Five former Welwyn Rugby Club juniors will form part of England's squad for the 2024 Women's Six Nations.

Head coach John Mitchell has named 35 for the tournament which will begin on March 24 with a trip to Parma to take on Italy.

The quintet from the Hobbs Way club will be led by vice-captain Helena Rowland but will also include Zoe Harrison.

She has been missing from the Red Roses since the 2022 Rugby World Cup final due to an ACL injury.

Hannah Botterman, Ella Wyrwas and Sydney Gregson are the others involved.

Marlie Packer will continue as England captain and the Saracens star should reach 100 caps for her country during the tournament.

Like Harrison,  Emily Scarratt and Abbie Ward are back in the group for the first time since the World Cup while there are three uncapped players, Exeter Chiefs duo Maddie Feaunati and Lizzie Hanlon plus Vicky Laflin of Ealing Trailfinders.

The boss is eagerly awaiting seeing what the squad can do.

Mitchell said: "The Six Nations is an awesome tournament and we have named a squad where competition for a place in the matchday 23 exists in every position.

"The girls are showing signs of building good habits when they come into camp and bring with them a great attitude and fantastic energy, which follows on from the commitment they show to their club week on week.

"The Red Roses have excelled in this tournament for a long time. There is a hunger to stay the best, but we must earn the right to win Test matches.

"We are focused on improving performance and putting teams under more pressure to create a variety of scoring opportunities.

"There is a great excitement around the group, and we are relishing the challenge of the next seven weeks.”
 
The first game on home soil will be at Ashton Gate in Bristol on March 30 when Wales are the visitors.

England then go to Scotland before heading to Twickenham to take on the Irish on April 20.

They complete the tournament at France on April 27, the match in Bordeaux.

England's 2024 Women’s Six Nations squad

Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 48 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)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 65 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 3 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 72 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 14 caps)
Lizzie Hanlon (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 13 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 62 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 25 caps)
Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 99 caps)
Connie Powell (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
 
Backs
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 25 caps)
Sophie Bridger (Saracens, 2 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 33 caps)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 40 caps)
Sydney Gregson (Saracens, 3 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 46 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 18 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)
Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 38 caps)
Vicky Laflin (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 16 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 108 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)