England team named to play Italy in 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations
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The Red Roses are set to kick off their 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations campaign with a sold-out clash against Italy at York's LNER Community Stadium on Sunday. Head coach John Mitchell has named his squad, with Lilli Ives Campion and Mia Venner making their full international debuts.
Loughborough Lightning lock Ives Campion and Gloucester-Hartpury wing Venner will both earn their first Red Roses starts, with Venner's previous international experience dating back to her 2020 debut as a 17-year-old against Wales. Ives Campion, meanwhile, made her first senior England appearance in last September's WXV warm-up match against France.
Joining Venner in the back three is Exeter Chiefs' Claudia MacDonald, making her return to international rugby after a 16-month absence, and Gloucester-Hartpury's Emma Sing, the PWR top points scorer. Sing's last Red Roses appearance came in the 2023 WXV tournament against Australia.
In the midfield, Bristol Bears' Holly Aitchison pairs up with the vastly experienced Emily Scarratt, who boasts 116 caps. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning) and Lucy Packer (Harlequins) form the half-back partnership.
Up front, Saracens' Rosie Galligan partners Ives Campion in the second row, while Kelsey Clifford (Saracens) and Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury) pack down alongside Leicester Tigers hooker Amy Cokayne. England's captain for the match, Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), starts at blindside flanker, with vice-captain Marlie Packer (Saracens) at openside and Exeter Chiefs' Maddie Feaunati at number eight.
The bench features two uncapped players, with Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Flo Robinson and Gloucester-Hartpury's Jade Shekells in line to make their international debuts. Shekells, a key figure for Great Britain's Sevens team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been highlighted by Mitchell as a strong fit for England's 12 profile.
Red Roses team to play Italy:
Starting XV:
15. Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
14. Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap)
13. Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 116 caps)
12. Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 35 caps)
11. Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
10. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 34 caps)
9. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 26 caps)
- Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 9 caps)
- Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
- Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 35 caps)
- Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 19 caps)
- Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
- Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 58 caps) – captain
- Marlie Packer (Saracens, 108 caps)
- Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
Replacements: 16. May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)
17. Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 51 caps)
18. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
19. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 69 caps)
20. Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 18 caps)
21. Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
22. Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
23. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 48 caps)
With a squad featuring a blend of experienced internationals and exciting new talent, the Red Roses will be eager to start their campaign with a strong performance. With a total of 822 caps across the squad, an average of 35.7 per player, England heads into the tournament as a formidable force.
The match kicks off on Sunday at 12:45 PM GMT in front of a packed crowd, as England look to set the tone for another dominant Six Nations campaign.
EDITORS PICKS:
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- Four nominees announced for Six Nations Player of the Tournament
- "Be Yourself" – Henry Pollock reveals what Ellis Genge said to him upon his England debut
- "It's devastating"- Wales coach Matt Sherratt reacts to record 68-14 defeat to England
- England's 2025 Six Nations Players Ranked From Best to Worst
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