Women’s Six Nations: Full Red Roses debuts for Lilli Ives Campion and Mia Venner in England’s opener against Italy

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Red Roses team to play Italy Women’s Six Nations fixtures

Lilli Ives Campion and Mia Venner will make their full Red Roses debuts when England kick off their Women’s Six Nations campaign against Italy in York on Sunday.

Loughborough Lightning lock Ives Campion earned her first cap in September’s 38-19 WXV warm-up victory over France, while Gloucester-Hartpury wing Venner’s maiden international came as a 17-year-old in 2020.

There’s a return on the wing for Exeter Chiefs’ Claudia MacDonald and at full-back for Gloucester-Hartpury’s top points scorer Emma Sing after their respective 16-month absences for England.

Harlequins scrum-half Lucy Packer and Loughborough Lightning’s Helena Rowland form the half-back partnership, while Holly Aitchison and Emily Scarratt are paired at centre.

Rosie Galligan partners Ives Campion in the second row, behind props Kelsey Clifford and Maud Muir and hooker Amy Cokayne in the front row.

Zoe Aldcroft, who will captain the Red Roses from blindside flanker, is joined in the back row by vice-captain Marlie Packer and No 8 Maddie Feaunati.

Uncapped duo Flo Robinson and Jade Shekells are in line to earn their first Red Roses caps from the bench.

Red Roses team to play Italy

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.

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.