Six Nations Squads Published
Few surprises is the long lists published by three of the Six Nations. This is the first stage in whittling down the squads to the maximum 30 who will represent the nations for the World Cup.
No fewer than three players could win their 50th cap in Round One, Elisa Giordano, Beatrice Rigoni and Jade Konkel.
France
Annick Hayraud has listed 35 players to form France’s assault on the 2022 Six Nations Championship:
Agathe Sochat (Stade Bordelais)
Alexandra Chambon (Grenoble)
Annaëlle Deshayes (Lyon Olympique Universitaire)
Assia Khalfaoui (Stade Bordelais)
Audrey Forlani (Blagnac)
Axelle Berthoumieux (Blagnac)
Camille Boudaud (Stade Toulousain)
Caroline Drouin (Stade Rennais)
Célia Domain (Blagnac)
Charlotte Escudéro (Blagnac)
Chloé Jacquet (Lyon Olympique Universitaire)
Clara Joyeux (Blagnac)
Coco Lindelauf (Blagnac)
Coumba Diallo (Stade Français)
Cyrielle Banet (Montpellier)
Emeline Gros (Montpellier)
Émilie Boulard (Chilly Mazarin)
Gabrielle Vernier (Blagnac)
Gaëlle Hermet (Stade Toulousain)
Jessy Trémoulière (ASM Romagnat)
Julie Annery (Stade Français)
Laure Sansus (Stade Toulousain)
Laure Touye (Montpellier)
Léa Murie (Stade Toulousain)
Madoussou Fall (Stade Bordelais)
Maëlle Filopon (Stade Toulousain)
Manaé Feleu (Grenoble)
Marie Aurélie Castel (Stade Rennais)
Marine Ménager (Montpellier)
Marjorie Mayans (Blagnac)
Melissande Llorens (Blagnac)
Morgane Peyronnet (Montpellier)
Romane Ménager (Montpellier)
Rose Bernadou (Montpellier)
Yllana Brosseau (Stade Bordelais)
The one big name missing is Safi N’Diaye. There are no completely new additions, but several who have yet to force their way into a very strong starting 23.
Like Simon Middleton, Annick Hayraud is splitting the five-match programme into a 3+2 formation. After the game against Scotland in R3 she and her assistants will turn their minds to refining the squad, with a view to the World Cup beyond. That is where the players really have to hold their breath.
Italy
Andrea Di Giandomenico has announced 33 players to join his 6N squad:
Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais, 51 caps)
Sara Barattin (Villorba, 101 caps)
Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais, 64 caps)
Francesca Barro (Valsugana, uncapped)
Beatrice Capomaggi (Villorba, 4 caps)
Alyssa D’Inca (Villorba, 4 caps)
Giordana Duca (Valsugana, 24 caps)
Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain, 28 caps)
Alessandria Frangipani (Villorba, uncapped)
Giada Franco (Colorno, 21 caps)
Manuela Furlan (Villorba, 81 caps)
Lucia Gai (Valsugana, 76 caps)
Elisa Giordano (Valsugana, 49 caps)
Francesca Granzotto (Union Rugby Capitolina, uncapped)
Isabella Locatelli (Colorno, 28 caps)
Veronica Madia (Colorno, 25 caps)
Maria Magatti (CUS Milano, 38 caps)
Alessia Margotti (Valsugana, uncapped)
Gaia Maris (Valsugana, 6 caps)
Michela Merlo Michela (Colorno, 11 caps)
Aura Muzzo (Villorba, 20 caps)
Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana, 9 caps)
Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana, 49 caps)
Francesca Sberna (Calvisano, 6 caps)
Sara Seye (Calvisano, 2 caps)
Michela Sillari (Valsugana, 63 caps)
Emanuela Stecca (Villorba, uncapped)
Sofia Stefan (Valsugana, 62 caps)
Sara Tounesi (ASM Romagnat, 18 caps)
Silvia Turani (Colorno, 16 caps)
Emma Stevanin (Valsugana, uncapped)
Vittoria Vecchini (Valsugana, 3 caps)
Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana, 7 caps)
Di Giandomenico has added six new names to the squad: Barro, Frangipani, Granzotto, Margotti, Stecca and Stevanin. In its comments World Rugby rather unwisely labels them ‘stars’, which does them no favours. The management’s fervent hope must be that some of them do indeed prove to have star quality for the future.
Unlike the French, the Italians are still searching for real competition in every position. Sara Barattin sets off in search of her second set of 100 caps (and another World Cup!), but who has presented herself as a real challenger for that No 9 shirt in recent seasons?
Scotland
Bryan Easson has wisely stuck to the squad that represented the nation in Dubai, and is able to reintroduce players not available then: Jodie Rettie, Abi Evans and Hannah Smith. Three players added to that RWC squad, Alison Wilson, Emma Orr and Meryl Smith, now have a chance of gaining a first cap.
The full list of 35:
Abi Evans (Darlington Mowden Park, 15 caps)
Alison Wilson (Heriots, uncapped)
Anne Young (Edinburgh University, 1 cap)
Caity Mattinson (Worcester Warriors, 1 cap)
Chloe Rollie (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps)
Christine Belisle (Loughborough Lightning, 12 caps)
Coreen Grant (Saracens, 1 cap)
Emma Orr (Biggar, uncapped)
Emma Wassell (Loughborough Lightning, 52 caps)
Eva Donaldson (Edinburgh University, 1 cap)
Evie Gallagher (Stirling County, 8 caps)
Evie Wills (Hillhead Jordanhill, 3 caps)
Hannah Smith (Watsonians, 30 caps)
Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning, 37 caps)
Jade Konkel (Harlequins, 49 caps)
Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning, 36 caps)
Jodie Rettie (Saracens, 18 caps)
Katie Dougan (Gloucester Hartpury, 15 caps)
Lana Skeldon (Worcester Warriors, 48 caps)
Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning, 12 caps)
Lisa Cockburn (Worcester Warriors, 23 caps)
Lisa Thomson (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)
Liz Musgrove (Watsonians, 10 caps)
Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill, 31 caps)
Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester Warriors 15 caps)
Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill, 7 caps)
Megan Gaffney (Loughborough Lightning, 39 caps)
Meryl Smith (Edinburgh University, uncapped)
Molly Wright (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
Rachel Malcolm (captain. Loughborough Lightning, 24 caps)
Rachel McLachlan (Sale Sharks, 24 caps)
Rhona Lloyd (Stade Bordelais, 33 caps)
Sarah Bonar (Harlequins, 25 caps)
Sarah Law (Sale Sharks, 48 caps)
Shona Campbell (Edinburgh University, 2 caps)
It’s good to see at least twelve home-based players here. The long-term policy must be to lean less heavily on the English league to bring promising players up to top international standard. They take on England in R1.
