England ace Sarah Bern has been ruled out of this year’s Women’s Six Nations after suffering a season-ending knee injury.
A significant blow to the Red Roses’ title hopes is that the Bristol forward, who is ranked number 1 on Telegraph Sport’s list of Britain’s top 30 female rugby players, will not be able to play for the entire championship as she needs surgery due to her meniscus injury.
There are also doubts over whether Poppy Cleall will feature in the tournament after the Saracens forward was surprisingly left out of John Mitchell’s 38-man training squad on Thursday.
Cleall missed last year’s WXV competition with a lower leg problem but has been one of the most consistent performers in Premiership Women’s Rugby this season.
In Bern’s absence, Maud Muir looks set to be England’s first choice in the Women’s Six Nations Team, having started in the position against Australia in WXV, with Saracens’ Kelsey Clifford a secondary option.
Meanwhile, Bern’s clubmate Abbie Ward, who has just benefited from England Rugby’s ground-breaking maternity policy, has been called up to the Red Roses training camp for the first time since giving birth to daughter Hallie last summer.
England will begin their Six Nations preparations when the squad meets at St George’s Park in Burton on Monday.
When is the 2024 Women’s Six Nations Championship?
The Women’s Six Nations kicks off on 23 March 2024, with last year’s runners-up France welcoming Ireland to the Stade Marie-Marvingt in Le Mans.
England will start their campaign against Italy in Parma on 24 March 2024 at 15:00 (UK time). The Red Roses, who won their fifth consecutive Six Nations title, will target a record-breaking crowd for their match against Ireland. Twickenham in the fourth round.
How to watch the 2024 Women’s Six Nations on TV?
This year, fixtures will continue to be shown on BBC, the rights holder of the Women’s Six Nations. Every match of the tournament will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online, with the majority broadcast on BBC television.
2024 Women’s Six Nations fixtures
First Round
Saturday, March 23
France – Ireland (14.15, Stade Marie-Marvingt)
Saturday, March 23
Wales – Scotland (16.45, Cardiff Arms Park)
Sunday, March 24
Italy – England (15:00, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi)
second part
Saturday, March 30
Scotland – France (14.15, Hive Stadium)
Saturday, March 30
England – Wales (16.45, Ashton Gate)
Sunday, March 31
Ireland v Italy (15:00, RDS Arena)
Third Round
Saturday, April 13
Scotland v England (14.15, Hive Stadium)
Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales (16.45, Virgin Media Park)
Sunday, April 14
France – Italy (12.30, Stade Jean Bouin)
Fourth Round
Saturday, April 20
England v Ireland (14.15, Twickenham)
Saturday, April 20
Italy – Scotland (16.45, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi)
Sunday, April 21
Wales – France (15.15, Cardiff Arms Park)
Fifth Round
Saturday, April 27
Wales v Italy (12.15pm, Principality Stadium)
Saturday, April 27
Ireland v Scotland (14.30, Kingspan Stadium)
Saturday, April 27
France – England (16.45, Stade Chaban-Delmas)
How can I buy tickets to matches?
You should consult each country’s own association website for information on match tickets.
Who is in England’s 38-man training squad?
Forward
Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs, 5 times)
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 54 caps)
Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury, 34 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 42 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 3 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 14 caps)
Lizzie Hanlon (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning, 1 time)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 13 caps)
Sharifa Kasolo (Saracens, uncapped)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 62 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 25 times)
Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 99 caps)
Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury, 10 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
ridges
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 25 caps)
Sophie Bridger (Saracens, 2 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 33 caps)
Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Merryn Doidge (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Ladies, 40 times)
Sydney Gregson (Saracens, 3 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 18 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)
Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 38 appearances)
Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 16 caps)
Amber Reed (Bristol Bears, 67 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 times)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)