Sharks forward Morwenna Talling has been called up to the Red Roses squad for the team’s first training camp of the 2024/25 season today (Monday 29 July).
Morwenna, who has 13 England caps, is one of forty players who will spend five weeks in camp as they build up to face Six Nations runners-up France and world champions New Zealand in September.
The squad then head out to Canada for WXV 1 where they will face the hosts, USA and the Black Ferns once again.
Mitchell’s side ended a successful 2023/24 campaign by earning a third consecutive Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam in April, adding to the inaugural WXV 1 title secured in New Zealand six months previous.
Head Coach Mitchell said: “Our first camp of 2024/25 allows us to reset what we stand for and how we will carry ourselves as Red Roses moving forward.
“Our game is working, and we have an opportunity to dial it up again. There is a massive amount of room to improve individually and evolve our game over the next five weeks.”
Sarah Beckett, Grace Clifford, Lizzie Hanlon. Sadia Kabeya, Claudia MacDonald, Connie Powell and Mia Venner will attend the first two days of camp before continuing their rehabilitation back at their clubs.
Megan Jones and Ellie Kildunne, who are currently with the GB Rugby 7s women’s squad, will return following the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.
Red Roses Pre-Season Camp 1 Squad
Prop
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 15 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 8 caps)
Liz Crake (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)
Laura Keates (Loughborough Lightning, 62 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 30 caps)
Simi Pam (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Hooker
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 74 caps)
Lock
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 53 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)
Back Row
Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 65 caps)
Steph Else (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 104 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
Scrum-half
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 72 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 21 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
Fly-half
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 30 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 49 caps)
Centre
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 22 caps)
Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 111 caps)
Back Three
Jess Breach (Saracens, 38 caps)
Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 45 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughorough Lightning, uncapped)
Utility back
Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 45 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 29 caps)
