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England announce squad for home Rugby World Cup
By Lucy Lomax
England has announced the 32 Red Roses who will represent their country in the home 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup this August and September.
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Head coach John Mitchell’s squad includes 18 forwards and 14 backs. With a combined total of 1,374 international caps, the squad is an experienced one which includes Marlie Packer and Alex Matthews heading to their fourth tournaments and Emily Scarratt who will attend her fifth.
Scrum-half Natasha Hunt has been named three years after her surprise omission from the team that finished runners-up in 2022.
24 players in the group have previously competed at a World Cup including captain Zoe Aldcroft who will lead her country in her third World Cup with Marlie Packer and Megan Jones as vice captains.
Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati, Lilli Ives Campion, Jade Shekells and Emma Sing are all World Cup debutants.
“It is a rare and awesome opportunity for this group to represent the Red Roses at a home World Cup,” Mitchell said.
“The selection process is never easy. It’s been a thorough two-year process to select the right blend of positional cover, skill, mindset and connection – we believe this is a squad that can win the World Cup.
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“Every experience and challenge has brought the 32 to this point in their life and career, and they have all earned their place. They should be proud of the opportunity to create history together whilst knowing we have to earn the right to progress throughout the World Cup.
“We’re excited by what’s to come and we’ll continue to work hard into the tournament with our focus on preparing for our opening match against USA in less than a month’s time.”
The Red Roses play the USA at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on the opening night of the tournament on Friday 22nd August, and then go on to play Samoa and Australia in Pool A.
England’s 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup squad
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Forwards:
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 63 caps)**
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)*
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 71 caps)**
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)*
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 3 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 13 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 83 caps)**
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 24 caps)*
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 21 caps)*
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 75 caps)***
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 40 caps)*
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 110 caps)***
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 22 caps)*
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 74 caps)**
Backs:
Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)*
Jess Breach (Saracens, 45 caps)*
Abby Dow (Unattached, 52 caps)*
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 57 caps)**
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 29 caps)*
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 80 caps)**
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 25 caps)*
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 52 caps)*
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 35 caps)*
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 31 caps)*
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 39 caps)*
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 118 caps)****
Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 8 caps)
*denotes number of Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments played
