England's women’s rugby team, popularly known as the Red Roses, have unveiled a robust 36‑player roster for the upcoming home leg of the inaugural WXV Global Series. The selection, overseen by head coach John Mitchell, leans heavily on experience, featuring 25 players who were part of the World Cup‑winning squad, and it also introduces three newcomers to the international stage: Bryony Field, Hayley Jones and Sophie McQueen.
Captained by the dynamic Megan Jones, the assembled group brings a staggering total of 1,234 international caps to the table, a testament to the depth of talent and the wealth of high‑level match experience within the side. The blend of seasoned campaigners and fresh faces is intended to provide both stability and a spark of new energy as the Roses embark on a demanding series of test matches across England. The first fixture of the home leg will see the Red Roses take on Australia at the newly‑renamed CorpAcq Stadium, situated on the outskirts of Manchester, on Saturday 12 September.
This clash will be a crucial early test, offering a glimpse of how the squad’s preparations have translated into on‑field cohesion. A week later, the Roses will host Canada at Sandy Park in Exeter, recreating the dramatic showdown of the 2025 World Cup final. That encounter promises to be a high‑stakes battle, as both teams will be looking to assert dominance ahead of the final leg of the series. Following the Canadian test, the schedule culminates in a marquee showdown against New Zealand’s Black Ferns at the iconic Allianz Stadium on Saturday 26 September.
The match is expected to draw a crowd of more than 50,000 spectators, underscoring the growing popularity of women’s rugby in the United Kingdom and providing a spectacular stage for the sport’s top talent. Coach Mitchell commented on the squad’s preparation, noting that the pre‑season period has been exceptionally productive. "We've had a positive pre‑season in terms of the training structures we’ve put in place and the exposure we’ve given the players," he said. "The girls have worked hard to strengthen their connections on and off the field, which has made us a stronger unit overall, and they have upheld the high standards we expect at this level." He added that the team has been training at an intensity that exceeds match conditions, aiming to build a foundation that will allow them to play an exciting brand of rugby throughout the three test matches.
"We have trained above the game level with great intensity, and now we have an opportunity to excite ourselves and the country with the way we play rugby in three Test matches across the country," Mitchell explained. Mitchell also emphasized that the squad is still in its infancy, having been together for only four weeks, and that there is ample capacity for growth as the series progresses. "This squad is only four weeks old; there is plenty in the tank.
This is an exciting period to get after," he remarked, highlighting the potential for further development and adaptation. The 2026 season marks the launch of the WXV Global Series, a competition designed to bring together the world’s top twelve women’s rugby nations in a stable format that will run from 2026 to 2028 without promotion or relegation. This structure aims to provide consistency and foster long‑term rivalries, while also giving each nation a clear pathway for development. After completing the home leg, the Red Roses will travel to North America for the next phase of the series, where they will face Canada and the United States in October.
Those matches will test the squad’s ability to perform away from home and against different playing styles, further sharpening their skills ahead of future international tournaments. The squad list is divided into forwards and backs, reflecting the traditional structure of a rugby union team. The forwards include experienced campaigners such as Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Delaney Burns, Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Amy Cokayne, Maddie Feaunati, Bryony Field, Haidee Head, Lilli Ives Campion, Hayley Jones, Sadia Kabeya, Haineala Lutui, Alex Matthews, Sophie McQueen, Maud Muir, Marlie Packer, Demelza Short, and Morwenna Talling. These players will be responsible for the set‑piece work, scrums, line‑outs, and the gritty, physical contests that form the backbone of any successful rugby side.
The backline features a blend of speed, creativity, and tactical acumen, with players such as Holly Aitchison, Jess Breach, Millie David, Zoe Harrison, Tatyana Heard, Natasha Hunt, captain Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne, Claudia Moloney‑MacDonald, Lucy Packer, Flo Robinson, Helena Rowland, Emma Sing, Mia Venner, and Bo Westcombe‑Evans. Their role will be to exploit space, execute attacking moves, and provide the finishing touch that turns opportunities into points. Overall, the Red Roses’ selection reflects a strategic balance between proven winners and emerging talent, all unified under a coaching philosophy that prioritizes high‑intensity preparation, strong team connections, and an entertaining style of play. As the WXV Global Series unfolds, fans across England and beyond will be watching closely to see how this blend of experience and fresh energy translates into performance on the world stage.