by England prop Sarah Bern has been ruled out of this year’s Women’s Six Nations after suffering a season-ending knee injury.
In a significant blow to the Red Roses’ title hopes, the Bristol forward, who featured at No 1 in Telegraph Sport’s list of the 30 best women’s rugby players in Britain, will be unavailable for the entire championship after undergoing surgery require mental injury.
There are also doubts over whether Poppy Cleall will feature in the competition after the Saracens starter was a surprise omission from John Mitchell’s 38-man training squad named on Thursday.
Cleall missed last year’s WXV competition with a lower leg problem, but has been one of the most consistent performers this season in Women’s Rugby Premiership.
In Bern’s absence, Maud Muir is likely to be England’s front-runner for the Women’s Six Nations, having started in the position against Australia at WXV, with Saracens’ Kelsey Clifford a secondary option.
Meanwhile, Bern’s team-mate Abbie Ward, fresh from taking advantage of England Rugby’s pioneering maternity policy, has been called up to the Red Roses training camp for the first time since the birth of her daughter, Hallie, last summer.
England will begin their preparations for the Six Nations when the squad meets at St George’s Park in Burton on Monday.
When is the 2024 Women’s Six Nations?
The Women’s Six Nations kicks off on 23 March 2024 when last year’s runners-up France welcome Ireland to the Stade Marie-Marvingt in Le Mans.
England kick off their campaign against Italy in Parma at 3pm (UK time) on March 24, 2024. The Red Roses, who are heavily promoted, will aim to win a fifth consecutive Six Nations crown , on an all-time high when they play against Ireland at Twickenham in the quarter-final.
How to watch the 2024 Women’s Six Nations on TV?
This year’s outfit will continue to be shown on the BBC, which is the rights holder for the Women’s Six Nations. All matches of the competition will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online, with most also on BBC TV.
2024 Women’s Six Nations Games
Round One
Saturday, March 23
France v Ireland (2.15pm, Stade Marie-Marvingt)
Saturday, March 23
Wales v Scotland (4.45pm, Cardiff Arms Park)
Sun, March 24
Italy v England (3pm, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi)
Round Two
Saturday, March 30
Scotland v France (2.15pm, Hive Stadium)
Saturday, March 30
England v Wales (4.45pm, Ashton Gate)
Sun, March 31
Ireland v Italy (3pm, RDS Arena)
Round Three
Saturday, April 13
Scotland v England (2.15pm, Hive Stadium)
Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales (4.45pm, Virgin Media Park)
Sun, April 14
France v Italy (12.30pm, Stade Jean Bouin)
Round Four
Saturday, April 20
England v Ireland (2.15pm, Twickenham)
Saturday, April 20
Italy v Scotland (4.45pm, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi)
Sun, April 21
Wales v France (3.15pm, Cardiff Arms Park)
Round Five
Saturday, April 27
Wales v Italy (12.15pm, Principality Stadium)
Saturday, April 27
Ireland v Scotland (2.30pm, Kingspan Stadium)
Saturday, April 27
France v England (4.45pm, Stade Chaban-Delmas)
How do I get tickets for games?
You should consult each country’s association website for match ticket information.
Who is in England’s 38-man training squad?
Forward
Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
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 cap)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, unlimited)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 13 caps)
Sharifa Kasolo (Saracens, unlimited)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 62 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 25 caps)
Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears, unlimited)
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)
Barriers
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 (Women’s Trailfinders, 40 caps)
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 caps)
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 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
