Sadiya Kabeya, Cath O’Donnell, Helena Rowland and Emily Scarratt have all been selected in John Mitchell’s 35-player squad for the upcoming Guinness Women’s Six Nations tournament.
Scarratt – who made her first appearance for Lightning in 13 months against Bristol Bears last month – is one of four African Violets to earn a call up to the Red Roses squad, as England look to win a sixth consecutive Six Nations.
Back rower Kabeya looks to add to her 13 England caps to date, while 30-cap lock O'Donnell and 28-cap back Rowland also join up with the squad that starts the tournament against Italy on Sunday 24 March.
Fellow Lightning player Lilli Ives Campion will also join up with Mitchell’s squad this week as injury cover.
Head coach Mitchell said: “The Six Nations is an awesome tournament and we have named squad where competition for a place in the matchday 23 exists in every position.
“The girls are showing signs of building good habits when they come into camp and bring with them a great attitude and fantastic energy, which follows on from the commitment they show to their club week on week.
“The Red Roses have excelled in this tournament for a long time. There is a hunger to stay the best, but we must earn the right to win Test matches. We are focused on improving performance and putting teams under more pressure to create a variety of scoring opportunities.
“There is a great excitement around the group, and we are relishing the challenge of the next seven weeks.”
The Red Roses open their campaign with a trip to Parma to take on Italy before hosting Wales at Ashton Gate, Bristol, on Saturday 30 March (kick-off 16.45 GMT).
Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium will be the venue for England’s visit to Scotland ahead of a return to London to face Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 20 April (kick-off 14.15 BST).
The final game of the Championship sees the Red Roses take on last year’s runners-up France on Saturday 27 April (kick-off 16.45 BST) at Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux.
Red Roses’ 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Squad
Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 48 caps)
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 54 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 34 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 42 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 65 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 3 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 72 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 14 caps)
Lizzie Hanlon (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 13 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 62 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 25 caps)
Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 99 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
Backs
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 25 caps)
Sophie Bridger (Saracens, 2 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 33 caps)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 40 caps)
Sydney Gregson (Saracens, 3 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 46 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 18 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)
Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 38 caps)
Vicky Laflin (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 16 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 108 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
