Haineala Lutui is set to make her Red Roses debut as one of four Loughborough Lightning players selected to face Ireland in their Guinness Women’s Six Nations opener this weekend.
The 19-year-old No.8/second row has been named amongst the replacements for Saturday‘s clash with Ireland at Allianz Stadium – just five months after making her Premiership Women’s Rugby debut.
With two rounds of the league remaining, Lutui tops the PWR for carries (226) and she also features in the top ten for offloads (16) and gainline carries (105).
Sadia Kabeya returns to Allianz Stadium to start at openside flanker for the first time in a Red Roses shirt since she was named player of the match in the 2025 World Cup final, and moves to 29 Test caps.
Having made her Six Nations debut in last season’s tournament, Lilli Ives Campion makes her sixth England appearance from the start.
Completing the Lightning quartet in John Mitchell’s matchday squad is Helena Rowland, who moves to within three of a half-century for her country from inside centre.
“It’s fantastic opportunity to be returning to Allianz Stadium in front of our fans for the first time since the 2025 Rugby World Cup final,” Mitchell said.
“We’ve all felt the lasting impact of 2025, and that’s reflected in the incredible ticket sales for Saturday’s match. The players relish, and absolutely deserve, the opportunity to perform in front of record crowds, but they also understand the responsibility that comes with that stage.
“We know success in this competition is never given; it has to be earned every time. We’ve prepared well as a group, and the players are ready to express themselves fully. We cannot wait to get started.”
Red Roses team to face Ireland
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 57 caps)
14 Jess Breach (Saracens, 53 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 33 caps) – captain
12 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 46 caps)
11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
10 Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 38 caps)
1 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 21 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 89 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 79 caps)
4 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 28 caps)
5 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 5 caps)
6 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 23 caps)
7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 28 caps)
8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 81 caps)
Replacements
16 Connie Powell (Harlequins, 19 caps)
17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 23 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 48 caps)
19 Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
20 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 4 caps)
21 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 88 caps)
22 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 65 caps)
23 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 13 caps)