Millie David has chance to become Red Roses' World Cup bolter
Millie David, the Bristol Bears teen sensation who has lit up Premiership Women's Rugby this season with her try-scoring exploits, has been included in England's wider training camp ahead of the Six Nations.
At 19, David is yet to age out of the Red Roses under-20s but has received her first senior call up to John Mitchell's squad after a season in which she has turned heads with her terrific form.
The winger scored a sublime try – her 17th of the season – in her side's PWR semi-final defeat by Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday, finishing acrobatically in the corner which head coach Dave Ward hailed as 'the best finish I've seen in either men's or women's rugby.'
🤯 STOP what you're doing and watch this unbelievable finish from @BristolBearsW 's Millie David! #GLOvBRI | #PWR pic.twitter.com/YE9B0Tsnzg
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 2, 2025
David will link up with a 42-player training Red Roses group in Bristol on Monday for a four-day camp ahead of the upcoming Women's Six Nations, which begins on March 22.
Mitchell's side would usually be based at Pennyhill Park, but that facility is still being used by Steve Borthwick's men, who continue their own campaign when they host Italy at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
'The objective of this camp is to become organised and get better as a Red Rose ahead of the Six Nations, bearing in mind we will be without the PWR finalists next week,' said Mitchell, who will name his official squad for the championship on March 17. 'We are expecting an excited energy in reconnecting again and focusing on the opportunity that this special tournament presents for us.'
Leicester Tigers lock Charlotte Fray, Great Britain sevens player Jade Shekells and Harlequins utility back Sarah Parry are the other three players to receive their first call-ups to the senior women's side, with Mitchell also appointing Nathan Catt as defence coach as maternity cover for Sarah Hunter.
Gloucester-Hartpury and Saracens players who will be involved in the PWR final on March 16 will not be available for a third Red Roses camp next week and, if selected, will join up again with the team to prepare for the opening round against Italy on March 23 in York.
Sky is the limit for Bristol teenager
It was a matter of when, not if, Millie David would be called up to England's senior squad. The teenager has been the outstanding performer in the English women's top flight this season, dazzling the league with her dynamism, raw pace and footwork.
Her mesmeric finish in the corner during her side's semi-final loss to Gloucester-Hartpury at the weekend – showcasing her innate strength to wrestle the ball over the whitewash – was a snapshot of the stardust she can provide. For this youngster the sky really is the limit and you'd put money on her being a bolter for Mitchell's World Cup squad later this year.
Curiously, it is uncommon for a player so young to be called up to a senior women's international side. Not so long ago in the amateur era, it might have been more common to see a raw player like David featured on the team sheet, but the advent of professionalism and evolved player pathways has made this increasingly uncommon.
Back-three players in the women's game are also getting bigger and pack more punch physically than in previous years, as demonstrated by Ilona Maher's stint for Bristol Bears on the wing. Again, this is because players are able to devote themselves to a full-time programme which includes increased gym, personalised nutrition and adequate recovery.
'I think John Mitchell spoke to her a few weeks ago with a throwaway comment and she didn't really hear anything from England since and then all of a sudden she's chucked into the WhatsApp group,' said Dave Ward, the Bristol Bears head coach. 'She's excited, she's pumped and whether she gets an opportunity or not, the experience for her will be brilliant. She's every coach's dream. She's a player who wants to get better and learn but she goes away and works on things and comes back a better player.'
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