Lady players from eight European countries will gather in Latvia in March to contest the inaugural European Team Cup.

The new event runs on the same format as the old Continental Team Cup, but has now been widened to embrace the UK countries as well.

Belgium's Wendy Jans is the defending CTC champion and she'll be faced, for the first time, with a challenge from England.

England two ladies, both making their international debut in England colours, are Katie Henrick and Reanne Evans.

Eighteen year old Evans took the world ladies scene by storm in 2002, reaching the semi finals of the Embassy World championship, playing in only her first event. Since then she has leaped up the rankings, and was the 2002-3 recipient of the WLBSA young player scholarship.

Katie Henrick was one of only two ladies to participate on the WSA Young Players of Distinction Scheme and she has recently taken a stride into uncharted territory for a lady player. Henrick has been appointed the resident coach at the prestigious RAC Club in London, where she is on hand to guide the predominantly mail clientele, in one of London's oldest Gentlemen's Clubs.

Finland boast a strong pairing in Aino Pehkonen and Riitta Koskinen, both of whom have reached the quarter finals of the European Championship. French Champion Fabienne Martin is also in the starting line up.