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 Sunday.
The 2024 Paris Olympian, who recently played for GB in the Vancouver leg of the World Sevens Series in February, is uncapped in the XVs code.
Shekells 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 Robinson.
Notable absences from the 37-woman squad are Harlequins hooker Connie Powell and Bristol wing Millie David.
The 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 Sunday.
Shekells 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 12.
Wing Mia Venner is included after an excellent season, culminating in an impressive outing with club side Gloucester-Hartpury in the PWR final.
Venner is now in the mix for one of the most open selection battles before the Rugby World Cup in August.
The 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 Venner.
Harlequins hooker Connie Powell will not be able to add to her 19 caps as she is overtaken in the pecking order by Saracens’ May Campbell.
Despite Saracens losing the PWR final, Campbell has had a stellar season at club level would have been near-impossible to leave out of the squad.
She has also proven her versatility with a number of appearances in the back row.
England are reigning Women’s Six Nations champions and are aiming to win a seventh title in a row.
