Head coach Simon Middleton has named his England Women team for Sunday’s Six Nations trip to Italy.
Loughborough Lightning’s Morwenna Talling starts in the second row for her senior debut while Abbie Ward and Marlie Packer are set for their first appearances in just under a year.
Ellie Kildunne makes her first international XVs appearance since the 33-11 win over Ireland in the 2018 Women’s Six Nations.
Natasha Hunt has withdrawn from the squad after returning a positive Covid-19 test. The Gloucester-Hartpury captain will isolate for 10 days before undertaking a seven-day return to play programme. There were no other positive tests returned.
Wasps FC Ladies’ Claudia MacDonald will now start at scrum half while Leanne Riley joins the group and takes her place on the bench.
The match takes place on Sunday 1 November at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, in Parma, KO 5pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Arena and also available free-to-air on the Sky Sports YouTube channel.
Middleton said: “While we’re understandably disappointed for Mo [Natasha Hunt], the health and safety of all players and staff members is paramount.
“The situation has been handled very well by our medical staff. All training session and training venue footage was reviewed to establish any close contacts and players were interviewed. Fortunately, no-one else needed to isolate.
“Claudia is a fantastic replacement and the game gives her a chance to impress from the start.
“Earning a first cap is always a special moment. Morwenna Talling has excelled in training and club matches and we feel she thoroughly deserves her opportunity.
“Despite a number of injuries, we have real depth to our squad.
“We’re all pleased to see Harriet Millar-Mills back playing regularly after lengthy injury lay-offs and know the quality the likes of Alex Matthews and Helena Rowland bring.
“After a tough year for everyone, we’re grateful to be preparing for international rugby again and targeting a Grand Slam.”
England Women team to play Italy
Backs
15. Ellie Kildunne (Wasps FC Ladies, 8 caps)
14. Jess Breach (Harlequins Women, 13 caps)
13. Emily Scarratt (C; Loughborough Lightning, 89 caps)
12. Amber Reed (Bristol Bears Women, 57 caps)
11. Abby Dow (Wasps FC Ladies, 12 caps)
10. Katy Daley-Mclean (Sale Sharks Women, 114 caps)
9. Claudia MacDonald (Wasps FC Ladies, 9 caps)
Forwards
1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Women, 53 caps)
2. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 25 caps)
3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears Women, 35 caps)
4. Abbie Ward (Harlequins Women, 42 caps)
5. Morwenna Talling (Loughborough Lightning, 0 caps)
6. Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 40 caps)
7. Marlie Packer (Saracens Women, 71 caps)
8. Sarah Beckett (Harlequins Women, 17 caps)
Finishers
16. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins Women, 50 caps)
17. Detysha Harper (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
18. Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Women, 17 caps)
19. Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps FC Ladies, 55 caps)
20. Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors Women, 37 caps)
21. Leanne Riley (Harlequins Women, 37 caps)
22. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 0 caps)
23. Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women, 24 caps)
NPR: Heather Kerr (Wasps FC Ladies, 23 caps)
Meanwhile the Women’s Six Nations Championship matches France v Ireland and Wales v Scotland have been postponed
In the case of France v Ireland, the postponement comes after a number of French players tested positive for COVID-19.
The two teams were due to meet in Dublin on Sunday 1 November, but the match can now no longer take place.
The match was originally scheduled to be played in Villeneuve d’Ascq, but the venue was reversed when the French team offered to travel to Dublin to help the Irish players address quarantine challenges.
The decision to postpone the match was taken by Six Nations Rugby, the FFR and the IRFU following a recommendation of Six Nations Rugby’s Testing Oversight Group, due to concerns raised over the potential risk of further infections within the French team.
With regards to Wales v Scotland, four Scottish players have withdrawn from the squad after they were identified as ‘close contacts’ with members of the France team they played against on Sunday 25 October and who have since tested positive for COVID-19 in France.
In addition, another member of the Scotland squad tested positive for COVID-19 today.
These developments have made it unviable for Scotland to field a competitive team against Wales and a decision was made to also postpone this fixture.
Six Nations Rugby will seek to reschedule both fixtures at a later date and further details will be announced in due course.
Six Nations Rugby would like to thank everyone involved who have worked tirelessly in an attempt to stage these matches and also wish the affected players a speedy recovery.
