England announce Six Nations side for Scotland clash as Ellie Kildunne starts at Murrayfield, Maud Muir wins 50th cap
By Ben Southby
Published 16/04/2026 at 21:31 GMT+1
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The team news is in for England's Women's Six Nations clash against Scotland, and John Mitchell has made wholesale changes to the side that kickstarted the Red Roses' campaign with a win against Ireland.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Ellie Kildunne is set to be involved from the start for England at Murrayfield on Saturday, with the 26-year-old named on the wing rather than in her favoured full-back role.
It will be the first time the Harlequins star has started on the wing in the Six Nations.
Back-row Abi Burton of Trailfinders starts at lock, while Saracens' Zoe Harrison - who was England's first-choice fly-half during their triumphant Rugby World Cup campaign last year - replaces Sale Sharks' Holly Aitchison in the No. 10 position.
Morwenna Talling, also of Sale, has been sidelined with a leg injury that she suffered in the Six Nations opener against Ireland, which England won 33-12 to kickstart their title defence in search of a record-extending 22nd crown.
Meanwhile, the lock trio of Zoe Stratford (Gloucester-Hartpury), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears) and Rosie Galligan (Saracens) are all pregnant and consequently absent.
England are scarce in the back row, so 19-year-old Bristol Bears starlet Demelza Short makes her debut, while Emma Sing of Gloucester-Hartbury is deployed at full-back.
Sing's club teammate Maud Muir is preferred to Bears' Sarah Bern at tighthead to win her 50th cap, as Bern drops to the bench alongside Sarecens' Marlie Packer and Gloucester-Hartpury's Mia Venner.
There are more big-name absentees for England, who are lacking the experience shown in their World Cup success last year.
Alex Matthews (Gloucester–Hartpury) has a shoulder injury, while Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears) is out with an ankle injury.
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England have won seven successive Six Nations titles, while Scotland are chasing their first.
The Scots will start with Sale Sharks' Evie Wills at centre, who replaces Emma Orr in their only change after it was confirmed the Bristol Bears star will miss the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury.
Elsewhere, Montpellier back row Rachel McLachlan is among the replacements after she made her return to the squad, while Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Rianna Darroch could make her debut off the bench.
Scotland opened their Six Nations campaign with a 24-19 win against Wales in Cardiff.
Scotland v England starting line-ups
Scotland XV: Rollie, Lloyd, Wills, Smith, Campbell, Nelson, Brebner-Holden, Bartlett, Skeldon, Clarke, Wassell, Cunningham, Malcolm, Stewart, Coubrough
Replacements: Martin, Swann, Poolman, Bogan, McLachlan, Darroch, Scott, McGhie
England XV: Sing, Breach, Jones, Rowland, Kildunne, Harrison, L Packer, Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Burton, Ives Campion, Short, Kabeya, Feaunati
Replacements: Powell, Carson, Bern, Lutui, M Packer, Robinson, Aitchison, Venner
Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Autumn Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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