England Kicks Off Women's Six Nations Title Defense Against Ireland

England's Red Roses, led by captain Meg Jones, are set to launch their Guinness Six Nations title defense against Ireland at Allianz Stadium. The team features seven players from the World Cup final victory over Canada in September. Jones replaces former captain Zoe Stratford, who is expecting her first child, and will continue to play at outside centre. The Red Roses will face an Ireland team led by captain Erin King, with Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald poised to reach 50 Test caps. The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to make a strong start to the tournament. England head coach John Mitchell expressed his excitement about the opportunity to play in front of a record crowd, saying, 'We've all felt the lasting impact of 2025, and that's reflected in the incredible ticket sales for Saturday's match.' The Red Roses are aiming to win their eighth consecutive Six Nations title, and Jones is confident that the team can deliver a strong performance. 'Our role is to be the entertainers and make sure that we provide a product that people want to come back and watch,' she said. The match will be a great opportunity for the team to showcase their skills and entertain the record crowd of over 75,000 fans.