Eight Bears players will feature in Saturday’s Women’s Six Nations clash at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in front of a new record crowd of more than 20,000 for a women’s sporting event on Welsh soil.

Sarah Bern, Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward are both named in the Red Roses starting XV, with Hannah Botterman and Holly Aitchison among the replacements, while Jasmine Joyce-Butchers and Keira Bevan start for Wales in the round two clash, with Courtney Keight on the bench.

Red Roses team to play Wales
 
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 49 caps)
14 Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 48 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
12 Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 26 caps)
11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 43 caps)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 54 caps)
9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 76 caps)
1 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 caps)
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 67 caps)
4 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 18 caps)
5 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 70 caps)
6 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 59 caps) – captain
7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 19 caps)
8 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
 
Replacements
 
16 Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 80 caps)
17 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 52 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 36 caps)
19 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 20 caps)
20 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
21 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 27 caps)
22 Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 36 caps)
23 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 35 caps)

Wales team to play England

15 Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears)
14 Lisa Neumann (Harlequins)
13 Hannah Jones ( Captain, Gloucester/Hartpury)
12 Kayleigh Powell (Harlequins)
11 Carys Cox (Ealing Trailfinders)
10 Lleucu George (Gloucester/Hartpury)
9 Keira Bevan (vice-captain, Bristol Bears)
1 Gwenllian Pyrs (Sale Sharks)
2 Carys Phillips (Harlequins)
3 Jenni Scoble (Gwalia Lightning)
4 Abbie Fleming (Harlequins)
5 Gwen Crabb (Gloucester/Hartpury)
6 Kate Williams (Gloucester/Hartpury)
7 Bethan Lewis (Gloucester/Hartpury)
8 Georgia Evans (Saracens)

Replacements

16 Kelsey Jones (Gloucester/Hartpury)
17 Maisie Davies (Gwalia Lightning)
18 Donna Rose (Saracens)
19 Alaw Pyrs (Gwalia Lightning)
20 Bryonie King (Gwalia Lightning)
21 Meg Davies (Gloucester/Hartpury)
22 Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears)
23 Nel Metcalfe (Gloucester/Hartpury).