England have named nine uncapped players and recalled the experienced Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt to their reshuffled squad for the forthcoming Six Nations
Speculation Louis Deacon in line for coach position prematureEngland have named nine uncapped players and recalled the experienced Natasha “Mo” Hunt to their reshuffled squad for the forthcoming Women’s Six Nations. Injuries and unavailability have ruled out several members of last year’s World Cup squad, forcing the Red Roses head coach, Simon Middleton, to cast his selectorial net slightly wider.
The 33-year-old Hunt, who missed the World Cup, has been the form scrum-half in this season’s Premier 15s and is now back involved alongside Sarah Beckett, Amber Reed and Poppy Cleall. A serious knee injury has ruled out the fly-half Zoe Harrison, however, while the centre Emily Scarratt is out with neck and ankle problems and the experienced lock Abbie Ward is pregnant.
In the absence of Harrison and Helena Rowland, who will not be fit until the later stages of the competition, Saracens’ Holly Aitchison is poised to wear the No 10 jersey in the Red Roses’. The Rugby Football Union has not yet confirmed his successor, with his assistant, Louis Deacon, the only member of the current management team staying on.
Speculation that Deacon will automatically be promoted to the top job, however, appears premature, with Middleton reiterating that the RFU’s priority has be to find the best available candidate, male or female. “It has to be the right person, whatever that looks like,” said Middleton. “I’d imagine they’ve got a list of people they’re looking to and I’m sure they’re looking externally as well. You don’t want to miss anything.
“A lot of it will depend on who else is in the frame. Louis may be the best person but he may not. There could be some really established high-profile coaches who go for it. We’ll have to see. Deacs is a fantastic coach but he’s young in his coaching age. It’s really important you let people develop their craft and don’t overload them with other aspects of the job.”
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