Red Roses squad to face Wales at Kingsholm
Head coach Simon Middleton has named his match day squad to take on Wales at Kingsholm in the third round of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations on Saturday.
- Watch live on BBC Two
- Kick off at 4:45pm
Captain Sarah Hunter leads the side at No.8 while wing Jess Breach makes her first Red Roses appearance since May 2021. Lucy Packer is set for her maiden international start at scrum half and Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland continue at 10 and 12.
Poppy Cleall lines up alongside Abbie Ward at lock while Alex Matthews retains her place at blindside flanker. There are returns for Marlie Packer on the other flank, and Abby Dow at full-back.
Vickii Cornborough, Lark Davies and Sarah Bern form the front row. Fresh from her brace in last Sunday’s victory over Italy, Sarah McKenna is at wing while Emily Scarratt takes her place at outside centre. Gloucester-Hartpury duo Connie Powell and Natasha Hunt are named among the finishers alongside Amber Reed.
"We're really looking forward to our first home game of this year’s Six Nations," said Middleton. "We’re pleased with our performances to date and this weekend provides another opportunity for other players to step up.
"Selection has been very tough and I know some players will be bitterly disappointed to not have made the line-up. We said all along we would rotate the squad and we have again this week with another eight either positional or personnel changes in the starting line up.
"Wales’ new contracts have galvanised and lifted their group and that’s shown in the nature of their performances and two wins out of two to date. They have looked well organised and have finished strong in both games, that’s testimony to the work Ioan Cunningham and his staff group have put in and of course the attitude of the players. It’s great to see and makes for a top-class game and a stadium that will be bouncing.
"It’s great to hear there are over 12,000 tickets sold. Kingsholm is a fantastic stadium in a real rugby hotbed and as players and staff we can’t wait for Saturday."
Squad
15. Abigail Dow
14. Jess Breach
13. Emily Scarratt (VC)
12. Helena Rowland
11. Sarah McKenna
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Lucy Packer
1. Vickii Cornborough
2. Lark Davies
3. Sarah Bern
4. Poppy Cleall
5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 52 caps)
6. Alex Matthews
7. Marlie Packer
8. Sarah Hunter (C)
Finishers
16. Connie Powell
17. Maud Muir
18. Shaunagh Brown
19. Rosie Galligan (Harlequins, 3 caps)
20. Vicky Fleetwood
21. Natasha Hunt
22. Amber Reed
23. Ellie Kildunne
