Bristol lock Abbie Ward has been recalled to the England training squad less than a year after giving birth to her daughter last spring.

England will meet for three days on Monday as they begin preparations for the Six Nations, which begins in March.

The squad also includes six uncapped players, while Saracens forward Poppy Cleall is a surprise omission.

The 31-year-old has won 65 caps for the Red Roses and is not understood to be injured.

Meanwhile, Bristol prop Sarah Bern is out for the rest of the season with a knee problem.

"We are excited to come together for our first camp of 2024 and build on the positive experience of WXV and introduce some new people to what we are about," said Mitchell.

"It is our first opportunity to revisit what we value, update our athletic profiling data of the group and re-focus on where our game is working and where we take it to next."

Exeter trio Lizzie Hanlon, Katie Buchanan, Merryn Doidge, Loughborough Lightning's Lilli Ives Campion, Saracens' Sharifa Kasolo and Bristol's Gabriella Nigrelli are the six uncapped players selected in the squad.

Zoe Aldcroft, Amy Cokayne, Zoe Harrison, Emily Scarratt and Morwenna Talling are unavailable for the training camp with injury.

England won the Grand Slam in 2023 and will begin the defence of their Six Nations title against Italy in Parma on 24 March.

England's 38-player training squad

Forwards: Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury), Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), May Campbell (Saracens), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Lizzie Hanlon (Exeter Chiefs), Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Sharifa Kasolo (Saracens), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears), Cath O'Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury), Connie Powell (Harlequins), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears)

Backs: Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), Sophie Bridger (Saracens), Jess Breach (Saracens), Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs), Merryn Doidge (Exeter Chiefs), Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), Sydney Gregson (Saracens), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Amber Reed (Bristol Bears), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury), Ella Wyrwas (Saracens)