THREE of Darlington Mowden Park's contingent in the England Women squad will run out at their home ground on Friday night.

Skipper Katy Mclean and vice-captain Tamara Taylor have both been given the nod for the match against Scotland at The Northern Echo Arena, while wing Ruth Laybourn joins the Darlington pair in Nicola Ponsford’s line-up. Mowden trio Heather Kerr, Abbie Scott and Fiona Davidson are replacements.

Mclean captains the side for the second time in the series after being reinstated after her absence from the 15s while on England Sevens duty, but was full of praise for Taylor, who led England out in her stead in the opening fixtures of the Six Nations against Wales and Italy.

“Tamara got the roughest ride ever as a new captain, with all the changes going on," said Mclean, who led England to a narrow 11-8 defeat to Ireland last time out.

"She did a really good job of just being her. That’s what the girls needed. It’s going to be an up and down road, it’s not an easy job but Tamara made it look very easy."

Ponsford, the acting head coach, has called back Lydia Thompson and Fiona Pocock for the clash. Both players return following long-term injuries with Worcester wing Thompson making her first appearance since last August's World Cup while Pocock has been sidelined since playing Ireland in the 2013 Women's Six Nations.

Ponsford said: "It's great to welcome Lydia and Fiona back into the squad after their absence through injury.

"Both are quality players who have proved themselves on the world stage at both the 2014 and 2010 Rugby World Cups.

"They are now ready to come back into the mix and I am really looking forward to seeing them back in an England shirt."

England's match against Scotland is part of a double header with the Under-20s side. For ticket information, visit mowdenpark.com

ENGLAND WOMEN: Pocock (Richmond), Laybourn (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Brown (Bristol), Large (Worcester), Thompson (Worcester), Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Blackburn (Worcester); Clark (Worcester), Fleetwood (Saracens), Lucas (Lichfield), Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Burnfield (Richmond), Matthews (Richmond), Field (Richmond), Millar-Mills (Waterloo).

Replacements: Cokayne (Lichfield), Cornborough (Richmond), Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Gallagher (Saracens), Davidson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Reed (Bristol), Cattell (Saracens)