John Mitchell names highly experienced Red Roses squad for home WXV Tests

John Mitchell has named a 36-player WXV Global Series squad featuring 25 Women’s Rugby World Cup winners.

The team named for their three home fixtures in September, continues to be captained by Meg Jones in the absence of pregnant Zoe Stratford, contains three uncapped players and has a combined total of 1,234 Test caps.

All three uncapped players are forwards. Hooker pair Bryony Field and Hayley Jones will look to create competition for Amy Cokayne and May Campbell, while Gloucester Hartpury’s Sophie McQueen joins a highly competitive group of back-row players.

Holly Aitchison is in line to win her 50th cap for England this weekend if selected for their WXV Global Series opener against the Wallaroos in Manchester.

The clash against the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 hosts takes place on Saturday 12 September, one week before a repeat of their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final against Canada in Exeter.

England will conclude their time on home soil on Saturday 26 September against the Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium. Already 50,000 tickets have been sold for the encounter.

John Mitchell, Red Roses head coach, said: “It’s been a positive pre-season in the way we have trained and the exposure we have given to players. The girls have worked hard to elevate their connections, making us stronger, and have driven high standards.

“We have trained above the game level with great intensity and now we have an opportunity to excite ourselves, and the country, by the way we play rugby in three Test matches across the country. This squad is only four weeks old; there is plenty in the tank. This is an exciting period to get after.”

After three Test matches in October, the Red Roses will travel to Canada to play fixtures in Toronto and Ottawa against the Women’s Rugby World Cup runners-up. They will conclude WXV Global Series against the USA Women’s Eagles at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey.

Red Roses 2026 WXV Global Series squad

Forwards
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 84 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Delaney Burns (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 9 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 5 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester Hartpury, 28 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 25 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 94 caps)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 27 caps)
Bryony Field (Saracens, uncapped)
Haidee Head (Trailfinders Women, 1 cap)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 8 caps)
Hayley Jones (Trailfinders Women, uncapped)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 32 caps)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester Hartpury, 82 caps)
Sophie McQueen (Gloucester Hartpury, uncapped)
Maud Muir (Gloucester Hartpury, 53 caps)
Marlie Packer (Harlequins, 116 caps)
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 29 caps)

Backs
Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 49 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 57 caps)
Millie David (Bristol Bears, 1 cap)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 70 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester Hartpury, 89 caps)
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 38 caps)
Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 40 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 44 caps)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 51 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester Hartpury, 17 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester Hartpury, 4 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)