women
international women
Red Roses defender Ellie Kildunne was dropped to the bench for the team’s final clash with Canada in the WXV Global Series.
Gloucester Hartpury’s Emma Sing replaces Kildunne at full-back in England’s starting XV. Head coach John Mitchell made four changes to his starting lineup following their 24-21 loss in Toronto a week ago.
On Friday night, Female Rugby World Cup The 2025 champions will be looking to bounce back in their third Test against Canada this year after seeing their 41-match unbeaten run come to an end at BMO Field.
Kildunne played the full 80 minutes last weekend, finishing as England’s leading ball carrier with 14 carries and topping the meters chart with 155. However, she conceded possession four times, the most of any player in the match.
Mia Venner makes the starting XV on the wing while Claudia Moloney-MacDonald has been left out of the matchday squad entirely. Tatjana Herd was also left out of Friday’s squad, with Helena Rowland taking her place at inside centre. With the last change in the starting line-up, Sadia Kabeya comes to the side of the field, and Alex Matthews is named among the substitutes.
Natasha Hunt was also left out of the squad, with Flo Robinson preferred as a half-time substitute. Sale Sharks fullback Holly Aitchison has been named on the bench and could earn her first game since the Red Roses opened the WXV Global Series against the Wallaroos last month.
“Friday is our first opportunity to respond,” Mitchell said. “Last Friday we lost sight of what we could control when it mattered most; it’s up to us to fix that.”
“This week is about getting back to who we are: hungry, accountable to each other, and demanding more of ourselves than anyone outside of this group ever could.
“We earned a strong period, but nothing is owed to us in the future. Friday is an opportunity to apply constant pressure, learn from what we missed and come out the other side better than we came in.”
Red Roses 23rd game in Canada | WXV Global Series 2026
15 Emma Singh (Gloucester Hartpury, 17 games)
14 Jess Breach (Saracens, 60 games)
13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 42 games) – captain
12 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 55 games)
11 Mia Venner (Gloucester Hartpury, 5 games)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 74 games)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 48 drops)
1 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 66 games)
2 Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 95 games) – vice-captain
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 88 games)
4 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 33 drops)
5 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 12 games)
6 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 13 appearances)
7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 35 games)
8 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 31 games)
Substitutions
16 Bryony Field (Saracens, 4 games)
17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester Hartpury, 32 games)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester Hartpury, 57 games)
19 Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, 4 drops)
20 Alex Matthews (Gloucester Hartpury, 85 games)
21 Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 6 games)
22 Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 50 drops)
23 Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears, 66 games)
