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The Red Roses will be without assistant coach Sarah Hunter at the upcoming WXV tournament as the former England captain prepares to give birth to her first child.
Hunter has overseen England’s defense since taking up a position in John Mitchell’s side after wrapping up her record-breaking career last year.
Capped 141 times for her country, the 38-year-old helped England to victory at the inaugural WXV in New Zealand last autumn before winning a sixth successive Women’s Six Nations title earlier this year.
Mitchell will be without her defense coach in Canada, with Hunter confirming an October due date on social media while announcing her pregnancy in July.
It is understood there are currently no plans to provide maternity cover to the former number eight, with existing England staff expected to carry out her duties.
Attack coach Lou Meadows, forwards coach Louis Deacon and scrum consultant Nathan Catt – who has worked extensively with the Red Roses’ frontline this year – are expected to travel for the tournament, which begins on September 29.
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 match at Kingsholm on Saturday before a marquee clash with the Black Ferns at Allianz Stadium (formerly Twickenham) next week.
Mitchell will confirm a 30-man squad for the tournament on September 18 after the two warm-up matches.
Two Red Roses players have benefited from a unique maternity policy negotiated by the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) which entitles them to 26 weeks with full salary. Abbie Ward returned to international duty after giving birth, while Vickii Cornborough has now retired from Test rugby.
Mitchell made minimal changes to her team to face France in Gloucester, with injured Sadia Kabeya and Meg Jones the only two players to drop out of the starting line-up that secured a grand slam for Bordeaux in April.
Maddie Feaunati makes her first start on the flank in Kabeya’s absence, while versatile Helena Rowland replaces Jones in the 13 jersey.
Loughborough Lightning fullback Lilli Ives Campion is set to make her debut from the bench in the absence of Rosie Galligan, Ward and Cath O’Donnell, while prop Sarah Bern returns after missing the Six Nations in due to a knee injury.
“We are excited to get started after the girls demonstrated excellence by raising their standards and increasing their resilience in pre-season,” said head coach Mitchell. “The girls just want to play, and we chose to host world-class opponents so we can be challenged and improve our game ahead of WXV and an exciting 2025.”
The Red Roses team will play against 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)
Substitutes
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)
