Category News

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

Backs

Play-off between Greece and Scotland in the Nations League

Location: Piraeus’ Karaiskakis Stadium on Thursday, March 20, 2019 19:45 GMT

George Hirst adds a “different dimension” to Scotland’s forward line, according to assistant coach John Carver.

After receiving authorization to represent his grandfather’s country, Hirst has been chosen for the Nations League play-off against Greece.

The 26-year-old is a forward in Steve Clarke’s squad along with Che Adams, Tommy Conway, Kevin Nisbet, and James Wilson.

Hirst has scored four goals this season for Ipswich Town, including their second in Saturday’s 4-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

According to Carver, “we’ve been monitoring him for months.” Lyndon Dykes, who was a little less than Lyndon, was also injured, and he is a little similar.

What a goal did he score on Sunday, and how can you leave your club and play international football?

He immediately fits in, he claims, “He’s an intelligent lad, he’s bright, he loves football, and he’s a smart lad.” He gives us a completely different dimension.

Hirst represented England in youth, and Clarke claimed that the initial squad’s name was a result of a delay in the paperwork.

Carver claimed that the striker was unafraid to swear allegiance to the dark blue shirt.

The coach continued, “When we asked him, he was delighted to come and join us, and that’s what we want — players who want to come and play for Scotland.”

“I know his father played for England, but he wants to play for Scotland, which is the player we need.”

When they met up, Steve did most of the talking, and we were merely required to sort out a few things in the background. He would make a great addition, in my opinion.

Carver praised Hirst for joining the group because “it’s quite easy because of the guys we have – they’re a great bunch of lads.”