England has announced a squad of 38 players for the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, which includes seven players yet to earn caps.
The squad is rich in experience, with head coach John Mitchell selecting 25 athletes who participated in last year’s World Cup, including the newly appointed captain Meg Jones.
Additionally, he has included seven players aiming to make their tournament debuts: Christiana Balogun, Millie David, Haineala Lutui, Annabel Meta, Sarah Parry, Demelza Short, and Jodie Verghese.
Mitchell stated: “It’s wonderful to reconvene, prepared to earn our place again following the Rugby World Cup.
“The tournament’s impact nationwide has been remarkable, as evidenced by the impressive ticket sales—not only for our matches at Allianz Stadium and Ashton Gate but for the entire Six Nations.”
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“As Red Roses, what lies ahead is a new beginning. The Six Nations holds significant importance for us, and we understand that achieving success in this competition must be earned consistently.”
“We are enthusiastic about the energy that the younger players will contribute to the squad, alongside our seasoned athletes.
“It is crucial for me to remain open-minded regarding player combinations, and I will closely monitor how individuals compete against one another and handle that level of pressure.”
Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews will act as vice-captains to Jones, as announced by the Rugby Football Union.
The Red Roses enter the Six Nations as the defending champions, having claimed their 21st title last year with a decisive victory over France on the final day.
This year, they will begin their campaign at home against Ireland on April 11 at the Allianz Stadium and conclude away against France on May 17.
