John Mitchell makes major selection call as Red Roses target Canada response

Red Roses full-back Ellie Kildunne has been dropped to the bench for the team’s latest 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 has made four changes to his starting team following their 24-21 defeat in Toronto a week ago.

On Friday night, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 champions will look 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 topped the metres chart with 155. However, she also conceded possession four times, the most of any player in the match.

Mia Venner comes into the starting XV on the wing as Claudia Moloney-MacDonald is left out of the matchday squad entirely. Tatyana Heard is also omitted from Friday’s squad, with Helena Rowland taking her place at inside centre. The final change to the starting line-up sees Sadia Kabeya come in at openside flanker, with Alex Matthews named among the replacements.

Natasha Hunt is also left out of the squad and Flo Robinson preferred as the scrum-half replacement. Sale Sharks back Holly Aitchison is named on the bench and could earn her first cap since the Red Roses’ WXV Global Series opener against the Wallaroos last month.

“Friday is our first chance to respond,” Mitchell said. “Last Friday, we lost sight of what we could control when it mattered most; that’s on us to fix.

“This week is about getting back to who we are: hungry, accountable to each other and demanding more of ourselves than anyone outside this group ever could.

“We’ve earned a strong period, but nothing about it is owed to us going forward. Friday is an opportunity to apply sustained pressure, learn from what we missed and come out the other side better than we went in.”

Red Roses matchday 23 v Canada | WXV Global Series 2026

15 Emma Sing (Gloucester Hartpury, 17 caps)
14 Mia Venner (Gloucester Hartpury, 5 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 42 caps) – captain
12 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 55 caps)
11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 60 caps)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 74 caps)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 48 caps)
1 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 95 caps) – vice captain
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 88 caps)
4 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 33 caps)
5 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 12 caps)
6 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 13 caps)
7 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 35 caps)
8 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)

Replacements
16 Bryony Field (Saracens, 4 caps)
17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester Hartpury, 32 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester Hartpury, 57 caps)
19 Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
20 Alex Matthews (Gloucester Hartpury, 85 caps)
21 Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 6 caps)
22 Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
23 Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)