The three-Test series against the Black Ferns starts on November 26 and finishes on December 3, the same day the IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup in Dubai concludes, but Maddock insists the fact that he must put his faith in youth can only be a good thing for the current RBS 6 Nations holders in XVs.

Maddock, who is also U18 assistant academy director at Hartpury College, has named Jennifer Brightmore, Sarah McKenna and Isabelle Noel Smith, who all made their England debuts this year, in his squad alongside experienced duo Sonia Green and Michaela Stanford.

He said: “With several uncapped players in the squad and with an average age of just 23 I am extremely excited about the potential of this team.

“We have some exciting youngsters with a promising future in sevens and alongside them we have some experienced players who I have been working with for the last three seasons.

“This tournament will provide them with the opportunity to show how they can perform at this level ahead of the World Cup Sevens in 2013 and also us with the opportunity to see where they are.”

And with the sevens set to be unveiled on the Olympic stage for the first time at Rio 2016, the opportunity to compete with the best in the world, including 2009 world champions Australia, is something Maddocks is relishing.

He added: “There are some seriously strong teams in this tournament with world champions Australia in the mix with the likes of Canada, Spain and the USA who will all have their strongest teams available.

“For us this will be an extremely important tournament to look at certain players at this level. It will be a tough tournament and certainly a step up for England but one that the team and management staff are looking forward to.”

England Squad

Jenny Brightmore (Worcester), Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond), Sonia Green (Saracens), Sarah Guest (Worcester), Charlotte Keane (Worcester), Sarah McKenna (Wasps), Sophie Nicholas (Richmond), Isabelle Noel-Smith (Bristol), Emily Scott (Thurrock), Michaela Staniford (Wasps), Lydia Thompson (Worcester), Joanne Watmore (Worcester)