GB Sevens’ Shekells in England Women’s Six Nations squad

Women’s Six Nations

Italy vs. England

Date: Sunday, March 23rd, 2019 Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Before their opening match against Italy on Sunday, England head coach John Mitchell has named GB Sevens player Jade Shekells in his Women’s Six Nations squad.

The XVs code for the 2024 Paris Olympian, who most recently played for GB in the World Sevens Series in Vancouver in February, is uncapped.

Shekells joins Abi Burton from Ealing, Charlotte Fray from Leicester, and Flo Robinson from Exeter, who is one of four players who might make their Red Roses debut in York.

Connie Powell, a hooker for the Harlequins, and Millie David, a wing for Bristol, are both absent from the 37-woman squad.

Zoe Aldcroft, who helped Gloucester-Hartpury capture the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) title for the third time in a row on Sunday, will lead the squad for the first time.

Shekells has impressed in a few Gloucester-Hartpury games this season’s outside center, but he has changed to play in and out of the Great Britain Sevens squad. England may be considering her as 12 at this point, it is said.

After a fantastic season, which culminated with an impressive performance against club Gloucester-Hartpury in the PWR final, Wing Mia Venner is included.

Before the Rugby World Cup in August, Venner will be in the running for one of the most competitive selection contests.

The wing competition includes Venner, Abby Dow’s anticipated hand injury recovery, Claudia MacDonald’s comeback at Exeter, and Jess Breach’s return from injury.

Due to Saracens’ May Campbell overtaking her in the pecking order, Harlequins hooker Connie Powell will not be able to add any more to her 19 caps.

Campbell has had a stellar season at the club level, and it would have been nearly impossible to leave the squad despite Saracens losing in the PWR final.

With numerous appearances in the back row, she has also demonstrated versatility.

Forwards

Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women), May Campbell (Saracens), Mackenzie Carson (Leicester Tigers), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs), Charlotte Fray (Leicester Tigers), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Lilli Ives Campion (Leicester Tigers), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lark Atkin-Davie

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