Red Roses: Gloucester-Hartpury prop Mackenzie Carson

By BEN JAYCOCK

Birthplace: British Columbia, Canada

Date of birth: 24/06/98

Community club: Abbotsford RFC

Red Roses debut: vs Scotland March 2023

Caps: 13

Why I Play Rugby: For the enjoyment it gives me

Canada-born Mackenzie Carson made her international debut against England but six years on is an important figure in John Mitchell's side.

The 25-year-old prop took advantage of World Rugby's eligibility rules as ahe qualifies for England by birthright through her English mother, who was born in Plymouth, and completed a three-year stand-down from her last cap for Canada.

Carson became the first player to represent England, either for the women's or men's senior sides, after being capped by another nation when she started against Scotland in last year's Six Nations.

She told The Rugby Paper: “I have three caps for Canada and actually made my debut against England in 2018. But because of Covid, non-selection and a few injuries I ended up not playing international rugby for three years. I played in England that whole time as I moved here five years ago. I was supposed to only come here for a year while at university but I've never really left. Last Six Nations they had a bit of a prop crisis and I'd just transitioned to loosehead a few months prior to that, so Louis Deacon the forwards coach rang to ask if I wanted to be involved and I've taken off from there.

“I feel that I blinked and all of a sudden I was playing for England.”

Carson, who plays for Gloucester-Hartpury, impressed off the bench in England's victory away in Scotland yesterday and is desperately hoping to earn a starting berth next week for the match against Ireland at Twickenham in what will be played in front of a bumper crowd of over 45,000.

She added: “I think it'll be really exciting, the last time we were there we had 58,000 people against France which was a pretty big milestone in terms of women's rugby. To play a different opposition at the same venue is pretty exciting, especially as Twickenham is a place everyone wants to play on their rugby journey. Hopefully selection is on the right side for me and I'll be involved in that but if not I'll be supporting the team on the sidelines. Having Ireland there is a different opposition to what we've had previously but it's very exciting as a lot of the Irish girls play in the PWR.”

The Six Nations is always a good chance to put women's rugby in the shop window to attract more fans and Carson says it's important the players get used to playing at the national stadium, especially with the RFU hoping for next year's final there to be a sell out.

“The more opportunities we have to play in those venues will set us up for success as we'll have more games at Twickenham in the short-term and hopefully we'll be there for the World Cup final next year,” said Carson.

“Hopefully we're playing an exciting brand of rugby that's bringing people in, who are perhaps a different fan base to the men's game. Let's hope people who are watching us on TV decide to come watch us in person next weekend.”

In comparison to previous years, scorelines in the Six Nations have been closer with Scotland, Italy and Wales bridging the gap between usual winners and professional sides France and England.

Carson said: “Every game we've played has been super competitive. The WXV has raised the levels of play with Scotland going away and winning the WXV2. It's elevated the game and allowed each nation to develop its talent with some of the best rugby I've seen in a while.”