In preparation for this year’s Rugby World Cup, Scotland Women have selected an extended training squad of 33 players. A further selection will take place in July when Scotland will name a travelling squad of 26 to attend the tournament which kicks off on Friday 20 August in Surrey. Head coach Gary Parker said: We could have put together a squad of 26 straight away but feel that there’s competition for places and everyone is working really hard to force their way into the group.  The three new young girls that were brought in at the start of the Six Nations – Annabel Sergeant, Celia Hawthorn and Nicola Halfpenny – have done very well. Looking at the backs especially, lots of players can play more than one position and we’re aiming for that adaptability in the squad. Scotland Women begin their World Cup preparations on Sunday 16 May at Murrayfield, followed by two capped tests against South Africa at home (Saturday 5 and Saturday 12 June) and a training fixture against Ireland at home on Sunday18 July (all venues tbc). Parker added: We need to be playing more and more, and the opportunity arose to take on South Africa – you need these sort of high intensity games in the run-up to the World Cup. The focus, however, is to concentrate on ourselves – it’s all about how well we prepare for this great challenge. Scotland Women Rugby World Cup training squad Alison Macdonald (RHC Cougars) Annabel Sergeant (Dundee University) Celia Hawthorn (Edinburgh University) Christina Ovenden (Richmond) Donna Kennedy (Worcester) Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers) Erin Kerr (Wasps) Gillian McCord (RHC Cougars) Heather Lockhart (Hillhead / Jordanhill) Jemma Forsyth (Grangemouth) Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers) Keri Holdsworth (Watsonians) Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers) Lindsay Wheeler (Team Northumbria) Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars) Louise Gray (Henley) Louise Moffat (Murrayfield Wanderers) Lucy Millard (Team Northumbria) Lynne Reid (RHC Cougars) Lynsey Douglas (London Wasps) Michelle Napier (Saracens) Nicola Halfpenny (Melrose) Rosalind Murphy (Edinburgh University) Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers) Sarah Gill (Murrayfield Wanderers) Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers) Sarah-Louise Walker (Watsonians) Stephanie Johnston (Hillhead / Jordanhill) Susannah Brown (Richmond) Suzi Newton (Team Northumbria) Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars) Veronica Fitzpatrick (RHC Cougars) Victoria Blakebrough (Richmond) SCOTLAND WOMEN RUGBY WORLD CUP SCHEDULE Pool C France Canada Scotland Sweden Friday 20 August Canada v Scotland (kick-off: 12noon) Tuesday 24 August France v Scotland (kick-off: 2pm) Saturday 28 August Scotland v Sweden (kick-off12noon) All Pool games will be played at Surrey Sports Park.