Alex Matthews will captain the Crimson Roses for the primary time after they tackle USA of their WXV 1 opener in Vancouver at 8.30pm on Sunday.
Matthews, who is ready for her seventieth cap, leads a beginning XV which additionally contains two worldwide debutants in Bristol Bears centre Phoebe Murray and Loughborough Lightning wing Bo Westcombe-Evans.
Assault coach Lou Meadows mentioned: “We have been building on our game for the past eight weeks towards our WXV opener against USA. This group of girls are excited for their opportunity to attack the tournament right from the start for the Red Roses this Sunday.
“We perceive our actuality and simply wish to get taking part in.”
Lucy Packer and Zoe Harrison hyperlink up within the half-back positions with Jess Breach, Emily Scarratt and Ellie Kildunne retaining their positions within the backline following the 24-12 warm-up win over New Zealand.
Flanker Georgia Brock begins whereas Rosie Galligan returns from harm to companion Abbie Ward within the second row.
The entrance row of Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern stays the identical and Morwenna Talling completes the forwards from blindside flanker.
England gained final 12 months’s inaugural WXV match, and they’ll go on to play New Zealand and Canada after Sunday’s opener.
Crimson Roses crew to play USA
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 45 caps)
14 Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
13 Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 113 caps)
12 Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 40 caps)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 51 caps)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 23 caps)
1 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 17 caps)
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 63 caps)
4 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)
5 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
6 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 15 caps)
7 Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap)
8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 69 caps) – captain
Replacements
16 Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 76 caps)
17 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 8 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 32 caps)
19 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 55 caps)
20 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps)
21 Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
22 Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 32 caps)
23 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 31 caps)
Welsh Rugby Union give 37 skilled contracts to ladies gamers
The Welsh Rugby Union has issued new full-time skilled contracts to 37 ladies gamers.
The transfer – which comes as Ioan Cunningham’s squad prepares to face Australia within the WXV2 match in South Africa this weekend – contains many prolonged two-year offers for the primary time.
The WRU, who first launched full-time offers for 12 of its gamers in January 2022 and subsequently elevated that quantity to 25 for 2023, mentioned the brand new settlement makes Wales one of many best-paid worldwide ladies’s groups on the planet sport.
Amongst these retained below the brand new deal are squad captain Hannah Jones, 76-times capped hooker Carys Phillips, latest matchday skipper Kiera Bevan and Workforce GB sevens star Jasmine Joyce.
There are additionally offers for gifted children Nel Metcalfe, Sian Jones and Molly Reardon, in addition to the likes of Lleucu George, Alex Callender, Abbie Fleming, Sisilia Tuipulotu and Alisha Butchers.
Wales recorded third-place finishes within the Girls’s Six Nations Championship in 2022 and 2023, however picked up the wood spoon this 12 months with their solely victory coming at house towards Italy.
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