Sadia Kabeya selected in Red Roses team to take on Wales

Sadia Kabeya has been selected in the England squad to take on Wales in Round 2 of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations this weekend.

The Loughborough Lightning star will earn her 15th Red Roses cap as she packs down at blindside flanker for the fixture at Ashton Gate on Saturday 30 March (kick-off: 4.45pm).

Following the opening round victory over Italy, head coach John Mitchell has seven changes to his side.
 
Tatyana Heard and Megan Jones form a new centre partnership while Natasha Hunt and Holly Aitchison pair up in the half-back positions.
 
Maud Muir and Rosie Galligan come into the front five with Alex Matthews promoted from the bench to Number 8.
 
The back three of Jess Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne remains consistent. Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sadia Kabeya and centurion Marlie Packer also continue their starting roles.
 
The Red Roses will break another attendance record when they take to the field on Saturday by taking to the field in front of their largest ever home crowd in a fixture not played at Twickenham Stadium. 

“We’re excited to play in front of a home crowd for the first time in this year’s tournament,” Mitchell said.
 
“To have sold 18,000 tickets with two days to go until matchday shows the appetite for Red Roses rugby in this country.
 
“The girls have been focused on the opportunity that a match against Wales presents and we have been planning and building on this short week for some time. All teams will be better for their second outing and we’re looking forward to improving our game.”

RED ROSES TEAM TO PLAY WALES
Saturday March 30 2024
Ashton Gate
Kick-off: 4.45pm

15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 39 caps)
14 Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 41 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
12 Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 18 caps)
11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 34 caps)
10 Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 26 caps)
9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 68 caps)

1 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 43 caps)
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 55 caps)
3 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 26 caps)
4 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 49 caps)
5 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 14 caps)
6 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 14 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 100 caps) - captain
8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 63 caps)

Replacements
 
16 Connie Powell (Harlequins, 15 caps)
17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 11 caps)
18 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 4 caps)
19 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
20 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
21 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 17 caps)
22 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 47 caps)
23 Sydney Gregson (Saracens, 3 caps)