The Women’s Rugby Super Series returns for the first time in three years on Friday as the five highest ranked teams in the world go head-to-head in San Diego.

Hosts USA kick off the action at the Chula Vista Elite Training Center against England, as the Women’s Eagles go in search of a first win over the Red Roses in 28 years.

It is then the turn of Canada, who won the last edition of the then four-team competition in 2016, who face Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 winners New Zealand. France complete the expanded line-up and have a bye on match-day one.

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The opening round of Women's Rugby Super Series will be followed by a three-day Women's High Performance Academy workshop, bringing together 18 high performance managers from 16 unions – 11 of them female – alongside a host of guest speakers.

England v USA

Amber Reed will win her 50th cap when England taken on hosts USA on match-day one in San Diego. The Bristol centre, a Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 winner, made her debut against France in 2012 and has since amassed 124 points for her country. At the other end of the experience scale, scrum-half Claudia Macdonald will make her first England start following four appearances off the bench, while replacement front-rows Chloe Edwards and Clara Nielson are both set to make their debuts from the bench.

“She [Reed] is one of the most gifted and all-round talented players we’ve got. She’s a great person to have around as she’s very calm, has a great rugby brain, she understands the game and knows how to deliver on-field performances and get the critical messages across - she knows how to get the best out of the players around her,” said coach Simon Middleton.

Six Nations Grand Slam winners England, who will be captained by Abbie Scott in the absence of Sarah Hunter, could reclaim top spot in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings for the first time in almost two years if they win and New Zealand lose by more than 15 points against Canada.

However, the USA will be determined to secure only a second victory against England, and first since they beat them in the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup final in Cardiff in April 1991, on Friday.

To that end, coach Rob Cain has included three debutants – Ashlee Byrge, Eti Haungatau and Bulou Mataitoga – in his starting line-up while the uncapped trio of Charli Jacoby, Olivia Ortiz and Katana Howard have been named on the bench.

There are also test returns for Hope Rogers and Asinate Serevi, daughter of Fiji legend Waisale, in a team captained by Kate Zackary and featuring sevens stars Alev Kelter and Kris Thomas, fresh from winning a first ever title on the HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series in Biarritz and securing qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

Cain, who knows a number of England’s players from his time as Saracens Women's head coach, is looking forward to kicking off the Super Series.

“It’s been a great few days and weeks ahead of our first opportunity this Friday,” he said. “We are all looking forward to the challenges that England will present to us. We know how dangerous they consistently are and proved again with their Six Nations success and being ranked second in the world.”

Canada v New Zealand

Canada have been handed a difficult opening assignment with New Zealand and will surrender third spot in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings to France if they slip to defeat.

Sandro Fiorino’s side have never beaten the Black Ferns in 14 attempts, dating back to 1991, and head into Friday’s match eight rating points behind the world champions in the rankings.

Forino has stated that he intends to use the Super Series to evaluate the strength of his squad two years out from the next Women’s Rugby World Cup, but he has been able to call on experience for the meeting with the 2021 hosts.

Nine of the 23 players selected for match-day one, which will again be captained by veteran forward Laura Russell, were part of the squad that won the Super Series in Utah in 2016 while winger Elissa Alarie – who did not feature three years ago – has appeared at two Women’s Rugby World Cups, including 2014 when Canada reached the final. 

New Zealand, who have topped the rankings since 21 August, 2017, have named an experienced starting XV for the match in San Diego with centre Carla Hohepa and prop Toka Natua returning to make their first appearances since the WRWC 2017 final in Ireland.

Number eight Pia Tapsell will make her test debut against Canada, while the uncapped trio of Luka Connor, Karli Faneva and Arihana Marino-Tauhinu have all been named on the bench by coach Glenn Moore. Les Elder takes on the captaincy with the four-time WRWC winner Fiao'o Faamausili having retired from international rugby.

“To be named first up and straight into it is pretty awesome, quite surreal really because I’m just kind of speechless about the whole thing,” an emotional Tapsell said. “For me the haka’s probably going to be one of the most emotional moments. I know for me my nana and koroua (grandfather) are really proud of me to be here.”

Moore added: “We know Canada has one of the best scrums – if not the best – scrum in the world and we know they like to be physical. They’ve certainly got pace, so we expect them to bring a lot to the game. We’ve recovered well from our travel and have been preparing for this for months now. Everyone can’t wait to get out there and play.”