Poppy Cleall left out of England training squad for Women's Six Nations, Abbie Ward returns after giving birth

England head coach John Mitchell has named his 38-player training squad for the Women’s Six Nations.

The players will meet for three days next week as they start preparations for the Six Nations, which is scheduled for March 23 to April 27.

Poppy Cleall, who currently plays for Saracens in the Allianz Women’s Premiership, is the most glaring omission.

The 31-year-old has made 65 appearances for the Red Roses, and while she was injured for the inaugural edition of WXV last year, is believed to be back at full fitness.

Bristol Bears prop Sarah Bern is absent after suffering a season-ending meniscus injury, while Zoe Aldcroft, Amy Cokayne, Zoe Harrison, Emily Scarratt and Morwenna Talling are also unavailable due to injury.

There are six uncapped players among the squad, namely Exeter’s Lizzie Hanlon, Katie Buchanan, Merryn Doidge, Saracens' Sharifa Kasolo, Bristol's Gabriella Nigrelli and Loughborough Lightning's Lilli Ives Campion.

Abbie Ward is among the players returning to the England set-up, less than a year after giving birth to her first child.

The Bristol lock made her rugby comeback at the start of the Allianz Women’s Premiership season in November.

"We are excited to come together for our first camp of 2024 and build on the positive experience of WXV and introduce some new people to what we are about," said Mitchell.

"It is our first opportunity to revisit what we value, update our athletic profiling data of the group and re-focus on where our game is working and where we take it to next."

The Red Roses begin their Six Nations title defence against Italy in Parma on March 24.

Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury), Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), May Campbell (Saracens), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Lizzie Hanlon (Exeter Chiefs), Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Sharifa Kasolo (Saracens), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears), Cath O'Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury), Connie Powell (Harlequins), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears)

Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), Sophie Bridger (Saracens), Jess Breach (Saracens), Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs), Merryn Doidge (Exeter Chiefs), Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), Sydney Gregson (Saracens), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Amber Reed (Bristol Bears), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury), Ella Wyrwas (Saracens)

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media