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The Red Roses will be without assistant coach Sarah Hunter for the upcoming WXV tournament as the former England captain is about to give birth to her first child.
Hunter has overseen England’s defence since taking up a role in John Mitchell’s side after concluding her record-breaking career last year.
Capped 141 times by her country, the 38-year-old helped England to victory in the inaugural WXV in New Zealand last autumn before winning a sixth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title earlier this year.
Mitchell will be without his defence coach in Canada, with Hunter having confirmed an October due date on social media when announcing her pregnancy in July.
There are currently no plans to replace the former number eight on maternity leave, with existing England staff expected to take over her duties.
Attack coach Lou Meadows, forwards coach Louis Deacon and scrum consultant Nathan Catt – who has worked extensively with the Red Roses front row this year – are expected to travel for the tournament, which begins on September 29.
England will face the USA, New Zealand and hosts Canada in their bid to retain their WXV1 title. They will meet France in their first warm-up match at Kingsholm on Saturday before a big clash against the Black Ferns at the Allianz Stadium (formerly Twickenham) next week.
Mitchell will confirm a 30-man squad for the tournament on September 18 after two warm-up matches.
Two Red Roses players have benefited from an innovative maternity policy negotiated by the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) which entitles them to 26 weeks of maternity leave on full pay. Abbie Ward has returned to international duty after giving birth, while Vickii Cornborough has now retired from Test rugby.
Mitchell made minimal changes to her side to face France in Gloucester, with injured Sadia Kabeya and Meg Jones the only two players to drop out of the starting XI that won a grand slam in Bordeaux in April.
Maddie Feaunati makes her first start on the flank in Kabeya’s absence, while versatile Helena Rowland replaces Jones in the No. 13 jersey.
Loughborough Lightning back row Lilli Ives Campion is set to make her debut off the bench in the absence of Rosie Galligan, Ward and Cath O’Donnell, while prop Sarah Bern returns after missing the Six Nations with a knee injury.
“We are excited to get started after the girls have shown themselves to be exceptional in raising their standards and developing their resilience in pre-season,” said Head Coach Mitchell. “The girls just want to play, and we have chosen to welcome world-class opponents to challenge us and improve our game ahead of the WXV and an exciting 2025.”
Red Roses team to face France
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 43 caps)
14 Abby Dow (Women’s Trailfinders, 45 caps)
13 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 29 caps)
12 Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 22 caps)
11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 38 caps)
10 Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 30 caps)
9 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 72 caps)
1 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
2 Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 74 caps)
3 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 30 caps)
4 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 53 caps)
5 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
6 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 104 caps) – captain
8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)
Replacements
16 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)
17 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 15 caps)
18 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
19 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, not selected)
20 Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 65 caps)
21 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 21 caps)
22 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 49 caps)
23 Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 111 caps)
