Loughborough Lightning No 10 steps into the role vacated by the former captain Katy Daley-McLean against Scotland
England’s women begin the defence of their Six Nations title at Castle Park in Doncaster on Saturday afternoon without two of their most recognised faces. Their captain, Sarah Hunter, will be an overqualified water-carrier against Scotland while Katy Daley-McLean, a former captain and the leading No 10 in the women’s game, has departed after announcing her retirement at Christmas.
Hunter is expected to return to the back row in Italy next week but Daley-McLean, with 116 caps and 542 points, will be a hard act to follow. England’s head coach, Simon Middleton, believes he has a ready‑made replacement in Helena Rowland of Loughborough Lightning, who wins her fourth cap and has been chosen ahead of the more experienced Zoe Harrison.
