England start their Six Nations title defence at the Allianz Stadium against Ireland in front of a record crowd
John Mitchell has named the England Women’s Six Nations squad with seven uncapped players making the cut.
The Red Roses return to international duty following their historic World Cup victory last year, aiming to defend the Six Nations title for the eighth-consecutive year.
They will do so with a host of new talent being giving the nod by Mitchell. Christiana Balogun, Millie David, Haineala Lutui, Annabel Meta, Sarah Parry, Demelza Short and Jodie Verghese will all have the opportunity to win a first cap.
Meanwhile, three stars of the World Cup will not be involved because they have all announced they are pregnant. Captain Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward and Lark Atkin-Davies are all sidelined.
Read more: All the Women’s Six Nations fixtures in one place
Centre Meg Jones takes the reins as captain for the tournament with Alex Matthews and Amy Cokayne co-captains.
On the squad announcement, Mitchell noted the challenge of matching the heights of 2025: “The impact of the tournament across the country has been outstanding, and it’s reflected in the incredible ticket sales – not just for our matches at Allianz Stadium and Ashton Gate, but across the Six Nations as a whole.
“As Red Roses, what comes next is a fresh start. The Six Nations is hugely important to us, and we know success in this competition has to be earned every time.
“We’re excited by the energy the younger players will bring into the squad, and alongside our experienced players.
“What is important to me is to stay open-minded about player combinations and I will observe how people compete against each other and deal with that type of pressure.”
England Women’s Six Nations squad 2026

Ellie Kildunne in action during Ireland V England (Getty Images)
Forwards (22)
Christiana Balogun (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 79 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 4 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 5 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 23 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 21 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 89 caps) – vice captain
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
Liz Hanlon (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 5 caps)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 81 caps) – vice captain
Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 48 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 112 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 28 caps)
Jodie Verghese (Saracens, uncapped)
Backs (16)
Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 53 caps)
Millie David (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 65 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 36 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 88 caps)
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 33 caps) – captain
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 57 caps)
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 38 caps)
Sarah Parry (Harlequins, uncapped)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 46 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 13 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
England Women’s Six Nations squad: line-ups from every match in 2025
England Six Nations 2025 team v France
15. Emma Sing
14. Abby Dow
13. Megan Jones
12. Tatyana Heard
11. Claudia MacDonald
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Natasha Hunt
1. Hannah Botterman
2. Lark Atkin-Davies
3. Maud Muir
4. Morwenna Talling
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft (captain)
7. Maddie Feaunati
8. Alex Matthews
Replacements:
16. Amy Cokayne
17. Kelsey Clifford
18. Sarah Bern
19. Rosie Galligan
20. Abi Burton
21. Lucy Packer
22. Holly Aitchison
23. Helena Rowland
England Six Nations 2025 team v Scotland
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Abby Dow
13. Megan Jones
12. Jade Shekells
11. Claudia MacDonald
10. Holly Aitchison
9. Lucy Packer
1. Kelsey Clifford
2. Lark Atkin-Davies
3. Sarah Bern
4. Rosie Galligan
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft (captain)
7. Marlie Packer
8. Maddie Feaunati
Replacements:
16. May Campbell
17. Hannah Botterman
18. Maud Muir
19. Morwenna Talling
20. Alex Matthews
21. Natasha Hunt
22. Helena Rowland
23. Emily Scarratt
England Six Nations 2025 team v Ireland
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Abby Dow
13. Megan Jones
12. Tatyana Heard
11. Jess Breach
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Natasha Hunt
1. Hannah Botterman
2. Lark Atkin-Davies
3. Maud Muir
4. Morwenna Talling
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft (captain)
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Alex Matthews
Replacements:
16. Amy Cokayne
17. Kelsey Clifford
18. Sarah Bern
19. Rosie Galligan
20. Maddie Feaunati
21. Lucy Packer
22. Holly Aitchison
23. Helena Rowland
England Six Nations 2025 team v Wales
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Abby Dow
13. Megan Jones
12. Tatyana Heard
11. Jess Breach
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Natasha Hunt
1. Mackenzie Carson
2. Lark Atkin-Davies
3. Sarah Bern
4. Morwenna Talling
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft (captain)
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Maddie Feaunati
Replacements:
16. Amy Cokayne
17. Hannah Botterman
18. Maud Muir
19. Rosie Galligan
20. Abbie Burton
21. Lucy Packer
22. Holly Aitchison
23. Helena Rowland
England Six Nations 2025 team v Italy
15. Emma Sing
14. Mia Venner
13. Emily Scarratt
12. Holly Aitchison
11. Claudia Macdonald
10. Helena Rowland
9. Lucy Packer
1. Kelsey Clifford
2. Amy Cokayne
3. Maud Muir
4. Rosie Galligan
5. Lilli Ives Campion
6. Zoe Aldcroft (captain)
7. Marlie Packer
8. Maddie Feaunati
Replacements:
16. May Campbell
17. Hannah Botterman
18. Sarah Bern
19. Abbie Ward
20. Sadia Kabeya
21. Flo Robinson
22. Jade Shekells
23. Ellie Kildunne
England Women’s Six Nations squad: line-ups from every match in 2024
England team to play France
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Zoe Aldcroft, Morwenna Talling, Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Abbie Ward, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Sydney Gregson
England team to play Ireland
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Maud Muir, Zoe Aldcroft, Morwenna Talling, Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Lizzie Hanlon, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Sydney Gregson
England team to play Scotland
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Rosie Galligan, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati, Marlie Packer, Lucy Packer, Zoe Harrison, Sydney Gregson
England team v Wales
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Maud Muir, Zoe Aldcroft, Rosie Galligan, Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Abbie Ward, Maddie Fe’aunati, Lucy Packer, Zoe Harrison, Sydney Gregson
England team v Italy
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Helena Rowland, Emily Scarratt, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Lucy Packer; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Zoe Aldcroft, Abbie Ward, Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer, Sarah Beckett
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Maud Muir, Maddie Fe’aunati, Alex Matthews, Natasha Hunt, Holly Aitchison, Megan Jones
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