women
international women
Holly Aitchison will earn her 50th cap for the Red Roses’ game against the Wallaroos in their WXV Global Series opening on Saturday.
28 year old Sale Sharks The fly-half will start the match, which is being held at Salford’s CorpAcq Stadium, just around the corner from her home town of Southport and First Rugby club Firewood Waterloo.
She is one of five changes to the team that completed the Guinness Women’s Six Nations success at the end of May in Bordeaux.
There is a return for Natasha Hunt in the scrum-half jersey. The veteran half-back had just 13 minutes in this year’s Championship opener against Ireland before a knee injury ended her season.
Another of those changes sees May Campbell get credit for being a whore. The Saracens the front-row will earn her sixth appearance and will be supported by her club-mate Bryony Field, who is in line for her Test debut, from the substitutes.
Elsewhere in the pack, Lilli Ives Campion and Delaney Burns continue their partnership to the finish, while Abi Burton, Sadia Kabeya and Maddie Feaunati again form the back row combination.
Tatyana Heard makes her first Test appearance after the women’s competition Rugby World Cup The 2025 final at the Allianz Stadium, as well as Hannah Botterman. Both missed the Women’s Six Nations campaign due to injuries.
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Ellie Kildunne retained their starting positions from Bordeaux, but this time they were joined by Mia Venner in the back three.
Head coach John Mitchell said: “I have very fond memories of the North West from my time with Sale Sharks, so it’s great to be able to take our game to this part of the country.
“Playing in another part of the country allows us to be present in the community and keep the game healthy. Not only do you have to be visible, but if you can really be close to your community, I think that’s even better.”
“Bonding is such an important part of life, but especially in sports. The girls have worked hard in the preseason to deepen their bond and it will make us stronger on the court. We are excited to get our WXV Global Series underway and aim to make it exciting and entertaining.”
2026 WXV Global Series | England match day 23 vs Australia
15 Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears, 62 games)
14 Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 4 games)
13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 38) – captain
12 Tatyana Heard (Sharks Sale, 36 appearances)
11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 40 games)
10 Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 49 drops)
9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 89 games)
1 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 28 games)
2 May Campbell (Saracens, 5 appearances)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 84 appearances)
4 Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, 6 appearances)
5 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 8 games)
6 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 9 appearances)
7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 32 games) – vice-captain
8 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 27 games)
Substitutions
16 Bryony Field (Saracens, unlimited)
17 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 62 games)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 53 games)
19 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 29 caps)
20 Marlie Packer (Harlequins, 116 games)
21 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 44 caps)
22 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 70 games)
23 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 51 games)
