England women chase Rio 2016 spot at Sevens World Series finale in Amsterdam and Great Britain women's team announced for next month's World League semi-final in Valencia. Here's our review of the last 24 hours.
England Women's head coach Simon Middleton admits confidence is high as he prepares his side for the final round of the Sevens World Series in Amsterdam this week.
England head to The Netherlands knowing they must finish ahead of USA and France and possibly Russia if they are to secure a top-four finish and book their spot for Team GB at Rio 2016.
“We are going into this leg with a really good performance against France in the London Sevens Plate final last weekend behind us,” said Middleton. Read more here.
“The outcome will all be down to our performance. We know if we are poor, we will be exposed, but if we produce the performance we can get the results we want.”
Great Britain name 18-strong team for next month’s World League Semi Final in Valencia, with Helen Richardson-Walsh set for her first international tournament in two years.
Richardson-Walsh is one of four changes from last year’s Champions Trophy squad, with the World League Round Three from June 10-21 offering the first chance to secure Olympic qualification.
“We have had multiple options for multiple positions and this has created a great deal of debate for the coaching staff,” said head coach Danny Kerry. Read more here.
“It is good news for the competitive nature of the squad and will stand us in good stead for the upcoming challenges, not least that of securing a place in the Olympic Games in Rio.”
Jessica Ennis-Hill's diary for the summer is quickly filling up with the Olympic heptathlon champion confirming she will compete at next month's Birmingham Grand Prix.
Earlier this week Ennis-Hill confirmed her participation at the Gotzis Hypo-Meeting from May 30-31 and the following week she will now be back in action on home soil in the 100m hurdles and shot put in Birmingham on June 7.
She said: “I feel that my season is really beginning to take shape. I am loving being back competing - it is such a good feeling and I have had some incredible support from the public who have come to watch.
"The crowds are always amazing at the Alexander Stadium and I am hoping there will be a really good turn out on June 7 to help me along!"
Sochi 2014 Olympian Posy Musgrave will focus on a career in sports marketing after announcing her retirement from cross country skiing,
Musgrave spent several seasons on the World Cup circuit and also finished 42nd and 66th in the individual freestyle sprint and 10km classic respectively at Sochi 2014.
"I'm very lucky to have spent six years skiing and competing internationally as part of this team," she said.
"I'll miss my teammates, coaches and all of the great experiences I've had but I'm also looking forward to continuing to be involved in sport from a new angle as I start a new role as athlete manager at GMR Marketing."
Her brother Andrew meanwhile has been named in the Great Britain elite ski squad for the 2015/2016 season alongside Andrew Young, Callum Smith and Annika Taylor.
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