Scottish rugby's most capped international, 1998 Grand Slam heroine Donna Kennedy, has turned her back on retirement for the second time in a bid to help Scotland qualify for the 2010 Women's World Cup in England.

Kennedy, who has been capped 100 times by her country, most recently retired after the 2007 Six Nations but continued to ply her trade with RFUW Premiership side Worcester.

The experienced number 8 has remained a key part of the Scotland set-up as a National Academy coach but opted to return to the fray as part of a 26-woman squad set to compete for the two final World Cup qualification slots left for European teams at the FIRA European Cup in Stockholm, Sweden on 17-23 May.

Russia, Belgium and the Netherlands stand in Scotland's way in Pool A, which they must top to secure qualification, but Kennedy's return to the front line is bound to bolster the side's chances.

"I spoke to Donna before the Six Nations as I sensed she still had some questions she wanted to answer about playing," said Scotland's head coach Jamie Dempsey.

"She has committed to play until the end of the World Cup at least, as we wouldn't take anyone in on a short term basis. They've got to fit with the programme, which runs up to 2010, so she put herself up for selection and she made it into the European Championship squad.

"Through the Six Nations she played twice against England A for the Nomads, which is like a ladies Barbarians side, and she plays a high level at Worcester week-in-week-out so she's been playing as high a level of rugby as everyone else.

"But don't get me wrong - she'll have to perform to be selected and if she doesn't she's as liable to be dropped as anyone else."

After missing the Six Nations, experienced internationals Sonia Cull and Emma Evans also return for the European Championships to add the essential ingredient of experience alongside captain Lynne Reid, second row partners Louise Moffat and Lynsey Wheeler, formidable frontrow forward Heather Lockhart and the prolific Lucy Millard.

"This is the strongest squad I've ever had the pleasure of selecting," added Dempsey. "Our aim is not just to qualify for the World Cup but to win the European Championship.

"All of the teams will be very fit and very physical. Russia are semi-professional, so we must use our game awareness and knowledge and bring the experience of the intensity of the Six Nations competition to this championship, which the others won't have had.

"We're certainly prepared for it and we want to win and are looking forward to doing just that."

2010 Women's Rugby World Cup qualifying process

Reigning champions New Zealand, runners-up and hosts England and bronze medal winners France have already qualified for next year's 12-team World Cup tournament, which will take place in West London between August and September 2010.

The three teams will be joined by South Africa, Canada and USA, who all gain automatic passage, while Wales and Ireland qualify courtesy of being the top two sides in the recently completed RBS Women's Six Nations outside of England and France.

The two remaining places will come from the Asia and Oceania regions. The Asia qualifier will be determined by the ARFU Championship, while Australia and Samoa will meet in a one-off match to decide Oceania's qualifier.

Women's FIRA European Trophy 2009 (Women's RWC Qualifier)
Enköping & Stockholm, Sweden - 17-23 May 2009

Pool A
Scotland
Russia
Netherlands
Belgium

Pool B
Italy
Spain
Sweden
Germany

Scotland Women's squad: Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Ellen Beattie (Murrayfield Wanderers), Roz Murphy (Edinburgh University), Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah-Lou Walker (Watsonians), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Louise Moffat (Kirkcaldy), Lana Blyth (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsay Wheeler (Team Northumbria / Blaydon), Donna Kennedy (Worcester), Susie Brown (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Keri Holdsworth (Watsonians), Sonia Cull (Royal High Corstorphine), Lynne Reid CAPTAIN (Royal High Corstorphine), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Louise Dalgliesh (Royal High Corstorphine), Sarah Gill (Murrayfield Wanderers), Erin Kerr (Richmond), Tanya Griffith (Royal High Corstorphine), Suzi Newton (Team Northumbria / Blaydon), Ronnie Fitzpatrick (Royal High Corstorphine), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Emma Evans (Watsonians), Cara D'Silva (Royal High Corstorphine), Vik Blakebrough (Richmond), Lucy Millard (Murrayfield Wanderers)