Red Roses name 40-Player WXV squad

John Mitchell has named a 40-player Red Roses squad to begin preparations for the WXV Global Series, with England setting up camp at the University of Nottingham.

Red Roses Name WXV Global Series Squad

The squad includes 22 forwards and 18 backs as England begin their pre-season programme ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.

The group assembled at the University of Nottingham on Monday, August 3, and will spend the first three weeks of pre-season training there before moving back to London.

England will then continue preparations at the Lensbury before opening their WXV Global Series campaign against Australia.

England Prepare For Australia Opener

The Red Roses will face Australia at CorpAcq Stadium in Salford on Saturday, September 12.

A week later, they will take on Canada at Sandy Park in Exeter before completing their home leg of fixtures against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, September 26.

The three matches will provide Mitchell’s squad with a major test as England build towards another important international window.

John Mitchell Sets Red Roses Standard

Mitchell said the squad announcement was only the beginning and not the reward. He said the selected players had been chosen because England believe they can build stronger connections and contribute to the way the Red Roses want to play.

“The naming of this squad is only the beginning; it’s not the reward.

“These 40 have been selected because we believe they have what it takes to build something real together as a squad; firstly, through building better connections to make us stronger, and then with how we want to play this game.

“We're identifying the players who we think will buy into the Red Roses spirit; those who will elevate their connections, those who will develop their repeat physical capacity, and those who will approach their skillsets with enthusiasm and show the necessary hunger to compete under pressure. That's the standard this programme is setting."

Red Roses squad for pre-season training

Forwards

Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 84 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 9 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 5 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 28 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 25 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 94 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 27 caps)
Bryony Field (Saracens, uncapped)
Keevy Fitzpatrick (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Haidee Head (Trailfinders Women, 1 cap)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 8 caps)
Hayley Jones (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 32 caps)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 82 caps)
Annabel Meta (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 53 caps)
Marlie Packer (Harlequins, 116 caps)
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 29 caps)

Backs

Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 49 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 57 caps)
Millie David (Bristol Bears, 1 cap)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 70 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 89 caps)
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 38 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Amelia MacDougall (Saracens, uncapped)
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 40 caps)
Carmela Morrall (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 44 caps)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 51 caps)
Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, 4 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 17 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 4 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)