25 World Cup winners included in Red Roses' Six Nations squad

John Mitchell has announced a 38-player England Red Roses squad for the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Yesterday it was confirmed that Megan Jones will captan the team in the absence of Zoe Stratford. Jones will be supported by vice-captains Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews.

The squad selected by Mitchell consists of 22 forwards and 16 backs and boasts 1,143 international Test caps. There are also 25 Women’s Rugby World Cup winners amongst its ranks.

Mitchell has included seven uncapped players players in the squad: Christiana Balogun, Millie David (both Bristol Bears), Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning), Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women), Sarah Parry (Harlequins), Demelza Short (Bristol Bears) and Jodie Verghese (Saracens).

David, Lutui, Meta and Parry were all invited to the Red Roses’ January training camp. Balogun has taken part in previous England camps, while Short and Verghese have received maiden call-ups.

There are also international recalls for Liz Hanlon, Connie Powell (both Harlequins), Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Bo Westcombe Evans (both Loughborough Lightning), Mia Venner (Gloucester Hartpury) and Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs).

Powell is the most experienced of the recalled players with 19 Test caps but has not featured for England since the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations. Robinson won her sole England cap in last year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign against Italy.

Both Hanlon and Hibbert-Jones also have one Test cap to their names, but have not earned international honours since 2024 and 2023 respectively.

In 2024, Westcombe Evans won two caps for England and scored a try at WXV 1 before an ACL injury kept her off the pitch for 12 months. Venner, who won her second England cap in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, has scored six tries for Gloucester Hartpury so far this Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

Hanlon, Powell, Venner and Robinson all took part in Red Roses training squads ahead of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

John Mitchell, England Red Roses head coach, said: “It’s great to be back together, ready to earn the right again following the Rugby World Cup.

“The impact of the tournament across the country has been outstanding, and it’s reflected in the incredible ticket sales – not just for our matches at Allianz Stadium and Ashton Gate, but across the Six Nations as a whole.

“As Red Roses, what comes next is a fresh start. The Six Nations is hugely important to us, and we know success in this competition has to be earned every time.

“We’re excited by the energy the younger players will bring into the squad, and alongside our experienced players.

“What is important to me is to stay open-minded about player combinations and I will observe how people compete against each other and deal with that type of pressure.

“It’s just down to who is going to take the handbrake off, attack it, and expresses themselves in our game.”

Since England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup success in September, Zoe Stratford, Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward have announced pregnancies, while Rosie Galligan, Cath O’Donnell, Jade Shekells and Ella Wyrwas are also unavailable for selection.

The Red Roses will begin their Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign against Ireland on Saturday 11 April at Allianz Stadium. Over 67,000 have already been sold for the clash, which will make it a tournament record. Their second home fixture, against Wales at Bristol’s Ashton Gate, will be a home record against Allianz Stadium.

England Red Roses 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations squad

Forwards
Christiana Balogun (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 79 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 4 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 5 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester Hartpury, 23 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 21 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 89 caps) – vice captain
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
Liz Hanlon (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 5 caps)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester Hartpury, 81 caps) – vice captain
Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Maud Muir (Gloucester Hartpury, 48 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 112 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 28 caps)
Jodie Verghese (Saracens, uncapped)

Backs
Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 53 caps)
Millie David (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 65 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester Hartpury, 36 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester Hartpury, 88 caps)
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 33 caps) – captain
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 57 caps)
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 38 caps)
Sarah Parry (Harlequins, uncapped)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 46 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester Hartpury, 13 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester Hartpury, 2 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)