A record crowd is expected at BMO Field in Toronto for the second of three meetings in WXV Global Series 2026 between Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 finalists Canada and England, with memories of the epic 26-26 draw at Exeter’s Sandy Park a month ago still very fresh.
Australia and Scotland clash in Sydney, while the Italian Azzurre are determined to return to winning ways, though they will have to overcome a USA side brimming with confidence. New Zealand and France wrap up this weekend’s round in Hamilton.
Canada v England
Asia Hogan-Rochester and captain Sophie de Goede return to Canada’s starting line-up after missing Canada’s defeat against France last time out, as does Alysha Corrigan – who’s back in the run-on side for the first time since last year’s Women's Rugby World Cup, after injury ruled her out of the European leg of the WXV Global Series.
Taylor Perry and vice-captain Alex Tessier trade positions, with the former wearing 10 for the first time since 2025. Brittany Kassil is an option off the bench again after serving a two-match suspension.
England have hooker Amy Cokayne back after she missed the European leg of the WXV Global Series with injury. Club teammate Tatyana Heard is also named in the starting line-up, while loose-head prop Hannah Botterman and flanker Abi Burton are the other changes to the team that started the last-gasp victory over New Zealand at Allianz Stadium last month.
Demelza Short has been named among the replacements for the first time in the WXV Global Series while back row Sadia Kabeya returns to the 23 after missing England’s match thrilling late victory over New Zealand.
Canada (15-9; 1-8): Savannah Bauder; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds, Taylor Perry, Asia Hogan-Rochester; Alexandra Tessier, Olivia Apps; Mikiela Nelson, Kiki Idowu, DaLeaka Menin; Sophie de Goede (capt), Laetitia Royer; Rachel Smith, Julia Omokhuale, Lizzie Gibson. Replacements: Emily Tuttosi, Brittany Kassil, Brooke Rempel, Fabiola Forteza, Pamphinette Buisa, Gabrielle Senft, Justine Pelletier, Shoshanah Seumanutafa.
England: Ellie Kildunne; Jess Breach, Meg Jones (capt), Tatyana Heard, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald; Zoe Harrison, Lucy Packer; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cockayne, Sarah Bern; Morwenna Talling, Lilli Ives Campion; Abi Burton, Alex Matthews, Maddie Feaunati. Replacements: Bryony Field, Mackenzie Carson, Maud Muir, Demelza Short, Sadia Kabeya, Natasha Hunt, Helena Rowland, Emma Sing.
Australia v Scotland
Australia and Scotland head to Sydney this weekend to renew rivalries after the Wallaroos enjoyed a 30-10 win in Edinburgh a few weeks ago.
The hosts made a single change to the starting line-up as Maya Stewart returns to the team after missing her side’s first three WXV Global Series games due to injury. The Australians will be without Caitlyn Halse this weekend, with Desiree Miller shifting to full-back, while Amelia Whitaker and Stewart are on the wings.
Fly-half Waiaria Ellis will be running the show again after putting on stellar performances against France and Scotland, in which she gave her side an attacking edge that led to four tries. In the pack, the only major change is a swap between Siokapesi Palu Sekona and Pia Tapsell, with the former now taking the blindside flanker role and the latter wearing the number-eight jersey.
Prop Eva Karpani is expected to earn her 49th cap from the bench. Allana Sikimeti, Piper Simons, and Cecilia Smith are the other new additions, replacing Martha Fua, Tia Hinds, and Ava Wereta in the squad.
Scotland’s interim coach Dave Butcher opted to make two changes, adding Katie Buchanan and Leia Brebner-Holden to the starting lineup, replacing Shona Campbell and Ceitidh Ainsworth who will look to add value from the bench.
The forward pack remains unchanged, with Anne Young, Lana Skeldon and Elliann Clarke in the front row, second-row pairing of Holland Bogan and Sarah Bonar, and the back-row trio of Rachel Malcolm, Rachel McLachlan and Evie Gallagher.
Scotland have never beaten Australia. Their closest they ever came to making history was in 2022, when they lost by two in a pool match at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021.
Australia (15-9; 1-8): Desiree Miller; Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Faitala Moleka, Amelia Whitaker; Waiaria Ellis, Samantha Wood; Brianna Hoy, Brittany Merlo, Faliki Pohiva; Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard; Siokapesi Palu Sekona (capt), Piper Duck, Pia Tapsell. Replacements: Tania Naden, Allana Sikimeti, Eva Karpani, Jemma Bemrose, Emily Chancellor, Lily Bone, Piper Simons, Cecilia Smith.
Scotland: Hannah Ramsay; Rhona Lloyd, Evie Willis, Meryl Smith, Katie Buchanan; Helen Nelson, Leaia Brebner-Holden; Anne Young, Lana Skeldon, Elliann Clarke; Emma Wassell, Holland Bogan; Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (capt), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Replacements: Aicha Sutcliffe, Leah Bartlett, Molly Poolman, Hollie Cunningham, Eva Donaldson, Ceitidh Ainsworth, Shona Campbell, Chloe Rollie.
