Red Roses confirm 32-player squad for North American WXV tour

England have named a 32-player squad for their upcoming WXV Global Series campaign in North America, with Trailfinders Women centre Megan Jones set to captain the side.

The travelling group features 18 forwards and 14 backs, with the players collectively bringing 1,168 Test caps into the tour. Jones will lead the squad, while Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews have been named as vice-captains.

Twenty-four members of the touring party were involved in England’s September fixtures against Australia, Canada and New Zealand, as the Red Roses continued their preparations for the next phase of their international programme.

There are several changes to the group due to injury and availability. Delaney Burns, Haidee Head and Sophie McQueen have all been left out after suffering foot, knee and shoulder injuries respectively.

Veteran forward Marlie Packer will also remain in England, where she will support her partner Rosie Galligan ahead of the birth of their first child.

Canada double-header to headline tour

John Mitchell’s side will begin their North American trip with a meeting against Canada at BMO Field in Toronto on Friday 16 October.

The teams will meet again seven days later, with the second Test taking place at TD Place in Ottawa on Friday 23 October.

England will then bring the tour to a close against the USA in New Jersey on Friday 30 October.

Before departing for Canada on Thursday, the Red Roses will have two days of preparation at Allianz Stadium.

Mitchell believes the tour will provide another valuable test for an England side continuing to develop towards the 2029 Rugby World Cup.

The head coach highlighted the competitiveness of England’s recent encounters with Canada and New Zealand and said the opportunity to face strong opposition away from home would be important for the squad’s development.

He also emphasised the importance of building cohesion within the touring group, with playing overseas presenting a different challenge to home fixtures.

Red Roses squad for North American tour

Forwards

• Christiana Balogun — Bristol Bears, 1 cap

• Sarah Bern — Bristol Bears, 87 caps

• Hannah Botterman — Bristol Bears, 65 caps

• Abi Burton — Trailfinders Women, 12 caps

• May Campbell — Saracens, 7 caps

• Mackenzie Carson — Gloucester-Hartpury, 31 caps

• Kelsey Clifford — Saracens, 25 caps

• Amy Cokayne — Sale Sharks, 94 caps — vice-captain

• Maddie Feaunati — Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps

• Bryony Field — Saracens, 3 caps

• Daisy Hibbert-Jones — Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap

• Lilli Ives Campion — Loughborough Lightning, 11 caps

• Sadia Kabeya — Loughborough Lightning, 34 caps

• Haineala Lutui — Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps

• Alex Matthews — Gloucester-Hartpury, 84 caps — vice-captain

• Maud Muir — Gloucester-Hartpury, 56 caps

• Demelza Short — Bristol Bears, 4 caps

• Morwenna Talling — Sale Sharks, 32 caps

Backs

• Holly Aitchison — Sale Sharks, 50 caps

• Jess Breach — Saracens, 59 caps

• Zoe Harrison — Saracens, 73 caps

• Tatyana Heard — Sale Sharks, 37 caps

• Natasha Hunt — Gloucester-Hartpury, 91 caps

• Megan Jones — Trailfinders Women, 41 caps — captain

• Ellie Kildunne — Bristol Bears, 65 caps

• Claudia Moloney-MacDonald — Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps

• Lucy Packer — Harlequins, 47 caps

• Flo Robinson — Exeter Chiefs, 6 caps

• Helena Rowland — Loughborough Lightning, 54 caps

• Emma Sing — Gloucester-Hartpury, 17 caps

• Mia Venner — Gloucester-Hartpury, 5 caps

• Bo Westcombe-Evans — Trailfinders Women, 2 caps

Red Roses North American fixtures

Canada v England
Friday 16 October — 7pm ET
BMO Field, Toronto

Canada v England
Friday 23 October — 7pm ET
TD Place, Ottawa

USA v England
Friday 30 October — 5.15pm ET
Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey