Warriors and England back-row Alex Matthews will go toe-to-toe with four of her Welsh teammates today when the Red Roses take on Wales at Kingsholm in Round 3 of the TikTok Six Nations (kick-off 4.45pm, live on BBC Two).
Closing in on 50 caps, Matthews starts at blindside flanker alongside Sarah Hunter and Marlie Packer, while Lydia Thompson, who scored a hat-trick in Italy last weekend, has not been selected as Simon Middleton continues to look at new combinations.
Sioned Harries, Player of the Match in last week’s victory over Scotland, starts for Wales while hooker Carys Phillips and scrum-half Ffion Lewis are also in the starting XV. Alex Callender is among the replacements, the tenacious openside having been a key member of Warriors’ set-up this season.
Sunday sees three Warriors pulling on the Scotland jersey, with Lana Skeldon starting at hooker and Caity Mattinson and Lyndsay O’Donnell named on the bench for the visit of France.
Round 3
Today | England v Wales | Kingsholm | 4.45pm | BBC Two
Sun | Scotland v France | Scotstoun | 1pm | BBC Scotland