Red Roses squad named for 2017 Six Nations opener against France
England Women head coach Simon Middleton has named his matchday squad for their opening game of the 2017 Six Nations against France.
The Red Roses get their championship underway immediately after the men at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 4 February, kicking off at 7.35pm live on Sky Sports Mix.
Darlington Mowden Park second row Tamara Taylor will make her 99th international appearance in what will be her 10th Six Nations campaign while Amy Wilson-Hardy returns to 15s after a stint in sevens, including representing Team GB in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Bristol centre Amber Reed makes the starting line-up having missed the Old Mutual Wealth Series through injury while Richmond flanker Alex Matthews is a notable absentee having been ruled out because of a concussion.
Head Coach Simon Middleton said: “With 994 international caps between them, this is a strong England squad with a wealth of experience.
“Preparation has been good, having had 10 days training as a group already. We feel ready to take on France, a side we know well. The Six Nations is an exciting and competitive tournament and we look forward to getting the campaign underway in front of a home crowd at Twickenham.”
The two sides have faced each other twice since last year’s Six Nations, which was won by France following a championship decider between the two sides in Vannes. A last-gasp try in the Women’s Rugby Super Series allowed England to exact revenge on their Six Nations loss in Salt Lake City last summer, running out 17-13 winners before following up with a 10-5 victory at the Twickenham Stoop in the opening game of the Old Mutual Wealth Series in November.
Entrance to England Women v France at Twickenham on Saturday is free following the conclusion of the men’s game.
England match-day 23 against France
15 Danielle Waterman (Bristol, 64 caps)
14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries, 27 caps)
13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 61 caps)
12 Amber Reed (Bristol, 32 caps)
11 Amy Wilson-Hardy (Bristol, 3 caps)
10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 80 caps)
9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 33 caps)
1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries, 117 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 20 caps)
3 Laura Keates (Worcester Valkyries, 56 caps)
4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 98 caps)
5 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 38 caps)
6 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 24 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Bristol, 40 caps)
8 Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 85 caps) (c)
16 Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 54 caps)
17 Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 14 caps)
18 Sarah Bern (Bristol, 4 caps)
19 Zoe Aldcroft (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 2 caps)
20 Poppy Cleall (Bristol, 7 caps)
21 La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 59 caps)
22 Emily Scott (Saracens, 16 caps)
23 Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls, 60 caps)
England Women Six Nations fixtures
England v France
Saturday 4 February, KO 7.35pm, live on Sky Sports Mix
Twickenham stadium
Free entry after the men’s game
Wales v England
Saturday 11 February, KO 11.30am, live on Sky Sports 3
Cardiff Arms Park
England v Italy
Saturday 25 February, KO 1 pm, live on Sky Sports 2
Twickenham Stoop
England v Scotland
Saturday 11 March, KO 1 pm, coverage delayed until 8 pm on Sky Sports 2
Twickenham Stoop
Ireland v England
Friday 17 March, KO 8 pm, live on Sky Sports Mix
Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
N.B. Channel information subject to change
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