Scrum-half Joanne Yapp captains the side, with old heads Karen Andrew at fly-half, Nicola Crawford on the wing and Susan Day at full-back.

"I'm really excited about what I think we can achieve," said Richards.

"I've named a squad who are vastly experienced but have also included some youngsters who've proven their worth."

Flanker Maggie Alphonsi and centre pairing Michaela Staniford and Kim Oliver are some of the younger players in the starting XV.

Wasps' Shelley Rae also returns to the fold after a year out with a knee injury.

England: Sue Day (Wasps); Nicola Crawford (Worcester), Michaela Staniford (Henley), Kim Oliver (Clifton), Charlotte Barras (Lichfield); Karen Andrew (Saracens), Jo Yapp (Worcester); Rochelle Clark (Henley), Selena Rudge (Saracens), Vanessa Gray (Wasps), Jenny Sutton (Richmond), Rachel Vickers (Richmond), Georgia Stevens (Clifton), Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Catherine Spencer (Folkestone)
Replacements: Amy Garnett (Saracens), Vanessa Huxford (Wasps), Tamara Taylor (Thirsk), Helen Clayton (Saracens), Danielle Waterman (Henley), Shelley Rae (Wasps), Amy Turner (Wasps)

England's Six Nations schedule:

England v Wales, 4 February, Old Albanians RFC

Spain v England 11 February, La Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid

Scotland v England 25 February, Murrayfield

France v England 11 March, Bondoufle, Paris

England v Ireland, 18 March, Old Albanians RFC