Latest news with #Women'sSixNationsEngland
BBC News
23-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
England start Six Nations defence with Italy win
Women's Six NationsEngland (33) 38Tries: Venner, Scarratt, penalty try, MacDonald, Cokayne, Sing Cons: Sing 3Italy (5) 5Try: Sgorbini England started their Women's Six Nations title defence with a comfortable victory over Italy at LNER Community Stadium in victory extends the Red Roses' winning run to 21 games before a home Rugby World Cup that starts in her first Red Roses start, wing Mia Venner grabbed the opening try before centre Emily Scarratt crossed in a dominant opening hosts, following a penalty try from a maul infringement, sealed the bonus-point try inside 30 minutes after Claudia MacDonald's sharp managed one score in the first half through number eight Francesca Sgorbini, but Amy Cokayne quickly responded to grab England's fifth first-half Sing, in an error-filled second half, capped off a solid day from the kicking tee with the final try late in the Mitchell's side are seeking a fourth successive Grand Slam and a seventh Six Nations title in a next face Wales at Principality Stadium on Saturday, while Italy, who finished fifth in last year's championship, host Ireland on Sunday with hopes of replicating their only victory last to follow. Line-ups England: Sing; Venner, Scarratt, Aitchison, MacDonald; Rowland, L Packer; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Galligan, Ives Campion, Aldcroft (capt), M Packer, Campbell, Botterman, Bern, Ward, Kabeya, Robinson, Shekells, Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, D'Inca, Rigoni, Granzotto; Madia, Stefan (capt); Turani, Gurioli, Seye, Fedrighi, Duca, Veronese, Locatelli, Vecchini, Stecca, Maris, Tounesi, Franco, Bitonci, Stevanin, Aurelie Groizeleau (Fra)
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
MacDonald 'terrified' during recovery before England return
Women's Six NationsEngland v ItalyVenue: LNER Community Stadium, York Date: Sunday, 23 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMTCoverage: Live on BBC Two, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website and app England wing Claudia MacDonald says she has overcome her fear of leaving the house after recovering from a second neck injury to return to the Red Roses who can also play at scrum-half, was ruled out of last year's Women's Six Nations after suffering a second neck injury in February followed her first neck injury in 2022, which made the Exeter Chiefs utility back consider 29-year-old returned to the field in Exeter's Premiership Women's Rugby defeat by eventual champions Gloucester-Hartpury in December 2024 and has since been recalled to England's Six Nations before the Roses begin the defence of their title against Italy in York on Sunday, MacDonald said she was "terrified" of being near anything rugby related."I made a tackle and the next second I was on the floor not able to move my arms or legs so it was pretty scary in the first few moments," said MacDonald on Wednesday."In the first couple of months, playing wasn't even on the radar - it was about trying to get my mind around what had happened. "I was terrified to be anywhere near a rugby pitch or a rugby ball. I didn't want to have my back away from the wall as I didn't want anything behind me because I was scared of being knocked. "I barely left my house and I was told not to go in a car so it was all quite scary but thankfully we got past all of that."MacDonald says she had to learn to trust her body again - but being reunited with her club-mates reminded her why she wanted to return to action. She added: "I would wake up in the morning and check I could move my feet. And then time passes on and you realise that your body is so much tougher and resilient than we give it credit for. "The scans always helped too and when you could physically see that things were so much better than they were, it gave me confidence."It was a long journey towards getting back on to the pitch and it all started with a bit of fitness and just running around and being back at the club, remembering how much I love being with the girls and being out on the pitch, challenging myself physically. "I've thrown myself into club rugby and then I'm incredibly fortunate that England still want me to have around."MacDonald is one of four wingers in John Mitchell's England squad, alongside Jess Breach, Mia Venner and Abby Dow, but the Exeter player says she is not thinking about the competition for places during the build-up this year's home World Cup. "I'm really excited to be back in the squad and I'm and looking forward to the whole campaign," she said."Right now is about this Six Nations and putting our best foot forward. The beauty of this squad is we really are Red Roses first."We are all incredibly competitive individuals and we all want to be first choice but we have an incredibly good culture and we are building a desire for the whole squad to do really well."
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
GB Sevens' Shekells in England Six Nations squad
Women's Six NationsEngland v ItalyVenue: LNER Community Stadium, York Date: Sunday, 23 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMTCoverage: Live on BBC Two, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website and app England head coach John Mitchell has included GB Sevens player Jade Shekells in his Women's Six Nations squad before their opener against Italy on 2024 Paris Olympian, who recently played for GB in the Vancouver leg of the World Sevens Series in February, is uncapped in the XVs is one of four players who might make their Red Roses debut in York, including Ealing's Abi Burton, Leicester's Charlotte Fray and Exeter's Flo absences from the 37-woman squad are Harlequins hooker Connie Powell and Bristol wing Millie squad will be led for the first time by new captain Zoe Aldcroft, who helped Gloucester-Hartpury win the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) title for the third time in a row on has impressed in a handful of games for Gloucester-Hartpury at outside centre this season but has moved in and out of the Great Britain Sevens set-up. It is understood England are looking at her as a Mia Venner is included after an excellent season, culminating in an impressive outing with club side Gloucester-Hartpury in the PWR is now in the mix for one of the most open selection battles before the Rugby World Cup in wing competition includes the comeback of Claudia MacDonald at Exeter, the return from injury of Jess Breach, Abby Dow's expected return from a hand injury and now hooker Connie Powell will not be able to add to her 19 caps as she is overtaken in the pecking order by Saracens' May Saracens losing the PWR final, Campbell has had a stellar season at club level would have been near-impossible to leave out of the has also proven her versatility with a number of appearances in the back are reigning Women's Six Nations champions and are aiming to win a seventh title in a row. England Women's Six Nations squad ForwardsZoe Aldcroft (capt) (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury) Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears) Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears) Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury) Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women), May Campbell (Saracens), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs), Charlotte Fray (Leicester Tigers), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears)BacksHolly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), Jess Breach (Saracens), Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning), Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury), Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury), Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury)
