Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir and Alex Matthews come into the Red Roses pack for Cork clash
Head coach John Mitchell has made three changes to the England Women’s Six Nations squad’s starting XV to face Ireland on Saturday.
The back line remains unchanged as the table-topping Red Roses – on a run of 31 consecutive Women’s Six Nations victories – return to action following their emphatic 67-12 victory over Wales in front of a record-breaking Principality Stadium crowd.
That means World Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne (who ran in a hat-trick in Cardiff on the day of her 50th cap) starts at full-back, alongside wings Abby Dow and Jess Breach. Megan Jones and Tatyana Heard are the centres, while Natasha Hunt and Zoe Harrison continue at half-back.
In the front row, Lark Atkin-Davies keeps her place at hooker, as Hannah Botterman and Maud Muir get the nod over Mackenzie Carson and Sarah Bern at prop. Morwenna Talling and Abbie Ward are the locks, while Sadia Kabeya and Zoe Aldcroft are picked at flanker. Alex Matthews is selected ahead of Maddie Feaunati at number 8.
The replacements bench is occupied by Amy Cokayne, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison and Helena Rowland.
England currently sit top of the Six Nations table on points difference. France are second with Ireland third. The RFU announced earlier this week that the Red Roses’ Mackenzie Carson and Charlotte Fray have been ruled out of the rest of the tournament by injury.
Ireland v England kicks off at 4.45pm BST on Saturday at Virgin Media Park in Cork. Here’s how to watch the Women’s Six Nations 2025 wherever you are.
England Six Nations 2025 team v Ireland
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Abby Dow
13. Megan Jones
12. Tatyana Heard
11. Jess Breach
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Natasha Hunt
1. Hannah Botterman
2. Lark Atkin-Davies
3. Maud Muir
4. Morwenna Talling
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft (captain)
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Alex Matthews
Replacements:
16. Amy Cokayne
17. Kelsey Clifford
18. Sarah Bern
19. Rosie Galligan
20. Maddie Feaunati
21. Lucy Packer
22. Holly Aitchison
23. Helena Rowland
England Six Nations 2025 team v Wales
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Abby Dow
13. Megan Jones
12. Tatyana Heard
11. Jess Breach
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Natasha Hunt
1. Mackenzie Carson
2. Lark Atkin-Davies
3. Sarah Bern
4. Morwenna Talling
5. Abbie Ward
6. Zoe Aldcroft (captain)
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Maddie Feaunati
Replacements:
16. Amy Cokayne
17. Hannah Botterman
18. Maud Muir
19. Rosie Galligan
20. Abbie Burton
21. Lucy Packer
22. Holly Aitchison
23. Helena Rowland
England Six Nations 2025 team v Italy
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 (captain)
7. Marlie Packer
8. Maddie Feaunati
Replacements:
16. May Campbell
17. Hannah Botterman
18. Sarah Bern
19. Abbie Ward
20. Sadia Kabeya
21. Flo Robinson
22. Jade Shekells
23. Ellie Kildunne
England Women’s Six Nations squad 2025
Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 58 caps)
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 35 caps)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 51 caps)
Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 9 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 19 caps)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 18 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 72 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 35 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 108 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 18 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 69 caps)
Backs
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 35 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 43 caps)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 48 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 54 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 26 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 76 caps)
Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 48 caps)
Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 26 caps)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 34 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 116 caps)
Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap)
- See also: How to watch women’s Six Nations 2025
England Women’s Six Nations squad: line-ups from every match in 2024
England team to play France
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Zoe Aldcroft, Morwenna Talling, Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Abbie Ward, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Sydney Gregson
England team to play Ireland
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Maud Muir, Zoe Aldcroft, Morwenna Talling, Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Lizzie Hanlon, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Sydney Gregson
England team to play Scotland
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Rosie Galligan, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati, Marlie Packer, Lucy Packer, Zoe Harrison, Sydney Gregson
England team v Wales
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Maud Muir, Zoe Aldcroft, Rosie Galligan, Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer, Alex Matthews
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Abbie Ward, Maddie Fe’aunati, Lucy Packer, Zoe Harrison, Sydney Gregson
England team v Italy
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Helena Rowland, Emily Scarratt, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Lucy Packer; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Zoe Aldcroft, Abbie Ward, Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer, Sarah Beckett
Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Maud Muir, Maddie Fe’aunati, Alex Matthews, Natasha Hunt, Holly Aitchison, Megan Jones
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