A dash of the team’s 2025 resolve + a more reasonable injury situation = a long ride through the playoffs.

That’s the rough formula this year for the San Francisco 49ers, who saw most of their marquee players get hurt — often with grisly, gut-punch injuries — last season, yet gritted their way to 12 wins and the divisional round of the playoffs.

The consensus after their improbable run ended in Seattle in mid-January: The resilience the battered team showed ought to serve it well when Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, George Kittle and others are back on the field this season.

Pushing against that theme is the fact that most of the team’s stars have reached, or are fast approaching, their 30th birthdays and that the bulk of the 20-somethings on the roster have yet to prove they are worthy replacements.

Can the old guard make it through another season? Will the youngsters rise to the occasion and begin to fill the gap? The questions will start to be answered Sunday when the team holds its first practice of training camp.

The following is a 90- (actually 91-) man review of the roster that depicts the pecking order at each position. We’ll examine the offense today and the defense and special teams on Thursday.

Quarterbacks

Brock Purdy: There are two Purdy themes to follow this season: how quickly he can build a rapport with newcomer receivers Mike Evans, Christian Kirk and De’Zhaun Stribling, and whether he can reduce his interception rate. It jumped to a career-high 3.5 percent last season, fourth-worst among qualifying passers behind J.J. McCarthy (4.9), Tua Tagovailoa (3.9) and Geno Smith (3.8).

Mac Jones: Jones likely regrets the two-year deal he signed last season, considering he went 5-3 in eight starts in 2025 and finished with a career-high completion percentage (69.7) and a career-low interception percentage (2.1). Still, Purdy has dealt with an array of injuries during his brief career, and Jones could easily be tapped for an encore before he hits free agency in March.

Kurtis Rourke: Like Purdy, Rourke’s a former seventh-round draft pick … but with better height (6 feet 4) and a bigger arm. Whether he comes close to Purdy in accuracy and anticipation will be one of the more intriguing questions of the summer. Rourke will split third-team reps with Adrian Martinez when training camp begins. The winner of that competition has an inside track to be the 49ers’ No. 2 quarterback in 2027.

Adrian Martinez: The 49ers loved Martinez’s business-like approach after he arrived late in the summer last year and displaced Tanner Mordecai and Carter Bradley. Martinez was best known for his running in college, and it will be interesting to see if his throwing and accuracy improved after a year under Kyle Shanahan. Rourke has to be considered the favorite for the No. 3 role considering he’s a homegrown product, but Martinez will get a shot.

Running back

Christian McCaffrey: McCaffrey carried San Francisco’s offense throughout 2025, flirted with a rare 1,000-1,000-yard season and started all 19 contests. And yet the football world seems down on him entering the new season. Perhaps that’s because he saw a dip in explosive plays last season, was taxed by a massive workload and turned 30 last month. The 49ers have said they’ll limit his touches — a league- and career-high 413 last year. Considering how heavily the team has relied on him in the past, that promise falls into the “we’ll believe it when we see it” category.

Jordan James: James’ six carries last year came after halftime of San Francisco’s 41-6 playoff loss to the Seahawks. Which is to say, he doesn’t have much of a runway heading into his second NFL season. Still, the 49ers’ notoriously hard-to-please offensive coaches liked how he practiced in the second half of his rookie season, an encouraging sign. James will have to hold off rookie Kaelon Black, who is two and a half years older, for the No. 2 role.

Kaelon Black: As far as recent 49ers runners, perhaps Black compares best to Jordan Mason — except Black is more talented in the passing game. The 49ers considered him the second-best tailback in the draft after No. 3 pick Jeremiyah Love, which is interesting since the Seahawks took Jadarian Price at No. 32 (with Black going to the 49ers at No. 90).

Patrick Taylor Jr.: After logging 172 offensive snaps for the 49ers in 2024, Taylor spent last season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He probably won’t get any regular-season touches unless the 49ers suffer a string of injuries — a scenario that occurred in 2024 when he started a Week 16 loss to the Dolphins.

Isaac Guerendo: The injury bug that’s been biting Guerendo since college struck again in April when he tore a pectoral muscle while lifting weights. That won’t scuttle his season, but it will cause him to miss most of training camp.

