Women’s Six Nations 2026: Helena Rowland starts in much-changed England team for Ireland

England utility back Helena Rowland will start at inside centre in a much-changed team for their Women’s Six Nations opener against Ireland at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Centre Tatyana Heard, 31, has been a regular under head coach John Mitchell and started the Rugby World Cup final win over Canada in September, but was ruled out of the Six Nations with a foot injury.

Rowland, who has played for her country in every backline position other than scrum-half, is one of eight changes to the starting team that won England’s first World Cup in 11 years at a sold-out 82,000-capacity Allianz Stadium.

More than 70,000 tickets have been sold for the game against Ireland, England’s first since becoming world champions.

It is a fresh half-back pairing with Lucy Packer and Holly Aitchison coming in for Natasha Hunt and Zoe Harrison.

Loughborough Lightning lock Lilli Ives Campion replaces Bristol Bears lock Abbie Ward – one of four England women’s players to announce they are pregnant.

Megan Jones will captain the side after Zoe Stratford announced her pregnancy in March.

Retired England wing Abby Dow, a mainstay under Mitchell, is replaced by Exeter Chiefs Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, who was part of England’s World Cup squad.

Props Kelsey Clifford and Sarah Bern are named to start in the front row, while explosive flanker Maddie Feaunati starts on the blind-side.

There is no place for Bristol Bears prop Hannah Botterman – one of the Red Roses’ top performers at the World Cup.

Loughborough’s 19 year-old forward Haineala Lutui could make her debut from the bench in the second row.

Mitchell’s side, who are on a 33-game winning run, are chasing an eighth straight Six Nations title and fifth consecutive Grand Slam.

More to follow.