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Marlie Packer returns to captain much-changed England against Samoa
England coach John Mitchell has made 13 personnel changes for their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool A meeting with Samoa on Saturday as Marlie Packer returns as captain.
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The Red Roses began their home tournament with a 69-7 victory against USA in Sunderland on Friday with vice-captain Megan Jones and winger Jess Breach – who is one try short of a half century for England – the only two players to retain their places for the match at Franklin’s Gardens.
Breach shifts from the left to the right wing against Samoa, with Claudia Moloney-MacDonald returning from injury on the other flank and Emma Sing coming in at full-back.
Jones is joined in the centre by Olympian Jade Shekells while Helena Rowland, who missed the opening win with a rolled ankle, is handed the No.10 jersey and Lucy Packer gets the nod at scrum-half.
Up front, Kelsey Clifford, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern form a new-look front row with World Cup debutant Lilli Ives Campion and Rosie Galligan named at lock.
In the back row, there is a first World Cup appearance for Abi Burton at blindside flanker. She lines up alongside captain Marlie Packer and No.8 Maddie Feaunati.
Captain Zoe Aldcroft is ruled out of the match through injury and is set to miss England’s final Pool A assignment, against Australia, too. Mitchell’s selection means that Holly Aitchison is the only member of England’s World Cup squad yet to be included in a matchday 23.
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Mitchell said: “It has been in our planning to give everyone game time over the first two pool matches and, bar Holly, we’ve been able to execute that with this selection.
“Our new combination want to make each other proud and build on our performance against USA in our opening match.
“It will be a great atmosphere for them at one of the most traditional rugby grounds in the country. They’re all excited to get out there.”
England team to play Samoa:
15 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 11 caps)
14 Jess Breach (Saracens, 48 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 28 caps)
12 Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, 3 caps)
11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 35 caps)
10 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 41 caps)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 34 caps)
1 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 16 caps)
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 69 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 74 caps)
4 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 3 caps)
5 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 26 caps)
6 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 3 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 111 caps) – captain
8 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
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Replacements:
16 May Campbell (Saracens, 4 caps)
17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 43 caps)
19 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 24 caps)
20 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 24 caps)
21 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 83 caps)
22 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 60 caps)
23 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 54 caps)
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