Sincere McCormick: McCormick spent half the 2025 season on the 49ers’ practice squad. During the offseason, they signed him, cut him, then re-signed him, signaling he might be the first to go if the team wants to kick the tires on other tailbacks this summer.

Kyle Juszczyk (fullback): A last hurrah for Juszczyk? He’s 35, not signed beyond this season and the team has parted ways with him (albeit briefly) before. Still, Juszczyk has done a masterful job at avoiding injuries over his career (he’s missed seven of a possible 229 games, including playoffs, over 13 seasons) and fills a unique fullback/H-back/tight end role for the team.

Wide receiver

Mike Evans: The 12-year veteran seems determined to reinvent himself on a new coast following the first down season in his career (eight starts, 368 receiving yards) last year. Whether he can do so will go a long way in determining whether the 49ers can keep pace in a hyper-competitive NFC West.

Ricky Pearsall: Perhaps no 49er has more to prove in 2026 than the 2024 first-round pick, who’s teased with dazzling performances (281 yards in Weeks 1-3 last year) but so far hasn’t been able to show off that talent for any significant stretches. The 49ers will have to decide on a fifth-year option for Pearsall after the season.

De’Zhaun Stribling: The first big challenge for all rookies, including this year’s top pick: Hit the ground running in training camp after absorbing a mountain of coaching in the spring. That shouldn’t be an issue for Stribling, who’s sharp, determined and accustomed to offseason change after jumping from Washington State to Oklahoma State to Ole Miss in college. If Stribling wins over coaches early — traditionally a tall task for 49ers rookie receivers — he’ll be in the running for the No. 3 role at the start of the season.

Christian Kirk: Stribling’s competition for the No. 3 role is Kirk, who, like Evans, is coming off the quietest regular season of his career, one in which he finished with just 239 yards and a touchdown for the Houston Texans. Kirk, however, had an eight-catch, 144-yard, one-touchdown outing in the playoffs, suggesting he’s still explosive when healthy.

Jacob Cowing: Cowing might be the fastest player on the roster and is the first option to return punts in 2026. His summertime challenge is obvious: Avoid the injuries that entirely derailed his 2025 season.

Jordan Watkins: Watkins was ascendant as a rookie last year until a high-ankle sprain in the preseason opener knocked him to the bottom of the pecking order. He appeared in four games during the regular season but never made much of a splash. He’s competing with Cowing to be the team’s fifth receiver/punt returner to begin the season.

Demarcus Robinson: Robinson seemed poised for a solid 2025 season. While nearly every other 49ers receiver missed summer practices, Robinson was on hand and productive. However, he served a three-game suspension to start the season and was mostly quiet after returning. He had a 111-yard performance in the playoffs. Beyond that, his best game was a two-catch, 44-yard effort in a loss to Tampa Bay.

Malik Turner: Turner, 30, could reprise the role he had last year: practice squad veteran who gets elevated when the 49ers are light on receivers or when they need a boost on special teams.

Junior Bergen: Bergen has a shot at a roster spot considering the team needs a punt returner, and that’s his specialty. However, he’d have to dazzle in that role this summer considering he’s limited as a receiver.

Will Pauling: A dark horse? How about Pauling, who went undrafted in April but led Wisconsin in 2023 with 74 catches, 837 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Pauling looked quick in the spring but, like all of the rookies, was very much in learning mode.

Wesley Grimes: The 49ers liked the undrafted rookie enough to use a 30 visit on him in the run-up to the draft. Grimes has good size (6-2) and good speed, having run a 4.35-second 40 at NC State’s pro day.

Colton Dowell: A tough, big-play receiver at Tennessee-Martin, Dowell’s NFL career was sidetracked early when he suffered an ACL tear in Week 17 of the 2023 season, causing him to miss the following season. At 6-3, 212 pounds, he’s got a good combination of speed and heft but remains a work in progress.

Brandon Aiyuk: He remains on the reserve/left squad list, which means he doesn’t count against the 90-man offseason roster. It appears he’ll stay there until he petitions the league to return to the active roster, something Aiyuk — who is currently without an agent — has not done yet.

Tight end

George Kittle: Kittle is ahead of schedule from his January Achilles tear in Philadelphia. Will he be ready in time for Week 1? That’s complicated by the fact that the 49ers will travel to Australia roughly a week before the Sept. 10 opener, which in turn is three days earlier than most of the league kicks off its season.

