Marlie Packer to miss Canada and USA Tests as Red Roses name touring squad

Marlie Packer will not travel with the Red Roses to North America for the latter half of the WXV Global Series ahead of the birth of her first child with Rosie Galligan.

The 37-year-old flanker, who has won 119 Test caps, played in all three of England’s home fixtures in September and started in the team’s win against the Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium.

Of the 32 players selected by John Mitchell for the tour, 24 played in fixtures against Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The squad does not include Delaney Burns, Haidee Head and Sophie McQueen, who have all been ruled out with injury.

There are places for Christiana Balogun, Daisy Hibbert-Jones, Haineala Lutui, Demelza Short, Tatyana Heard, Emma Sing, Mia Venner and Bo Westcombe-Evans, who have all picked up game time in the JAECOO Next Gen Cup in recent weeks.

Last weekend in Trailfinders Women’s 72-19 win against Harlequins, Westcombe-Evans scored a hat-trick.

In total, there are 1,168 Test caps among the team that will be captained by Meg Jones in fixtures against Canada and the USA Women’s Eagles. England start their North American tour with back-to-back fixtures against Canada in Toronto and Ottawa just weeks after their 26-26 draw with Kévin Rouet’s team.

They will conclude their WXV Global Series 2026 campaign against the USA Women’s Eagles at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey.

John Mitchell, Red Roses head coach, said: “Our last two Tests against Canada and New Zealand have been humdingers that could have gone either way; they were hugely important to our development towards 2029.

“Playing quality opposition and learning to adapt under pressure will help us raise our level and improve our game.

“The 32 players travelling to North America have a great opportunity to elevate our connections as a squad because playing away from home requires togetherness.

“We have shown a real hunger to compete and improve, and we’re excited to rip into our preparations and continue our rivalry with Canada in Toronto.”

England touring squad for North America | WXV Global Series 2026

Forwards
Christiana Balogun (Bristol Bears, 1 cap)
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 87 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 12 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 7 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester Hartpury, 31 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 25 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 94 caps, vice-captain)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps)
Bryony Field (Saracens, 3 caps)
Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 11 caps)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 34 caps)
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester Hartpury, 84 caps, vice-captain)
Maud Muir (Gloucester Hartpury, 56 caps)
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 32 caps)

Backs
Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 59 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 73 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Sale Sharks, 37 caps)
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester Hartpury, 91 caps)
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 41 caps, captain)
Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 47 caps)
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 6 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 54 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester Hartpury, 17 caps)
Mia Venner (Gloucester Hartpury, 5 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)

Red Roses fixtures | October

• Friday 16 October, Canada v England, BMO Field, Toronto 00:00am (GMT+1)
• Friday 23 October, Canada v England, TD Place, Ottawa, 00:00 (GMT+1)
• Friday 30 October, USA v England,  Sports Illustrated Stadium, New Jersey, 21:15 (GMT+0)