Women's Six Nations: Round 2 Team News - Feleu sisters unite for France

We've once again pieced together a full run down of the team news, so you are fully up to speed ahead of the second wave of fixtures. Covering everything from injury updates to returning stars and some exciting debutants to keep an eye out for, here's all you need to know ahead of the next round in the 2026 Women's Six Nations.

Scotland Women have made a single change to their starting XV for Saturday’s Round 2 clash with England at Scottish Gas Murrayfield (kick-off 13:30), as Sione Fukofuka’s side look to build on their opening-round victory over Wales.

Evie Wills comes into the midfield at outside centre in place of the injured Emma Orr, forming a new partnership with Meryl Smith, while the remainder of the backline remains unchanged. Shona Campbell retains her place on the left wing after scoring her first international try last weekend, with Rhona Lloyd on the opposite flank and Chloe Rollie continuing at full-back. Leia Brebner-Holden and Helen Nelson combine once again at half-back following an assured performance in Cardiff.

The forward pack is unchanged, with captain Rachel Malcolm leading from blindside flanker alongside Alex Stewart and number eight Emily Coubrough, who keeps her place after her debut. Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon and Elliann Clarke continue in the front row, while Emma Wassell and Hollie Cunningham maintain their second-row partnership.

There is a welcome return to the matchday squad for Francesca McGhie and Rachel McLachlan, who are named among the replacements alongside uncapped scrum-half Rianna Darroch.

England, meanwhile, arrive in Edinburgh with several notable changes as head coach John Mitchell continues to rotate his squad following their opening-round win over Ireland. Maud Muir is set to earn her 50th cap at tighthead prop, while 19-year-old Demelza Short will make her international debut in the back row.

There are further alterations in the backline, with Emma Sing promoted to start at full-back, prompting a positional switch for Ellie Kildunne to the wing, while Zoe Harrison comes in at fly-half. Lucy Packer starts at scrum-half, with a midfield pairing of Helena Rowland and captain Megan Jones offering both creativity and leadership.

In the pack, Abi Burton moves into the second row alongside Lilli Ives Campion, with Maddie Feaunati shifting to number eight. England also name a strong bench featuring experienced campaigners such as Marlie Packer and Sarah Bern, underlining their depth as they look to maintain momentum in the championship.

Scotland Women (1–15):
1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Elliann Clarke, 4 Emma Wassell, 5 Hollie Cunningham, 6 Rachel Malcolm (c), 7 Alex Stewart, 8 Emily Coubrough, 9 Leia Brebner-Holden, 10 Helen Nelson, 11 Shona Campbell, 12 Meryl Smith, 13 Evie Wills, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 15 Chloe Rollie

Replacements:
16 Elis Martin, 17 Demi Swann, 18 Molly Poolman, 19 Holland Bogan, 20 Rachel McLachlan, 21 Rianna Darroch, 22 Lucia Scott, 23 Francesca McGhie

England (1–15):
1 Kelsey Clifford, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Abi Burton, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 6 Demelza Short, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Maddie Feaunati, 9 Lucy Packer, 10 Zoe Harrison, 11 Ellie Kildunne, 12 Helena Rowland, 13 Megan Jones (c), 14 Jess Breach, 15 Emma Sing

Replacements:
16 Connie Powell, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Haineala Lutui, 20 Marlie Packer, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Mia Venner

Wales have made two changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s Round 2 clash with France at Cardiff Arms Park (kick-off 15:35 BST), as head coach Sean Lynn looks to build on the progress shown in their opening-round defeat to Scotland.

Scrum-half Seren Lockwood is handed her first start of the Championship and links up with Lleucu George in the half-backs, while experienced Olympian Jasmine Joyce returns on the wing in the only other change to the backline. Kayleigh Powell continues at full-back after an impressive Round 1 display, with Seren Singleton retaining her place on the opposite wing.

In midfield, Courtney Keight and Carys Cox are again paired together, while the forward pack remains unchanged. Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu continue in the front row, with Jorja Aiono and Gwen Crabb maintaining their second-row partnership. Captain Kate Williams leads an unchanged back row alongside Bethan Lewis and number eight Bryonie King.

France, meanwhile, arrive in Cardiff with minimal disruption following their commanding opening-round win over Italy, with head coach François Ratier opting for continuity in the pack while making a notable tweak in the backline.

Aubane Rousset is rewarded for her impact off the bench with a first start on the wing, adding pace and finishing threat out wide. The rest of the backline remains largely settled, with Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Carla Arbez continuing their half-back partnership, while Pauline Barrat retains the full-back jersey after an eye-catching debut.