Luke Farrell: The 49ers are looking for more production from blocking specialist Farrell, who signed a three-year, $20 million deal last year but had only 11 catches and played just 36 percent of their offensive snaps. By comparison, he played 38 percent of the snaps a year earlier in Jacksonville.

Jake Tonges: He filled in well when Kittle missed five and a half games at the start of the 2025 season and was rewarded with a two-year, $8 million deal. He’d be called upon again if Kittle doesn’t make the trip to Australia.

Brayden Willis: Willis heads into camp as the No. 4 tight end, an interesting spot considering the team likes to have three on the active roster and Kittle’s Week 1 availability is cloudy.

Hayden Rucci: The 49ers want tight ends who can block, and Rucci, the son of longtime Patriots guard Todd Rucci, fits the bill. The problem is that he’s not fleet of foot and isn’t much of a pass catcher. He had 17 receptions and one touchdown in four years at Wisconsin.

Khalil Dinkins: Kittle’s injury and Dinkins’ blocking ability give the undrafted rookie a slim shot of being on the field when the season begins. One obstacle: Dinkins dealt with an undisclosed injury in the spring and will begin the summer session on the active/non-football injury list.

Tackles

Trent Williams: In some ways, the 2025 season was Williams’ best in the past decade. He started 18 games, including both playoff contests, and missed only the Week 18 game against Seattle. Williams, who turned 38 on Sunday, appears poised to play at least two more seasons.

Colton McKivitz: The right tackle has emerged as one of the team’s most reliable players after starting every game in each of the past three seasons. Last year, the 49ers signed him to a modest, three-year deal that runs through 2028.

Vederian Lowe: He’ll be Williams’ backup at left tackle this season. Though Lowe hasn’t distinguished himself in four NFL seasons, the 49ers feel they’ve upgraded the spot from a year ago, when Andre Dillard and Austen Pleasants were considered the main backups.

Austen Pleasants: He filled in well for Williams during a Week 17 win over the Chicago Bears but struggled against the Seahawks’ defense a week later. His best role is as a backup to McKivitz at right tackle.

Enrique Cruz Jr.: The fifth-round rookie will be an interesting study in joint practices and the preseason because he’s the heir apparent to Williams at left tackle. The 49ers, however, don’t expect that handover to occur for a couple of years. A rash of injuries notwithstanding, Cruz might remain in learning mode in 2026.

Brandon Parker: Parker spent most of the 2025 season on the 49ers’ practice squad and would have been an emergency tackle had they suffered a string of injuries at the position. He hasn’t appeared in a game since the end of the 2023 season when he was with the Raiders.

Isaac Alarcon: Alarcon, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, entered the NFL in 2020 as part of the league’s International Pathway Program. He remains a pathway program member and thus doesn’t count toward the 90-man roster. He has yet to play a regular-season snap.

Guard

Dominick Puni: A slow-to-heal knee injury at the start of the 2025 season prevented Puni from making a big Year 2 leap. Still, the fact that he gritted his way through the issue and started all 19 games speaks to the right guard’s value on the offensive line. He’s been the team’s best pick in the last three drafts.

Connor Colby: We’ll pencil in Colby as the team’s top left guard prospect, but we have to do it very lightly since several others are competing for that spot. Still, Colby logged 452 snaps at the position as a rookie last year and was in the top slot throughout spring drills.

Robert Jones: The most likely candidate to nudge Colby from the starting spot? It’s probably Jones, who started 17 games in a similar Dolphins offense in 2024 and has logged more than 2,000 offensive snaps in his career. Jones is coming off a neck injury that cost him the entire 2025 season.

Carver Willis: The fourth-round rookie was a tackle only in college but will get a shot at left guard this season. Willis allowed just six sacks in five college seasons, is sharp and played in a similar-style offense last year at Washington. He also has a lot of characteristics coaches look for in an NFL center.

Nick Zakelj: The only remaining members of the 49ers’ 2022 draft class: Purdy and his one-time housemate Zakelj, whom San Francisco picked nearly two rounds (No. 187 to No. 262) ahead of Purdy. Zakelj has some value because he also can play center, but he hasn’t been able to break through in four previous seasons.

