days.

They will face Australia at Eastwood on May 26 and then transfer to Newcastle for the second Test on June 2.

England will also play Australia A on May 29 at the Warratah Stadium. Both Test matches will be broadcast live on Australian television.

The squad then transfer to New Zealand for the first test against the World Champions on June 9 at Rotorua.

On June 12 England will play Waikato in Hamilton, before the second Test on June 16 at North Harbour.

The final Test will be a curtain-raiser to the men's international between the All Blacks and Tonga.

Goodwin only learnt of her selection for the tour yesterday following an injury to Saracens hooker Nicky Ponsford.

"I have been on stand-by since the European Championships, but it was a bit of a shock as earlier this week I was told Nicky had passed her fitness test," she said.

"I've been too busy preparing to get excited yet, but I'm sure it will sink in when I get on the plane. It's just a tremendous experience for me."