Red Roses team to play Ireland
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The Red Roses return to action for the first time as World Champions as Ireland provide the opposition for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations opener at Allianz Stadium.
A tournament record crowd of over 75,000 will be in attendance as John Mitchell’s side begin a new cycle under Megan Jones’ captaincy.
The outside centre will be supported by vice captains Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews, both of whom start at hooker and Number 8 respectively.
The duo, alongside openside flanker Sadia Kabeya and lock Morwenna Talling, are the only members of the starting forwards who began the World Cup final back in September.
Lock Lilli Ives Campion and flanker Maddie Feaunati are selected with props Kelsey Clifford and Sarah Bern taking their place in the front row.
Captain Jones is partnered by Helena Rowland in the midfield while Ellie Kildunne, Jess Breach and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald make up the back three. Scrum-half Lucy Packer and fly-half Holly Aitchison form the half-back pairing.
Among the replacements, England Under-21 international Haineala Lutui is in line for her Red Roses debut. The Loughborough Lightning forward has impressed in the PWR this season, making a league-high 337 metres from 226 carries.
“It’s fantastic opportunity to be returning to Allianz Stadium in front of our fans for the first time since the 2025 Rugby World Cup final,” Mitchell said.
“We’ve all felt the lasting impact of 2025, and that’s reflected in the incredible ticket sales for Saturday’s match. The players relish, and absolutely deserve, the opportunity to perform in front of record crowds, but they also understand the responsibility that comes with that stage.
“We know success in this competition is never given; it has to be earned every time. We’ve prepared well as a group, and the players are ready to express themselves fully. We cannot wait to get started.”
Red Roses team to play Ireland
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 57 caps)
14 Jess Breach (Saracens, 53 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 33 caps) – captain
12 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 46 caps)
11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
10 Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 38 caps)
1 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 21 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 89 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 79 caps)
4 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 28 caps)
5 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 5 caps)
6 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury,
Replacements
16 Connie Powell (Harlequins, 19 caps)
17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury,
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 48 caps)
19 Haineala Lutui (
20 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 4 caps)
21 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 88 caps)
22 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 65 caps)
23 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 13 caps)