Up front, Les Bleues keep the same forward pack that impressed in Grenoble, with Manaé Feleu captaining the side from the back row. There is also a boost on the bench with the return of Téani Feleu, meaning the Feleu sisters are reunited in the matchday squad for the first time this Championship.

Wales (1–15):
1 Gwenllian Pyrs, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Sisilia Tuipulotu, 4 Jorja Aiono, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Bethan Lewis, 7 Kate Williams (c), 8 Bryonie King, 9 Seren Lockwood, 10 Lleucu George, 11 Jasmine Joyce, 12 Courtney Keight, 13 Carys Cox, 14 Seren Singleton, 15 Kayleigh Powell

Replacements:
16 Molly Reardon, 17 Maisie Davies, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Natalia John, 20 Branwen Metcalfe, 21 Georgia Evans, 22 Keira Bevan, 23 Hannah Dallavalle

France (1–15):
1 Yllana Brosseau, 2 Mathilde Lazarko, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 4 Kiara Zago, 5 Madoussou Fall Raclot, 6 Axelle Berthoumieu, 7 Manaé Feleu (c), 8 Léa Champon, 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus, 10 Carla Arbez, 11 Léa Murie, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 13 Aubane Rousset, 14 Anaïs Grando, 15 Pauline Barrat

Replacements:
16 Élisa Riffonneau, 17 Ambre Mwayembe, 18 Annaëlle Deshaye, 19 Siobhan Soqeta, 20 Charlotte Escudero, 21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Lina Queyroi, 23 Téani Feleu

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has named his side for Saturday’s Round 2 clash with Italy at Dexcom Stadium (kick-off 17:40 BST), as the hosts look to respond to their opening-round defeat and build momentum in front of a sold-out crowd in Galway.

The headline selection sees Leinster winger Robyn O’Connor handed her international debut on the left wing, completing an exciting back three alongside Stacey Flood at full-back and Béibhinn Parsons on the right. The midfield pairing of Nancy McGillivray and Aoife Dalton remains unchanged, as does the half-back combination of Emily Lane and Dannah O’Brien.

There is one alteration in the pack, with Ruth Campbell coming into the second row to partner Fiona Tuite. Captain Erin King continues to lead the side from the back row, flanked by Brittany Hogan and Aoife Wafer, while the front row of Ellena Perry, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang is retained.

Ireland are also boosted by the return of Sam Monaghan to the matchday squad, with the experienced forward named among a strong group of replacements that includes Neve Jones and Dorothy Wall.

Italy, meanwhile, arrive in Galway having made several changes following their opening-round defeat to France, with head coach Fabio Roselli opting for a blend of experience and fresh energy.

Veteran scrum-half Sofia Stefan returns to partner Emma Stevanin in the half-backs, bringing valuable control to the Azzurre attack. In the back three, Gaia Buso is rewarded with her first Championship start after impressing off the bench last week, joining Aura Muzzo and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi.

The midfield pairing of Alyssa D’Incà and Sara Mannini remains unchanged, while there is a notable change in the pack as Elettra Costantini earns her first start in the second row alongside Valeria Fedrighi. Gaia Maris comes into the front row at loosehead, with Silvia Turani shifting to the bench.

Captain Elisa Giordano leads a settled back row alongside Alissa Ranuccini and Francesca Sgorbini, while experienced centre Michela Sillari returns among the replacements to provide additional firepower.

Ireland (1–15):
1 Ellena Perry, 2 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, 3 Linda Djougang, 4 Ruth Campbell, 5 Fiona Tuite, 6 Brittany Hogan, 7 Erin King (c), 8 Aoife Wafer, 9 Emily Lane, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 11 Robyn O’Connor, 12 Nancy McGillivray, 13 Aoife Dalton, 14 Béibhinn Parsons, 15 Stacey Flood

Replacements:
16 Neve Jones, 17 Niamh O’Dowd, 18 Sadhbh McGrath, 19 Dorothy Wall, 20 Sam Monaghan, 21 Katie Whelan, 22 Eve Higgins, 23 Anna McGann

Italy (1–15):
1 Gaia Maris, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 3 Alessia Pilani, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 5 Elettra Costantini, 6 Francesca Sgorbini, 7 Alissa Ranuccini, 8 Elisa Giordano (c), 9 Sofia Stefan, 10 Emma Stevanin, 11 Aura Muzzo, 12 Sara Mannini, 13 Alyssa D’Incà, 14 Gaia Buso, 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi

Replacements:
16 Chiara Cheli, 17 Silvia Turani, 18 Vittoria Zanette, 19 Giordana Duca, 20 Beatrice Veronese, 21 Alia Bitonci, 22 Veronica Madia, 23 Michela Sillari

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