Red Roses make shake-up for Wales clash

England’s women’s rugby team, the Red Roses, is undergoing a significant transformation for their upcoming six nations against Wales in Cardiff. Red Roses began the campaign with a 38-5 victory over Italy on Sunday.

Head coach John Mitchel has implemented 13 changes to the starting lineup, injecting fresh energy into the squad. A key highlight is Ellie Kildunne’s 50^th international appearance, a testament to her consistent performance since her try-scoring debut in 2017.

Alongside her, Abi Burton, an Olympian, is poised to make her England debut, marking a remarkable return after overcoming a serious illness.

The match is expected to draw a significant crowd for a standalone women’s sporting event in Wales. The England lineup features a mix of experienced players and emerging talent, which changes the forward pack and the backline.

Captain Zoe Aldcroft remains a constant guy in the back row, providing stability amidst the changes. The front row sees a completely new face and half-back pairing, and centers also feature new combinations.

Maddle Feaunati replaces Alex Matthews and Sadia Kabeya, Holly Aitchison, and Helena Rowland, both names with Morwenna Talling and Abbie Ward forming a formidable partnership. The bench includes Burton, offering her a chance to contribute to the team

The Welsh Rugby Union boasts a record-breaking crowd with over 18,000 tickets being sold out, which is a major milestone win for a standalone women's fixture in Wales's history.

Coach Sean Lynn takes the mantle for his first home game since being appointed the head coach of Wales and makes two changes after the loss to Scotland in Edinburgh.