Preview: Red Roses v Les Bleues
Everything you need to know as the Red Roses take on France at Kingsholm Stadium on Saturday 7th September.
John Mitchell’s team return to action with their first game of the 2024/25 season as they face Guinness Women’s Six Nations rivals France at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester.
The last time the Red Roses played Les Bleues was in a Six Nations Grand Slam decider in Bordeaux, which they won 21-42 after scoring six tries, including two from Alex Matthews.
The team have played at Kingsholm before, beating Wales 58-5 in front of 14,869 fans, during the 2022 Six Nations and with the World Cup fast approaching, they will be keen to start the season well.
The match, live from Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester kicks off at 14:30 BST on Saturday 7th September and you can watch it live on BBC One.
Last time out
Views from camp
Natasha Hunt: “I’m buzzing, I love playing at Kingsholm. The crowds that we get in when we’re pulling on those Gloucester-Hartpury shirts, especially The Shed, is starting to get more and more packed.
“It’s got a really special place in my heart, I absolutely adore the stadium. Obviously I was born in Gloucester so it’s my home ground as well which helps. I love it when we have an opportunity to run out there.”
Amy Cokayne: “As a team we’re all really excited when we get to play teams like France and New Zealand. They’re world class teams so we have to see where we are against them and it’s what we love to do as a team.
“We had a good final game against France in the Six Nations and generally as a team we’re excited. We’ve made a few changes to how we want to play so it will be good to see how that plays out on the field.”
Red Roses squad for France week
Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 53 caps)
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 15 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 74 caps)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 65 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 8 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 30 caps)
Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 104 caps)
Simi Pam (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)
Backs
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 30 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 38 caps)
Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 45 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 49 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 22 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 72 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 43 caps)
Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 21 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 29 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 111 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
Previous encounters
2024: France 21-42 England
2023: England 38-33 France
2022: France 7-13 England
2022: France 12 - 24 England
2021: France 15 - 17 England
2021: England 10 - 6 France
