Lilli Ives Campion, Mia Venner to debut for Red Roses

Lilli Ives Campion and Mia Venner are set to make their full Red Roses debuts when England begin their Women's Six Nations campaign against Italy in York on Sunday.

The duo will feature in a squad eager to start their title defense on a strong note.

Loughborough Lightning lock Ives Campion, who earned her first international cap in September during England’s 38-19 WXV warm-up victory over France, has been named in the starting lineup.

Gloucester-Hartpury wing Venner, who made her England debut at just 17 years old in 2020, also secures her place in the first XV.

The squad sees key returns, with Exeter Chiefs’ Claudia MacDonald reclaiming her position on the wing and Gloucester-Hartpury’s Emma Sing starting at full-back. Both players are making comebacks after 16 months away from the national team.

Rosie Galligan partners Ives Campion in the second row, while the front row consists of props Kelsey Clifford and Maud Muir, alongside experienced hooker Amy Cokayne.

Zoe Aldcroft has been appointed as the Red Roses captain for the match and will start as a blindside flanker. She is joined in the back row by vice-captain Marlie Packer and No. 8 Maddie Feaunati, creating a formidable combination in England’s forward pack.

The squad also includes two uncapped players, Flo Robinson and Jade Shekells, who have been named on the bench and could earn their first Red Roses caps if brought into play.

England: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Mia Venner, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Holly Aitchison, 11 Claudia MacDonald, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Rosie Galligan, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 6 Zoe Aldcroft (capt), 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Maddie Feaunati.

Reserves: 16 May Campbell, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Abbie Ward, 20 Sadia Kabeya, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Jade Shekells, 23 Ellie Kildunne.