| Venue: Ashton Gate, Bristol Dates: Saturday, 30 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and online; listen on BBC Radio Wales & Radio Cymru; text commentary, highlights and report on BBC Sport website and app. |
England men’s captain Jamie George joined the women’s team in a training session to help their hookers.
Red Roses head coach John Mitchell was the England men’s defence coach from 2018 to 2021, with George his starting hooker.
“When I got this role, Jamie said, ‘If you ever need any help with the girls then hit me up’,” Mitchell said.
“Jamie was the one that actually encouraged it for this situation and we made it work.”
Bristol Bears hooker Lark Atkin-Davies started England’s opening Women’s Six Nations victory over Italy and has retained her spot in the starting XV to face Wales in Bristol on Saturday.
Harlequins’ Connie Powell has been Atkin-Davies’ deputy, with regular starting hooker Amy Cokayne back in training this week after injury.
Mitchell hopes this is the start of specialist senior men’s players helping out the women’s team after the benefit his hookers gained from the session.
“We can have good cross-pollination between the specialist players,” Mitchell said. “It is not something we will try and do in abundance, but the nines would also benefit from some kicking connections as well.
“It is a starting point which is fantastic.”
George, who helped England to a third-place finish in the men’s Six Nations, has previously worked with Saracens hooker May Campbell at club level.
Red Roses captain Marlie Packer wants such links to continue at international and club level, but only when the time is right.
“We don’t want to force it as they obviously have their own programmes the same as us and timing needs to be right for both,” Packer said.
“You don’t want someone being there that doesn’t want to be there.”
