Gloucester-Hartpury wing Mia Venner and Exeter scrum-half Flo Robinson have officially joined the England setup as full-time contract holders. They are part of a 32-player cohort selected for the 2026-27 campaign. Venner first played for England as a teenager in 2020 but faced a five-year hiatus before returning to the international stage against Italy during the 2025 Six Nations. Despite a prolific 2024-25 season where she tied for the most tries, she was sidelined for the World Cup. However, she has since become a regular in John Mitchell’s squad.
Flo Robinson, also 24, enters the fold to provide specialist depth at scrum-half, allowing players like Helena Rowland and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald to remain in their preferred backline positions. Lilli Ives Campion also earned her first full-time contract after proving her mettle in the second row during a difficult Six Nations period, while teenager Demelza Short was awarded a transition contract. The list includes several players managing pregnancy or motherhood, such as Abbie Ward, Zoe Stratford, Rosie Galligan, and Lark Atkin-Davies.
Charlie Hayter, head of women’s performance for England Rugby, emphasized that the selection reflects the competitive standards within the group. The Red Roses have a busy schedule ahead, including tests against Australia, New Zealand, and Canada later this year, before beginning their pursuit of a ninth consecutive Six Nations title in April 2026.