Center

Jake Brendel: Like McKivitz, Brendel has been an iron man for the 49ers, starting all but two games since he became the team’s top center in 2022. Brendel, however, turns 34 the day the 49ers take on the Rams in Australia to open the season, and he’s not signed beyond this season. The 49ers have no clear heir at center.

Brett Toth: He’s among those in the mix at left guard after starting two games and playing 167 snaps at that spot for the Eagles last year. He also got two starts at center, which is where his true value to the 49ers lies. Toth, who turns 30 on Sept. 1, signed a one-year deal in March.

Drake Nugent: Nugent, an undrafted free agent in 2024, has held down a practice squad spot since his rookie season. To this point, however, the 49ers have been reluctant to give him a shot at a larger role.

Assuming he wins the starting job over J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray landed in a terrific spot to be a possible QB1 in fantasy again. Kevin O’Connell helped stationary quarterbacks produce the sixth-most fantasy points over his first three seasons coaching before last year’s disaster, and Murray offers far more upside with his legs. Murray will have to transition from shotgun to going more under center in Minnesota, where he’s been far more efficient throughout his career. Murray is the QB17 in consensus ranks, but he should be drafted as a borderline top-12 fantasy quarterback.

While Murray will be an upgrade over McCarthy, he’s hardly ideal for the Vikings’ pass catchers — Trey McBride and Michael Wilson went off after Jacoby Brissett took over in Arizona last season. Murray has been the least accurate QB on balls thrown 10+ yards downfield over the past three years. He also ranks 49th out of 55 quarterbacks in catchable target rate to players lined up outside over that span. Justin Jefferson is an elite talent who will unquestionably bounce back in 2026, but those drafting him as a top-10 pick will likely be frustrated with his QB play yet again.

Here are a dozen more of the biggest questions entering training camp.

Malik Nabers’ return

Nabers would have a strong argument to be the No. 1 fantasy player in dynasty if not for his knee injury, but his unclear timeline has made him one of the trickiest players to draft this summer. Nabers underwent an ACL reconstruction and a lateral meniscus repair before later requiring an additional “cleanup” procedure. There’s a real chance he misses games to open the year, and he’ll have a higher risk of re-injury or experiencing a decrease in production after returning. Of course, his ADP and WR21 consensus rank have baked all that in, and Nabers could be a major difference maker when it matters most during the fantasy playoffs. It’s also possible he returns sooner than expected, so Nabers’ health is a major storyline to follow.

Cam Skattebo’s health

Skattebo was fantasy’s RB8 during the seven games in which he saw 50% or more of snaps during his rookie year, and he was the RB3 in expected fantasy points per game over that span. Skattebo ranked fifth in fantasy points per snap, so his RB19 consensus rank would be higher if not for the (very real) injury concern. Skattebo suffered an ankle dislocation, a fibular fracture and a ruptured deltoid that required the dreaded “Tightrope” surgery.

Cam Skattebo (RB 19)
➡️ Ankle dislocation, fibular fracture, ruptured deltoid ligament

Quinshon Judkins (RB 23)
➡️ Ankle dislocation, fibular fracture, no ligament damage, practicing in June

🤔

— Brandon PT DPT (@FantasyFootyPT) July 18, 2026

Skattebo’s injury was similar but even worse than Tony Pollard’s because of the dislocation and open fracture, although Skattebo suffered his more than two months earlier in the season. He’s already doing backflips, so maybe Skattebo will be fine, but he’s been a full fade for me in Best Ball drafts.

Landing spots for Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen

Diggs ranked seventh in yards per route run (2.55) last season, while Allen was 10th in target rate (27.0%). Diggs was also 16th in fantasy points per target, so he has the better chance to emerge as a fantasy factor if he lands in the right opportunity. Both veteran wide receivers can crowd current situations, especially for Best Ball drafters who will suddenly have competition in planned stacks. Indianapolis, Washington, Kansas City, Baltimore and the Rams jump out as the teams most likely to add either of the wideouts, and multiple ADPs will undoubtedly adjust accordingly after they sign.

