Women’s Six Nations: England’s Jess Breach to return against Wales – NewsEverything | Wales

Wing Jess Breach will make her first England appearance since May 2021 when the Red Roses host Wales on Saturday.

The 24-year-old’s inclusion is one of eight changes made after the Red Roses claimed their second win of the tournament against Italy.

Scrum-half Lucy Packer, 22, will make her first England start in Gloucester.

Abby Dow, normally a wing, starts at full-back with head coach Simon Middleton explaining the move allows him to have all his best players on the field at once.

For the same reason, Middleton has named Poppy Cleall – number eight last weekend – at lock.

Zoe Harrison and Helena Rowland remain as the 10 and 12 combination for England’s first home game of the tournament, which is set to be played in front of a record crowd of over 12,000.

Outside centre Emily Scarratt returns to the starting 15, while wing Lydia Thompson – who scored a hat-trick against Italy – is ruled out by a minor injury picked up in training.

Up front, prop Sarah Bern returns along with flanker Marlie Packer, while Sarah Hunter regains the captaincy from Cleall at number eight.

England and Wales both won their opening two games, with the Red Roses seeking a fourth successive Women’s Six Nations title.

England team to face Wales: Dow; Breach, Scarratt, Rowland, McKenna; Harrison, L Packer; Cornborough, Davies, Bern, Cleall, Ward, Matthews, M Packer, Hunter (capt).

Replacements: Powell, Muir, Brown, Galligan, Fleetwood, Hunt, Reed, Kildunne.

More to follow.