England Women head coach Simon Middleton has named his first matchday squad for the Six Nations which this season includes a game at Leicester Tigers.
England open their campaign in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations against Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday and host Ireland at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, home of the Tigers, on April 24.
No8 Sarah Hunter captains the team against Scotland, with Emily Scarratt returning from injury in the backline. Loosehead prop Maud Muir is a new cap in the front row.
Head coach Middleton said: “We’re really looking forward to this opening game. We have great strength in depth, the whole squad have trained well and it’s important we give players opportunities and at the same time look at a couple of new combinations.
“We go into this year’s Six Nations with some clear objectives in terms of the improvements we are looking for in our performances. The players are crystal clear in terms of how we want to play and what we want our game to look like.”
Tigers host the Red Roses fixture against Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations on Sunday, April 24 (noon kick-off). Tickets are available to book at the Tigers ticket office now. For matchday hospitality packages, call the sales team on 0116 2171 215.
England (v Scotland): 15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 18 caps), 14 Heather Cowell (Harlequins, 2 caps), 13 Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 96 caps)(vc), 12 Holly Aitchison (Saracens, 4 caps), 11 Abby Dow (Wasps, 22 caps), 10 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 10 caps), 9 Leanne Infante (Bristol Bears, 48 caps); 1 Maud Muir (Wasps, 4 caps), 2 Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 35 caps), 3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 40 caps), 4 Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 1 cap), 5 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 50 caps), 6 Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 50 caps), 7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 79 caps), 8 Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, 130 caps)(c)
Finishers: 16 Connie Powell (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap), 17 Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins, 64 caps), 18 Bryony Cleall (Wasps, 5 caps), 19 Sarah Beckett (Harlequins, 22 caps), 20 Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors, 45 caps), 21 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 1 cap), 22 Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 58 caps), 23 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
