The WXV Global Series rugby gets under way with world champions England, unbeaten in 2026, welcoming the hosts of Women's Rugby World Cup 2029, Australia, to the CorPacq Stadium in Greater Manchester, to kick off the new-look tournament.
The action then moves to Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium, where interim head coach Dave Butcher's Scotland face a tough first-up challenge against WRWC 2025 finalists Canada, before France face New Zealand, who beat them to third place in last September’s World Cup, at Lyon’s Matmut Stadium de Gerland.
England v Australia
John Mitchell’s England and an Australian side now led by director of women’s high performance Tim Walsh and an interim coaching staff, last met in the pool stage of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
The Red Roses, en route to the title, scored seven tries in a 47-7 win at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium back then, and they return to competitive action this weekend looking to extend a 38-match winning run with a side featuring five changes to the one that completed the Women’s Six Nations’ Grand Slam against France in Bordeaux.
One of those changes sees fly-half Holly Aitchison return for her 50th cap, while centre Tatyana Heard and scrum-half Natasha Hunt are back from injury, as is Morwenna Talling, who’s on a hugely experienced bench.
Replacement hooker Bryony Field is set for a debut run-out in a senior England shirt. Hannah Botterman is also on the bench for her first appearance since the WRWC 2025 final.
Like his opposite number, Walsh has made a number of changes to the Australia side that lost to New Zealand last time out, with debuts in store for starting winger Amelia Whitaker and Queensland Reds’ captain Jemma Bemrose, who has been named on the bench.
Caitlyn Halse returns from injury to claim the 15 jersey, while Georgina Friedrichs and Faliki Pohiva are also in the starting line-up after a spell on the sidelines and Pia Tapsell starts for the first time at blindside.
England: Ellie Kildunne; Mia Venner, Megan Jones (capt), Tatyana Heard, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Mackenzie Carson, May Campbell, Sarah Bern; Delaney Burns, Lilli Ives Campion; Abi Burton, Sadia Kabeya, Maddie Feaunati. Replacements: Bryony Field, Hannah Botterman, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Marlie Packer, Lucy Packer, Zoe Harrison, Helena Rowland.
Australia: Caitlyn Halse; Amelia Whitaker, Georgina Friedrichs, Faitala Moleka, Faitala Moleka; Waiaria Ellis, Samantha Wood; Brianna Hoy, Brittany Merlo, Faliki Pohiva; Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard; Pia Tapsell, Lily Bone, Siokapesi Palu Sekona (capt) Replacements: Tania Naden, Allana Sikimeti, Eva Karpani, Jemma Bemrose, Piper Duck, Emily Chancellor, Tia Hinds, Cecilia Smith.
Scotland v Canada
Scotland welcome Canada to Hive Stadium in Edinburgh this Saturday, aiming to begin the competition on the right foot against last year’s World Cup finalists.
The hosts will have exciting outside backs at their disposal, with Chloe Rollie, Rhona Lloyd and Shona Campbell all starting. Rachel Malcolm returns to the team after missing Scotland’s final three games of the Women’s Six Nations and starts alongside Evie Gallagher and Becky Boyd in the loose forward trio.
Glasgow Warriors’ Ceitidh Ainsworth and Exeter Chiefs’ Katie Buchanan could make their Scotland debuts after being named on the bench, while Adelle Ferrie comes in for injured Edinburgh back-row Alex Stewart.
Canada head coach Kévin Rouet has made more than a couple of changes since their last game in April. Gabrielle Senft will don the number eight jersey in place of Sophie de Goede, who has been named as a replacement, while Kiki Idowu has won her place in the starting team ahead of Emily Tuttosi.
The Rugby World Cup 2025 finalists have three strong finishers in World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year Sophie de Goede, Emily Tuttosi and Justine Pelletier, with all expected to take the field after the break. Alexandra Tessier will captain Canada, while Olivia Apps will marshal the backline from scrum-half.
