Loughborough Lightning quartet Helena Rowland, Lilli Ives Campion, Sadia Kabeya and Emily Scarratt have all been named in John Mitchell’s 32-player England squad for the upcoming 2025 Rugby World Cup.
The tournament is set to be the biggest in women’s rugby history and marks a first World Cup competition for 21-year-old Ives Campion, who is among the eight Red Roses set to make their World Cup debuts next month.
The 24 other players named in the squad includes Loughborough’s Kabeya and Rowland who will both make their second appearances on the World Cup stage, while centre Scarratt is named as the veteran of the squad as she embarks on her fifth World Cup hoping to add to her 118 England caps to date.
The Red Roses will embark on their home tournament as they take on USA in the north at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on the opening night of the tournament (Friday 22 August, kick-off: 7.30pm BST).
Mitchell’s side then head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for their second match on Sunday 30 August (kick-off: 5pm BST), where they will take on Samoa in Round 2.
And England round off the Pool stage agains Australia, with a trip to the south coast to run out at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium on Saturday 6 September (kick-off: 5pm).
“It is a rare and awesome opportunity for this group to represent the Red Roses at a home World Cup,” Red Roses head coach Mitchell said.
“The selection process is never easy. It’s been a thorough two-year process to select the right blend of positional cover, skill, mindset and connection – we believe this is a squad that can win the World Cup.
“Every experience and challenge has brought the 32 to this point in their life and career, and they have all earned their place. They should be proud of the opportunity to create history together whilst knowing we have to earn the right to progress throughout the World Cup.
“We’re excited by what’s to come and we’ll continue to work hard into the tournament with our focus on preparing for our opening match against USA in less than a month’s time.”
Red Roses squad for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup
FORWARDS (18)
Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 63 caps)**
Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)*
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 71 caps)**
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)*
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)
May Campbell (Saracens, 3 caps)
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 caps)
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 13 caps)
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 83 caps)**
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps)
Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 24 caps)*
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 21 caps)*
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 75 caps)***
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 40 caps)*
Marlie Packer (Saracens, 110 caps)***
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 22 caps)*
Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 74 caps)**
BACKS (14)
Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)*
Jess Breach (Saracens, 45 caps)*
Abby Dow (Unattached, 52 caps)*
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 57 caps)**
Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 29 caps)*
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 80 caps)**
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 25 caps)*
Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 52 caps)*
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 35 caps)*
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 31 caps)*
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 39 caps)*
Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 118 caps)****
Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 8 caps)
*denotes number of Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments played
England’ 2025 Women’s World Cup Pool Matches
- England vs USA – Friday 22 August (kick-off: 7.30pm) – Stadium of Light, Sunderland
- England vs Samoa – Saturday 30 August (kick-off: 5pm) – cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
- England vs Australia – Saturday 6 September (kick-off: 5pm) – Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton
