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The Red Roses will be without assistant coach Sarah Hunter at the upcoming WXV tournament with the former England captain set to give birth to her first child.
Hunter has overseen England’s defence since taking a position in John Mitchell’s staff after concluding her record-breaking career last year.
Capped 141 times for her country, the 38-year-old helped guide England to victory at the inaugural edition of WXV in New Zealand last autumn before a sixth successive Women’s Six Nations title was secured earlier this year.
Mitchell will be without his defence coach in Canada, with Hunter confirming a due date in October on social media when announcing her pregnancy in July.
It is understood that there are currently no plans to provide maternity cover for the former number eight, with England’s exisiting staff expected to cover her duties.
Attack coach Lou Meadows, fowards 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 29 September.
England face the United States, New Zealand and hosts Canada as they look to retain their WXV1 title. They meet France in their first warm-up fixture at Kingsholm on Saturday before a marquee clash with the Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium (formerly Twickenham) next week.
Mitchell will confirm a 30-player squad for the tournament on 18 September after both warm-up games.
Two Red Roses players have benefitted from a ground-breaking maternity policy negotiated by The Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) that entitles them to 26 weeks on full pay. Abbie Ward has returned to international duty after giving birth, while Vickii Cornborough has now retired from Test rugby.
Mitchell has made minimal changes to his side to face France in Gloucester, with the injured Sadia Kabeya and Meg Jones the only two players to drop out from the starting line-up that secured a grand slam in Bordeaux in April.
Maddie Feaunati makes her first start on the flank in the absence of Kabeya, while the versatile Helena Rowland deputises for Jones in the 13 shirt.
Loughborough Lightning lock Lilli Ives Campion is primed for a 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 due to a knee injury.
“We’re excited to get started after the girls being outstanding in raising their standards and growing their resilience in pre-season,” head coach Mitchell said. “The girls just want to play, and we have chosen to host world class opponents for us to be challenged and to improve our game heading into WXV and an exciting 2025.”
Red Roses team to play France
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 43 caps)
14 Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 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, uncapped)
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)
