The preparations continue for England ahead of their incoming September Tests, with head coach John Mitchell bolstering the pre-season training squad with three more players today. The Red Roses are getting ready for incoming fixtures against France and New Zealand, with the trio of Steph Else, Delaney Burns and Gabriella Nigrelli joining up with the now 43-player group this morning.
England take on France in an exhibition fixture, yet this standalone Test is going to be far from the ‘friendly’ match it is being billed as. The two sides are bitter Women’s Six Nations rivals, and are both preparing to jet off to Canada for the upcoming WXV1 tournament this coming Autumn. The Red Roses and Les Bleus will meet at Kingsholm Stadium, with Gloucester-Hartpury’s Steph Else plenty familiar with the host venue.
Else is amongst the three call-ups into the Red Roses camp, and will be eager to impress head coach John Mitchell ahead of a senior Test debut. The number eight has previously gained international honours in the England Women U20s, with the chance for a senior debut at her home club ground would certainly be the cherry (and whites) on top of the cake.
Joining the 20-year-old in the England camp is a duo of Bristol Bears Women’s stars, with the West Country getting further representation in the form of Delaney Burns and Gabriella Nigrelli. Burns made her debut for England in the 2023 Women’s Six Nations, as the lock was selected to start in the second round fixture against Italy. Nigrelli is hoping to make her senior England debut, after the back row was included in the wider training squad for the 2024 Women’s Six Nations.
The Bath University graduate is brimming with potential, and has made an immediate impact at Ashton Gate since joining the pack following the collapse of Worcester Warriors Women. John Mitchell is surveying the potential for a break-through from Nigrelli, with plenty of decisions to be made before he finalises his team to take on France and the Black Ferns in the September Tests.