By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2025-01-10 17:21:08 | Updated at 2025-01-10 21:07:55
3 hours ago
England head coach John Mitchell has called up four uncapped players to his first training squad of 2025, which includes Trailfinders Women back row Abi Burton.
Olympian Burton, 24, nearly lost her life in 2022, after being diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis, which occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the brain.
She spent 25 days in an induced coma, before having to learn to walk and talk again, but recovered in time to be selected in Team GB's sevens squad as a reserve for the Paris Olympics in the summer.
Burton's appearance against China in the semi-finals of the fifth-place play-offs in Paris marked her second Olympics after featuring in Tokyo in 2021.
The former Wasps back row has impressed in the Premiership Women's Rugby league since her return to XVs with Trailfinders Women, and has said her goal is now to become a Red Rose., external
Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Flo Robinson, Bristol Bears wing Reneeqa Bonner and Loughborough Lightning centre Fran Goldthorp are the other uncapped players.
On Thursday, Mitchell confirmed lock Zoe Alcroft will be captain the Red Roses in 2025, replacing Saracens flanker Marlie Packer, who is included in the 38-player training squad.
The squad will assemble on Monday for a three-day camp, with their Six Nations Grand Slam defence starting on 23 March against Italy in York.
The Red Roses, who are on a 20-game winning run, then host the World Cup, which starts on 22 August, as they look to avenge their final defeat by New Zealand at Eden Park in 2022.
Forwards
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Lizzie Hanlon (Harlequins), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers), Connie Powell (Harlequins), Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears), Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury), Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks).
Backs
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs), Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Fran Goldthorp (Loughborough Lightning), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 116 caps) Reneeqa Bonner (Bristol Bears), Jess Breach (Saracens), Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury).
