Seven uncapped players have been included in the England squad for the Women’s Six Nations as John Mitchell freshens up his group for the tournament.
The Red Roses will return to action against Ireland on 11 April for the first time since winning the World Cup in front of a capacity crowd at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium last September.
They will do so without their regular captain in Zoe Stratford, who is pregnant, with centre Meg Jones skippering the side in her absence. Experienced forwards Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward are also expecting children, and thus miss out.
Bristol Bears wing Millie David, Harlequins centre Sarah Parry and Loughborough Lightning No 8 Haineala Lutui are among the seven inclusions in a 38-player group that will hope to press for debuts.
Locks Rosie Galligan and Cath O’Donnell are unavailable for selection, with Lilli Ives Campion likely for a larger role in the second row.
Jones will be supported by vice-captains Alex Matthews and Amy Cokayne during the campaign, with centurion Marlie Packer and scrum half Natasha Hunt among the other experienced heads in a squad that includes 25 World Cup winners.
Former centre Emily Scarratt is now part of Mitchell’s coaching staff, while wing Abby Dow has also retired since the World Cup win.
Forwards Demelza Short (Bristol Bears), Annabel Meta (Trailfinders), Jodie Verghese (Saracens) and Christiana Balogun (Bristol Bears) complete the uncapped contingent. Balogun was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma in 2022 but has battled back to return to being a consistent Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) performer.
Scrum half Ella Wyrwas and centre Jade Shekells are absent due to injury.
England have not lost under Mitchell, with a 33-match winning run extending back to the previous World Cup final in 2022. They have won the last seven Women’s Six Nations titles, suffering their last competition defeat in 2018.
Red Roses Women’s Six Nations Squad
Props
Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Liz Hanlon
Hookers
Amy Cokayne (vice-captain), May Campbell, Connie Powell.
Back five forwards
Morwenna Talling, Lilli Ives Campion, Jodie Verghese, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews (vice-captain), Maddie Feaunati, Abi Burton, Sadia Kabeya, Demelza Short, Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Haineala Lutui, Annabel Meta, Christiana Balogun.
Scrum halves
Lucy Packer, Natasha Hunt, Flo Robinson
Fly halves
Holly Aitchison, Zoe Harrison, Helena Rowland
Centres
Meg Jones (capt.), Tatyana Heard, Sarah Parry
Back threes
Jess Breach, Ellie Kidlunne, Emma Sing, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Mia Venner, Millie David, Bo Westcombe-Evans.
Unavailable for selection: Lark Atkin-Davies, Rosie Galligan, Cath O’Donnell, Jade Shekells, Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward, Ella Wyrwas
