The scrum-half La Toya Mason will win her 50th cap on Friday when England take on Scotland in Cumbernauld in their Six Nations opener.
She is among England’s more experienced players, who include Rochelle Clark with 105 caps and the captain, Sarah Hunter, on 73, in what is otherwise a largely inexperienced squad.
There are four uncapped players on the bench in the Wasps prop Bee Dawson, Bristol centre Lucy Demaine, Worcester second-row Courtney Gill and Saracens back-row Poppy Cleall while there are nine players in the starting lineup with less than 20 caps each.
The coach Scott Bemand was confident that he had the right blend of youth and experience. “We are still a young side, but with the likes of Rochelle Clark in the squad we can be excited that there is a good balance of experience and exciting new names,” he said.
“We believe we have the best possible group to take us into a seven-week competition, having just come out of four good days in camp. The Scottish squad have been working hard and training together on a regular basis and so we should not underestimate them as a team.”
He added: “It’s a great achievement that La Toya Mason will gain her 50th cap on Friday and great to have her experience, having played in two World Cup finals. The four girls seeking to gain their first cap have performed consistently in the Premiership this season and earned their right to be in the squad.”
England team to play Scotland, Cumbernauld, 6pm Friday 5 February
K Mason (Bristol); R Laybourn (Darlington), L Cattell (Saracens), C Large (Worcester), L Clapp (Saracens); A Reed (Bristol), LT Mason (Darlington); R Clark (Worcester), A Cokayne (Lichfield), V Cornborough (Richmond), A Scott (Darlington), E Braund (Lichfield), H Millar-Mills (Lichfield), I Noel-Smith (Bristol), S Hunter (Bristol).
Replacements E Croker (Richmond), H Kerr (Darlington), B Dawson (Wasps), C Gill (Worcester), P Cleall (Saracens), B Blackburn (Worcester), L Demaine (Bristol), L Riley (Richmond).
