England scrum-half Natasha Hunt to miss Italy clash after positive Covid test

Champions England are without scrum-half Natasha Hunt as they chase a Six Nations Grand Slam in Italy on Sunday, after she tested positive for Covid-19.  

Covid in the French and Scottish camps means England’s game is the only one not postponed this weekend.

But Hunt has returned a positive Covid test and is isolating. All other players were tested and did not need to isolate, with Head Coach Simon Middleton praising the handling of the situation by the club’s staff.  

Morwenna Talling makes her debut at lock with Harlequins’ Abbie Ward, who – alongside Marlie Packer – returns after almost a year out. Wasps’ Claudia MacDonald replaces Hunt at No9.

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