Sarah McKenna earns England recall as Red Roses begin WXV preparation

Sarah McKenna has received her first England call-up under John Mitchell as part of a training squad that contains eight uncapped players.

McKenna, 35, has won 45 caps but has not featured for the Red Roses since the end of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2023 and continued her transition into coaching last season, assisting England U20 head coach LJ Lewis.

However, she enjoyed a strong finish to the season and helped club side Saracens to victory in April’s Allianz Cup final and into the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby play-offs, where they lost to Bristol Bears.

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That form has earned McKenna a place in England’s 40-player training squad as the Red Roses begin their preparation for the defence of their WXV 1 title in Canada in September and October.

Meanwhile, a host of uncapped players have been called up by Mitchell for the five-week camp, which began on Monday.

Prop Simi Pam, second-row Lilli Ives Campion, back-rows Georgia Brock and Steph Else, centres Nancy McGillivray and Phoebe Murray, and back-three players Katie Buchanan and Bo Westcombe-Evans will all be hoping to force their way into contention for selection ahead of England’s warm-up matches against France and New Zealand in September.

Ellie Kildunne and Megan Jones have not been included due to their Olympic commitments with Great Britain, but will join up with England following the conclusion of the women’s sevens tournament at Paris 2024.

Sarah Beckett, Grace Clifford, Lizzie Hanlon. Sadia Kabeya, Claudia MacDonald, Connie Powell and Mia Venner will attend the first two days of camp before continuing their rehabilitation back at their clubs.

Head Coach Mitchell said: “Our first camp of 2024/25 allows us to reset what we stand for and how we will carry ourselves as Red Roses moving forward.

“Our game is working, and we have an opportunity to dial it up again. There is a massive amount of room to improve individually and evolve our game over the next five weeks.”

Following their warm-up matches against France and New Zealand, the Red Roses will travel to Canada where they are due to play the hosts, USA and the Black Ferns in the second edition of WXV 1 between September 27th – October 12th.

England training squad

Forwards:
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 15 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 8 caps)
Liz Crake (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)
Laura Keates (Loughborough Lightning, 62 caps)
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 30 caps)
Simi Pam (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)
Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 74 caps)
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 53 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)
Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 65 caps)
Steph Else (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 104 caps)
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)

Backs:
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 72 caps)
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 21 caps)
Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 30 caps)
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 49 caps)
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 22 caps)
Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 111 caps)
Jess Breach (Saracens, 38 caps)
Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 45 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughorough Lightning, uncapped)
Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 45 caps)
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 29 caps)