Shekells on England bench for Six Nations opener

Women's Six Nations: England v Italy

Venue: LNER Community Stadium, York Date: Sunday, 23 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch on BBC Two, iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app; listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

GB Sevens player Jade Shekells could make her XV-a-side international debut on Sunday after being named on the bench for England's Women's Six Nations opener against Italy in York.

Gloucester-Hartpury's Shekells, 28, is joined among the replacements by another of the four uncapped players in John Mitchell's 37-woman squad - Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Flo Robinson, 23.

Shekells was part of the GB squad at last year's Olympics in Paris and, if brought on, is set to appear in the centres.

Mia Venner, fresh from helping Gloucester-Hartpury win a third successive Premiership Women's Rugby title last weekend, wins her second cap on the wing and, like Loughborough Lightning lock Lilli Ives Campion, will be making her first international start.

Helena Rowland, who has frequently operated in the centres in her recent appearances for England, will begin at fly-half.

Zoe Aldcroft captains the side and starts in the back row alongside Marlie Packer, who she replaced as skipper in January.

England team to face Italy: Sing; Venner, Scarratt, Aitchison, MacDonald; Rowland, L Packer; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Galligan, Ives Campion, Aldcroft (capt), M Packer, Feaunati.

Replacements: Campbell, Botterman, Bern, Ward, Kabeya, Robinson, Shekells, Kildunne.

While winning a seventh consecutive Women's Six Nations title is high on England's agenda, the competition will also give opportunities for players to stake their claims for spots in Mitchell's squad at a home Rugby World Cup starting in August.

Exeter's Claudia MacDonald, who has recovered from a second serious neck injury during the past 12 months, will start on the wing for her first England appearance since the WXV tournament in 2023.

Emma Sing of Gloucester-Hartpury, the PWR's leading points-scorer in 2024-25, will start at full-back, with World Rugby's Women's Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne named on the bench.

England will start as strong favourites against Italy, who finished fifth in the 2024 tournament, winning one of their five games.

Last year's Six Nations meeting between the two nations ended in a 48-0 victory for England in Parma, despite the Red Roses having Sarah Beckett sent off in the first half.