Red Roses recall Jess Breach and Alex Matthews for Canada clash

England head coach John Mitchell has made nine changes to his Red Roses starting XV for Saturday’s WXV Global Series clash with Canada at Sandy Park, with Jess Breach and Alex Matthews among the World Cup winners returning to the side.

Jess Breach and Alex Matthews return for Canada

Breach starts on the right wing while Matthews, who scored twice in England’s 33-13 victory over Canada in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final, returns at No.8.

Bryony Field earns her first international start at hooker after scoring on her Test debut during England’s 48-15 victory over Australia last weekend. She joins Hannah Botterman and Maud Muir in a completely changed front row, while Morwenna Talling returns to the starting second row.

Red Roses make nine changes at Sandy Park

Lucy Packer starts at scrum-half alongside Zoe Harrison at fly-half, while Helena Rowland returns to midfield alongside captain Megan Jones.

Ellie Kildunne remains at fullback, with Breach and Exeter Chiefs winger Claudia Moloney-MacDonald completing the back three.

England and Canada begin three-Test series

Saturday’s match is the first of three WXV Global Series Tests between England and Canada in 2026.

The teams will meet again at BMO Field in Toronto on October 16 and TD Place in Ottawa on October 23. Before travelling to Canada, England will face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on September 26.

England: Kildunne; Breach, Jones, Rowland, Moloney-MacDonald; Harrison, Packer; Botterman, Field, Muir, Talling, Ives Campion, Burton, Kabeya, Matthews

Reserves: Campbell, Carson, Bern, Burns, Feaunati, Packer, Robinson, Aitchison