Patrick Mahomes’ readiness for Week 1

Mahomes underwent ACL and LCL surgery in December, but he was already back on the field during OTAs (albeit in a non-contact jersey). Mahomes is expected to be fully cleared this week, and while Kansas City surely won’t rush its star QB, he appears on track to play Week 1. Of course, the next question becomes how much the knee injury affects his fantasy output after returning. Mahomes was fantasy’s QB2 when he went down in Week 15 last season, but his fantasy resurgence was fueled largely by a big increase in rushing production. A whopping 20.3% of his fantasy points came from scrambling last year, when he posted career highs in rush yards and touchdowns. Mahomes will likely benefit from OC Matt Nagy leaving, but he’s highly unlikely to run as much as last season coming off recent surgery. Moreover, RB Kenneth Walker will be a big part of the Chiefs’ offense in 2026.

Patrick Mahomes getting back to 20+ fantasy points per game goodness in 2025 was entirely due to him running the ball more than ever pic.twitter.com/7NQ24Utndv

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 7, 2026

Mahomes is the QB14 in “expert consensus ranks,” which feels right.

The 49ers’ No. 2 RB

Christian McCaffrey will remain San Francisco’s workhorse as long as he stays healthy. Few, if any, athletes invest more into their health than CMC, but he’s a 30-year-old coming off 450 touches and entering his 10th season in the league — history suggests an injury could be coming. Jordan James appears to be battling third-round rookie Kaelon Black to act as the 49ers’ RB2, although the most likely outcome would be a split between the two if CMC went down.

That said, there’s a ton of fantasy upside in a Kyle Shanahan offense projected to be among the league’s leading scorers this season, so this backfield battle will be worth paying close attention to throughout summer. Isaac Guerendo missed training camp with a torn pectoral muscle and must regain Shanahan’s trust, but he’s a deep fantasy sleeper going completely undrafted.

Atlanta’s quarterback job

Bijan Robinson is one of the first players off fantasy draft boards, while Drake London and Kyle Pitts are both ranked seventh in consensus among their respective positions despite the starting QB being unknown in Atlanta. Michael Penix is coming off his third ACL surgery, while Tua Tagovailoa brings an unknown aspect outside of Mike McDaniel’s system.

London saw a massive spike in fantasy production with Penix last season, although that may be more of an indictment on Kirk Cousins at this stage of his career. Penix has the highest outside target rate (45.9%) among all quarterbacks over 2023-25, so London’s fantasy managers hope he secures the job.

While Kevin Stefanski’s offenses have typically featured tight ends, both Penix (18.1%) and Tagovailoa (17.6%) rank toward the bottom of the league in target rate to the position. Moreover, Pitts was equivalent to fantasy’s TE19 during the 12 games London played last season — I’d much prefer George Kittle or Dalton Kincaid a couple of rounds later. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa owns the league’s second-highest RB target rate (24.5%) over the past three seasons, so Robinson’s fantasy managers should be rooting for him to win the QB job.

Josh Jacobs’ status

Jacobs was fantasy’s RB7 before suffering a knee injury in Week 11 last season, and he’ll likely retain the league’s most lucrative goal-line role when on the field this year. However, his ADP and RB15 consensus rank reflect the threat of a possible looming suspension. It’s a story fantasy managers will be following until there’s more clarity, with a rejuvenated Marshawn Lloyd the obvious beneficiary should Jacobs miss time.

Cleveland’s starting quarterback

The Browns figure to be among the lowest-scoring teams this season regardless of who’s starting at quarterback, but there will be ramifications for Cleveland’s pass catchers depending on who’s under center. It was a small sample, but Shedeur Sanders exhibited extremes during his rookie year, ranking first in RB target rate (25.5%) and third in TE target rate (31.9%) but last to the slot (19.3%) and the outside (29.7%). Considering that Sanders also owned a sky-high sack rate (9.1%) and an ugly catchable pass rate, fantasy managers of Browns’ wide receivers should be rooting for Deshaun Watson to win Cleveland’s starting QB role.

Fernando Mendoza watch

The Raiders and Tom Brady undoubtedly plan on starting the season with Kirk Cousins under center, but it didn’t look like he had much left while getting just 6.4 yards per attempt last season in Atlanta (when Penix got 7.2). Mendoza had only six career college dropbacks under center, and Klint Kubiak’s offense in Seattle ranked second-to-last in shotgun rate (45.2%) last season — the transition could require patience, although the payoff could be huge. Quarterbacks saw their YPA jump to 7.8 under center compared to 6.9 in shotgun last season, while their TD% also increased to 6.6% from 4.2%.

Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers are both top-20 fantasy picks, and managers have high expectations with Kubiak now running the offense. Some reports suggest Las Vegas plans on starting Cousins for the entire season, while others note Mendoza will be sprinkled in with the first team this summer. “Mendoza watch” will be a storyline to follow.

Jacksonville’s WR room

Will Brian Thomas bounce back after flopping during an injured sophomore campaign, or will he continue to run mostly vertical routes while facing an incredibly tough looking opening schedule? Can Parker Washington repeat last year’s huge finish and retain the ultra-lucrative slot role in HC Liam Coen’s offense? Or will Jakobi Meyers and/or last year’s second-overall pick Travis Hunter make it a full-blown WR committee in Jacksonville? Coen has been terrific for fantasy production, but there’s risk the Jaguars spread the ball around in 2026. It’s a battle to follow throughout summer and a situation I’ve mostly been reluctantly avoiding in drafts, opting for Marvin Harrison and Chris Godwin instead of gambling on this WR corps.

Jonathon Brooks’ rising stock

Few players have seen their ADP rise more than Brooks this summer, yet he remains a huge wild card having not played a snap since 2024. Brooks is the RB40 in consensus ranks, but he’s been a top-75 pick in NFFC drafts over the past two weeks — he’s being drafted as the RB27, well ahead of teammate Chuba Hubbard (RB36) over that span. Brooks has just nine career NFL carries, so how he looks with pads on in August will be crucial.

Brooks has a heightened injury concern returning from his second ACL surgery, but evidence offers support that he can return to his previous level without significant risk increase. The former second-round pick would’ve been behind only Jeremiyah Love in this year’s RB class, and Brooks is less than three months older than Jadarian Price. Brooks is the favorite for passing down work, and Carolina’s coaching staff has made it clear he’ll be given the chance to overtake the featured role. We’ll soon find out if he’s up to the task.

Mike McDaniel’s impact in Los Angeles

The Chargers have experienced a “McDaniel tax” in ADP this summer, as Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and even Keaton Mitchell are all being drafted aggressively. Johnston is expected to see more opportunities to rack up yards after the catch and has moved all the way up to become a top-65 pick in NFFC drafts! Herbert has MVP upside if health cooperates.

OC McDaniel figures to bring a slow pace, though with a positive pass rate over expected and a lot more motion and play action — Miami ranked first in motion rate and fifth in play-action rate last season. McDaniel is also second among play callers in expected backfield fantasy points over the past three seasons. Herbert’s skillset is very different than Tagovailoa’s, so it will be interesting to watch this development.

While McDaniel will surely have an impact, the return of left tackle Joe Alt is the most important factor for the Chargers’ 2026 season.

Joe Alt for MVP
/s

actually maybe though pic.twitter.com/8nQaMdDy6m

— frank (@realfrankbrank) February 6, 2026

England’s record points-scorer Emily Scarratt has committed her long-term future to the Red Roses coaching team.

The 36-year-old joined John Mitchell’s side on an interim basis as the lead attack and backs coach for this year’s Women’s Six Nations.

Following England clinching their eighth successive Women’s Six Nations title in May, Scarratt returned to her role as assistant coach at Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) side Loughborough Lightning.

She will now leave her role with Loughborough after joining the Red Roses on a permanent basis.

“The Six Nations was challenging but hugely rewarding in equal measure,” Scarratt said.

“I’d spent so many years in the Red Roses environment as a player, so stepping into a coaching role in the same setting was a new experience and, at times, slightly unnerving.

“There was plenty of uncertainty, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity and learned so much already.

“There’s a huge amount of ambition within this team, and I’m proud to be part of the journey as we continue to grow and build towards the future.”

On leaving Loughborough after eight years as a player and coach, the two-time World Cup winner added: “I’ve been surrounded by incredible people who have challenged and supported me in every way possible.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone connected with the club. I’ll always look back on my time with immense gratitude. Thank you for everything.”

Former England attack coach Lou Meadows left the set-up after helping England win the Rugby World Cup at a sold-out Allianz Stadium last September.

Scarratt, who retired from playing after the World Cup win, then helped the Red Roses’ attack score 27 more points in 2026 than in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations.

“Emily has already made a significant impact on our environment in a coaching capacity, and during the Six Nations she proved to be a huge asset with the insight, calmness and experience she brings every day,” Mitchell added.