Two-time Olympian Charity Williams earns her first call-up to Canada 15s, after starring for her country in the HSBC SVNS over several seasons. Savannah Bauder is also set to make her debut, while Sophie McDonald could earn her first cap if called on from the bench.
Canada have dominated the fixture, winning seven of the eight matches played between the two nations since their first meeting in 1994. Scotland’s only win came in the shield final of Women’s Rugby World Cup 1994, when they won 11-5.
Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Rachel Phillips, Meryl Smith, Shona Campbell; Helen Nelson, Rhea Clarke; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke; Emma Wassell, Hollie Cunningham, Rachel Malcolm (capt), Evie Gallagher, Becky Boyd. Replacements: Aicha Sutcliffe, Anne Young, Molly Poolman, Eva Donaldson, Adelle Ferrie, Ceitidh Ainsworth, Hannah Ramsay, Katie Buchanan.
Canada: Claire Gallagher; Fancy Bermudez, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier (capt), Charity Williams; Taylor Perry, Olivia Apps; Brittany Kassil, Kiki Idowu, Daleaka Menin; Rachel Smith, Laetitia Royer, Julia Omokhuale, Lizzie Gibson, Gabrielle Senft. Replacements: Emily Tuttosi, Sophie McDonald, Brooke Rempel, Sophie de Goede, Pamphinette Buisa, Justine Pelletier, Savannah Bauder, Asia Hogan-Rochester.
France v New Zealand
There’s a strong France Sevens presence to head coach François Ratier’s first WXV Global Series squad, with Kelly Arbey and Léa Murie out on the wings, and Lili Dezou set for her 15s international debut alongside Teani Feleu in midfield, relegating the returning Gabrielle Vernier to the bench for her first international after injury.
The absences of regular captain Manae Feleu and Madoussou Fall Raclot have prompted Ratier to field an inexperienced second-row for Les Bleues’ WXV Global Series opener against New Zealand at Matmut Stadium de Gerland in Lyon, with debutant Julia Grosz at four and Siobhan Soqeta, who wins her sixth cap, at five.
Chloé Jacquet, meanwhile, has been given the nod at full-back, with Women’s Six Nations Breakthrough Player of the Tournament Pauline Barrat ruled out until 2027 because of a serious knee injury.
Experienced scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus captains the side on the field as France face the Black Ferns for the first of four meetings during the WXV Global Series, and the first time since the Bronze Final at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
New Zealand head coach Whitney Hansen has made six changes to the side that beat the Springbok Women 52-20, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, despite four yellow cards and a 17-7 penalty count.
The coach namechecked backrow Layla Sae, back from an ACL injury and centre Alena Saili, who is set for her first Black Ferns’ outing since 2018, and welcomed their return to the matchday squad.
Sae, Hansen said, had demonstrated, “great determination and resilience to get back into the team and we’re looking forward to seeing what she does this weekend”.
France: Chloé Jacquet; Kelly Arbey, Lili Dezou, Teani Feleu, Léa Murie; Carla Arbez, Pauline Bourdon Sansus (capt); Ambre Mwayembe, Mathilde Lazarko, Assia Khalfaoui; Julia Grosz, Siobhan Soqeta; Léa Champon, Charlotte Escudero, Axelle Berthoumieu. Replacements: Élisa Riffonneau, Yllana Brosseau, Annaëlle Deshaye, Cloé Correa, Khoudedia Cissokho, Alexandra Chambon, Lina Queyroi, Gabrielle Vernier.
New Zealand: Braxton Sorensen-McGee; Mererangi Paul, Amy Du Plessis, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, Justine McGregor; Hannah King, Maia Joseph; Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby (capt), Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu; Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Laura Bayfield; Mia Anderson, Elinor-Plum King, Liana Mikaele-Tu’u. Replacements: Atlanta Lolohea, Maddison Robinson, Santo Taumata, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Layla Sae, Tara Turner, Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, Alena Saili.
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