Hunter back to skipper England in Six Nations
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning’s Sarah Hunter will return from a long-term injury lay-off to captain England in the Women’s Six Nations.
Hunter’s Loughborough teammate Helena Rowland is among four Great Britain Sevens internationals, with Meg Jones, Ellie Kildunne and Alex Matthews, named in the squad of 38.
Simon Middleton’s Red Roses squad, which also includes Lightning star and vice-captain Emily Scarratt, below, of Desford, will come together in Doncaster on Monday.
England’s defence of their Six Nations title starts against Scotland at Castle Park on April 3.
Injuries have ruled out Sarah Bern (shoulder), Natasha Hunt (ankle), Laura Keates (knee) and Morwenna Talling (knee) for the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Saracens quartet of Hannah Botterman, Bryony Cleall, Vicky Fleetwood and Sarah McKenna, as well as the Gloucester-Hartpury duo of Zoe Aldcroft and Ellena Perry and Worcester Warriors’ Lydia Thompson, return after missing the autumn fixtures through injury.
Six development players – frontrowers Maud Muir and Flo Long, and backs Ellie Green, Merryn Doidge, Beth Wilcock and Flo Robinson – have also been included.
Joining Exeter’s Robinson in the squad is her older sister Emily, a
Harlequins flanker also looking to earn her first cap.
Head coach Middleton said disruptions caused by the pandemic had prompted the inclusion of development players in an expanded squad.
“We saw an opportunity to help support the development of young players, bringing them into senior camps which was a win-win all round and there’s every chance we could see those players feature over the course of the games,” he said.
Meanwhile, Loughborough Lightning visit Exeter Chiefs Women in the Allianz Premier 15s this afternoon (3pm). Lightning are currently third in the table, 14 points behind leaders Saracens Women and eight points behind second-placed Harlequins Women.