Head coach John Mitchell has officially announced the selection of the Red Roses squad for the upcoming Guinness Women’s Six Nations, set to begin soon. The 37-player team reflects both experience and youth, with Gloucester-Hartpury’s Zoe Aldcroft stepping up as captain following her impressive performance and third consecutive PWR title. Aldcroft will be supported by vice captains Megan Jones from Leicester Tigers and Saracens' Marlie Packer, who brings depth and leadership to the squad.
The squad is made up of 21 forwards and 16 backs, and the players will gather at Pennyhill Park on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to ramp up their preparations for the opening match against Italy, which will take place at the LNER Community Stadium located in York.
Among the uncapped players selected are Abi Burton from Trailfinders Women, Charlotte Fray of Leicester Tigers, Flo Robinson from Exeter Chiefs, and Jade Shekells, also from Gloucester-Hartpury. Mitchell expressed his enthusiasm about the selection, stating, “We have selected a really exciting mix of players and a squad with great depth. 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.”
The squad list is as follows:
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)
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)
Meanwhile, the Six Nations also ignites interest beyond traditional match play with the rise of fantasy rugby leagues. Participants can build teams comprised of 15 players, including various positional requirements such as three back-three players and two centres. Each league allows for strategic gameplay, particularly with player value fluctuated based on performance during the tournament.
Ellie Kildunne, priced at 20 stars, is among the highest-valued players due to her previous season's standout performances, including nine tries. She along with Jess Breach and Abby Dow, both rated at 19 stars, represent top-value targets for rugby fantasy enthusiasts. Key scoring mechanics have been introduced where forwards earn significantly more points for tries than backs—15 points for forwards compared to 10 for backs, creating exciting dynamics for team selection.
Fantasy players must also navigate through various scoring attributes including assists, penalties, and player performance awards which can greatly influence game strategy. Mitchell’s Red Roses, known for their powerful mauls, will undoubtedly be featured heavily as potential points earners, with key figures like Aldcroft and Matthews well-positioned as both reliable players and likely candidates for high scoring.
The development of fantasy rugby not only captures fan engagement but also creates added narratives within the tournament itself. With the league commencing soon, rugby enthusiasts and followers eagerly await the individual performances of the players as they vie for national pride and compete within the fantasy platforms.
The Guinness Women’s Six Nations is not just about who will hold the trophy at the end, but about how these women establish themselves both on the field and within the fantasy game, promising thrills and competitive spirit.
It's shaping up to be another thrilling Six Nations, with the Red Roses and their supporters hopeful to capture glory both on the pitch and for fantasy players adopting their own strategies. The leadership of Aldcroft and the depth of talent listed has set high expectations as they prepare to face Italy, marking the beginning of what could be yet another memorable tournament.
