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John Mitchell names 4 uncapped players in England's Six Nations squad

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 06: Jade Shekells looks on during the England Red Roses training session at SGS College on March 06, 2025 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Morgan Harlow - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Four uncapped players have been retained in England’s final squad for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, which gets underway for the defending champions against Italy in York on Sunday.

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Trailfinders Women flanker Abi Burton, Leicester Tigers lock Charlotte Fray, Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Flo Robinson and Gloucester-Hartpury centre Jade Shekells have all been included in the 37-player squad and will hope to earn a first Test cap during the championship.

Shekells is one of 11 representatives from Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) winners Gloucester-Hartpury, who claimed their third successive title with a 34-19 defeat of Saracens in Sunday’s final at StoneX Stadium.

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

The Olympian made only three PWR appearances this season, spending most of the campaign with Great Britain Sevens and appearing in HSBC SVNS tournaments in Dubai, Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver.

But Shekells impressed John Mitchell and his England coaches during the pre-Six Nations training camps in Bristol – remaining with the Red Roses during PWR final week – and will continue to press her claims for international recognition in 15s.

Mitchell also confirmed on Monday that Megan Jones and Marlie Packer will act as vice-captains during the championship. Zoe Aldcroft will captain the reigning champions, who have won the last six editions of the tournament without losing a match.

Fixture
Womens Six Nations
England Women
11:00
23 Mar 25
Italy Women
All Stats and Data

England begin their latest title defence and the road towards their home Rugby World Cup against the Azzurre at York’s Community Stadium, a tournament venue, this Sunday.

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“We have selected a really exciting mix of players and a squad with great depth,” Mitchell said.

“Depth provides healthy competition as we look to evolve our combinations. It will be really good to get everyone together; this is an important week to refocus and get everyone on the same page as quickly as we can.”

Red Roses Guinness Women’s Six Nations Squad

Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 58 caps) – captain
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 35 caps)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 51 caps)
Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 9 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
Charlotte Fray (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 19 caps)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 18 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 72 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 35 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 108 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 18 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 69 caps)

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Backs
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 35 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 43 caps)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 48 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 54 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 26 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 76 caps)
Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 48 caps)
Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 26 caps)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 34 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 116 caps)
Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap)

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Comments

2 Comments
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BC 11 hours ago

Surprised that Venner is included, a bit lightweight in my opinion, fortunate to play in a top team. I would prefer to see future stars such as Millie David or Bonner or Laffin instead and given a chance. Barring injury, I cannot see anyone seriously being selected for a vital match on the wing before Dow, Breech or MacDonald. Then at 15 there is Kildunne with Dow or Rowland in case of injury. Any combination of these 5 constitute the best back 3 in the world.

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JW 20 minutes ago
Super Rugby Pacific has turned the ship around in the right direction

LOL thats the same mentality the French saying about the Top 14. Why change their ridiculous comp if its performing well with investors?


There is always better JWH.


It depends really what you want out of Super Rugby and NPC. Currently Super Rugby fills both niche’s, it has the up and commers as well as the stars performing at the top. Reducing further obviously improves further on what has been the reason everybody is enjoying this season.


There is definitely a question of balance and what going further that way removes. But theres a few reasons. What coaches are telling us is it is also a struggle to find the talent to fill out a strong SR side. There is talk of increasing financial constraints. Currently there is a lopsided (random) amount of derby home and away match ups in each conference, so going 5v5 instead of 6v6 may mean we have a full derby round for each conference (currently I think they play just 3 teams twice), or even squeeze in a full dbl round comp. Going a larger number of teams means they need to go much larger to fairer league setup.


But they need to add or remove JWH, one or the other, and I was merely pointing out that adding, like you’re suggestion, is likely going to introduce just what we all (or at least what the person I was replying to was saying) think the comp has been remedied of, having a weak team. The 5v5 I referenced was 3 Aus teams, with the other two filling the landscape their, and 5 here. That’s what NZR wanted to kick off for the COVID year but ARU threw a hissy fit. If going to 10 is the right thing to do maybe it’s an NZ team that needs to be dropped, so Moana would remain here and Drua continue to be with the aussies, thats the other possible 5 v 5 setup (which would just be 10 if they found a way for all to play even games).

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