Every 'Foreign born' Player in 2026 Women's Six Nations - Australian talent set for England debut

Red Roses head coach John Mitchell has named his side, and included a high-profile debutant on the bench. There is a potential first England cap for Trailfinders Women forward Haidee Head, as the England Under-21 international, who is Australian born, qualifies for the Red Roses through her mother and has impressed in the PWR since arriving in West London from Queensland Reds.

Head coach John Mitchell said: “This week is about re-establishing our processes and sharpening our focus now that we have new purpose. We’ve had a deliberate reset around learning where we will need to improve, we trust the way we play, and now it’s time to get back to it.

Another milestone in the squad, Helena Rowland has been named to make her 50th Red Roses cap this Saturday, as the sides clash in Round 4 at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi The versatile Loughborough Lightning back debuted for England at the same stadium in Parma back in November 2020 and has accumulated 186 points for her country to date. Rowland, who has started every match of 12 in this year’s tournament, is part of a backline with two changes from victory over Wales.

Gloucester-Hartpury duo Emma Sing and Mia Venner come into the back three and Ellie Kildunne is named on the wing. Captain Jones is at outside centre while Lucy Packer and Zoe Harrison form the half-back pairing. In the pack, props Kelsey Clifford and Maud Muir start in the front row with hooker Amy Cokayne, and Abi Burton continues in the second row alongside Delaney Burns.

Marlie Packer and Maddie Feaunati, who have fond memories of winning their 100th and first caps respectively against Italy two years ago, remain in the back row, and Demelza Short completes the forwards starting her second Red Roses game at blindside flanker.

“We’ve built momentum throughout this tournament by stacking strong moments together, and that will be crucial again this week. Italy will be full of confidence after their result against Scotland, and they’ll challenge us in different ways.

“For us, it’s about staying locked in on our key actions: applying pressure and intentionally attacking the space with speed. Ultimately, it always comes down to showing courage in the moments that matter.”

Lilli Ives Campion and Sadia Kabeya continue their rehabilitation in camp, but Alex Matthews has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament. The Gloucester-Hartpury back row will have surgery on her shoulder this week.

15. Emma Sing 14. Mia Venner 13. Megan Jones 12. Helena Rowland 11. Ellie Kildunne 10. Zoe Harrison 9. Lucy Packer 1. Kelsey Clifford 2. Amy Cokayne 3. Maud Muir 4. Abi Burton 5. Delaney Burns 6. Demelza Short 7. Marlie Packer 8. Maddie Feaunati

Replacements: 16. Connie Powell 17. Mackenzie Carson 18. Sarah Bern 19. Haineala Lutui 20. Haidee Head 21. Flo Robinson 22. Holly Aitchison 23 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald

May Campbell (Stirling - Scotland)

MacKenzie Carson (Langley - Canada)

Haidee Head (Brisbane - Australia)

Haineala Lutui (New Zealand)

Lucy Packer (Ammanford - Wales)

Megan Jones (Cardiff - Wales)

Tatyana Heard (Pisa - Italy)

Carmella Morall (Hong Kong)

Linda Djougang (Cameroon)

Ellena Perry (Welwyn Garden City - England)

Samantha Monaghan (New York City, United States)

Erin King (Sydney - Australia)

Grace Moore (Croydon - England)

Nancy McGillivray (London - England)

Leah Bartlett (Loughborough - England)

Anne Young (Stevenage - England)

Becky Boyd (Grimsby - England)

Hollie Cunningham (Bristol - England)

Emily Coubrough (Canada)

Leia Brebner-Holden (Taunton - England)

Lucia Scott (Gloucester - England)

Gemma Bell (Hexham - England)

Demi Swann (Canada)

Carys Phillips (Warrington - England)

Katherine Baverstock (Milton Keynes - England)

Donna Rose (Salisbury - England)

Tilly Vucaj (Surrey - England)

Jorja Aiono (Hamilton - New Zealand)

Georgia Evans (Belguim)

Kendall Waudby (Derby - England)

Seren Lockwood (Biggleswade - England)

Carys Cox (Swindon - England)

Courtney Keight (Oxford - England)

Nikita Prothero (England)

Catherine Richards (Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates)

Madoussou Fall Raclot (Guinea)

Siobhan Soqeta (New Zealand)

Alia Bitonci (Moscow - Russia)