New Zealand v France
New Zealand head coach Whitney Hansen has made seven changes to the side that lost a thrilling encounter against England at Allianz Stadium in September.
Second-row Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu starts alongside Maiakawanakaulani Roos, while Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Elinor-Plum King and Kaipo Olsen-Baker form the loose forwards trio. Georgia Ponsonby, meanwhile, has Chryss Viliko and Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu at her side in the front row
Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a has been named on the wing in the only backs change to the starting line-up from the defeat in London.
Ruahei Demant has been named on the bench after recovering from a calf injury sustained against South Africa. Vici-Rose Green joins the 23 with Ngano Tavake set to feature in her second test, alongside Demant and winger Mererangi Paul.
France’s head coach François Ratier, meanwhile, has opted for development, naming four debutants in the 23 for scrum-half Alexandra Chambon’s first match as captain.
Ylona Avril wins her first cap in the second-row alongside three-cap ‘veteran’ Julia Grosz; while Toulon’s Marion Latonnelle has been named on the bench alongside Toulouse teenagers Lylou Pedussaud and Charlie Gauyat. Meanwhile, Morgane Bourgeois returns to the starting line-up to add kicking solidity from full-back.
“We have a young team, with an average age of 24, and very few national team appearances,” Ratier said at the squad announcement. “If we look at it in the context of our cycle, this is the right time to give these girls a chance.
“With this group, if everyone gives their best performance, we can go for wins in New Zealand. Sure, we’re not the favorites, but that’s exactly why it should allow us to play freely, with less pressure than if we were a team with an average of 60 caps, three months before the World Cup.”
New Zealand (15-9; 1-8): Braxton Sorensen-McGee; Shyrah Tuliau-Tua’a, Amy Du Plessis, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt, Ayesha Leti-I’iga; Hannah King, Maia Joseph; Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby (co-capt), Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu; Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu; Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, Elinor-Plum King, Kaipo Olsen-Baker. Replacements: Vici-Rose Green, Ngano Tavake, Santo Taumata, Laura Bayfield, Layla Sae, Tara Turner, Ruahei Demant (co-capt), Mererangi Paul
France: Morgane Bourgeois; Marie Ibañez, Aubane Rousset, Teani Feleu, Léa Murie; Elodie Fernandez, Alexandra Chambon (capt); Annaëlle Deshaye, Élisa Riffonneau, Assia Khalfaoui, Julia Grosz, Ylona Avril, Axelle Berthoumieu, Mouna Toure, Léa Champon. Replacements: Mathilde Lazarko, Amalia Bazola Allieres, Marion Latonnelle, Lou Roboam, Elsa Peyras, Lylou Pedussaud, Lina Queyroi, Charlie Gauyat
USA v Italy
Mansfield, Texas, will welcome USA and Italy for the closing game of this round of the WXV Global Series. With an unbeaten run to protect, USA Women’s Eagles head coach Jack Hanratty has opted for three changes to the starting 15, bringing in flanker Kapoina Bailey and outside backs Bulou Mataitoga and Ashley Cowdrey.
The forward pack remaining almost completely unchanged is no surprise, since it was one of the cornerstones of the Eagles’ astonishing comeback in Cardiff. Hat-trick hero Freda Tafuna will again operate from the back of the scrum, while Hope Rogers, Kathryn Treder and Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele are expected to take control of the scrummaging battle early.
A highlight is the 10-12 combination between Nina Mason and Bella Vogel, which has had a massive impact on the USA’s game, injecting an enticing ball flow that played a role in the win over Wales. As for the replacements, Paige Stathopoulos, Mona Lisa Tupou, Kate Zackary, Taina Tukuafu, and Katana Howard join Alivia Leatherman, Erica Jarrell-Searcy, and Hann Humphreys on the bench.
As for the visiting side, Italy have made multiple changes for matchday 23, starting in the pack.
Silvia Turani and Alessandra Frangipani are set to miss Saturday's game, giving Vittoria Zanette and Giulia Cavina a chance to shine in the starting team. Mascia Jelic trades places with Alissa Ranuccini in the loose-forward trio, playing alongside Francesca Sgorbini and Elisa Giordano.
Francesca Granzotto is the key addition to the backline, with the outside back securing a starting spot on the left wing after coming in from the bench against South Africa. The centre pairing has undergone a complete reshuffle as Beatrice Rigoni and Alyssa D’Incà start, while Sara Mannini will have to wait until the second-half to give her team an extra boost.
The last time the two sides met, the Azzurre had the last laugh. In a match played at Athlone Sports Stadium in Cape Town, the Italians secured a 30–8 win, levelling the all-time head-to-head record between the two.
USA (15-9; 1-8): Ashley Cowdrey; Bulou Mataitoga, Emily Henrich, Bella Vogel, Telesi Uhatafe; Nina Mason, Abigail Paton; Hope Rogers, Kathryn Treder, Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele, Hallie Taufoou, Rachel Ehrecke, Kapoina Bailey, Georgie Perris-Redding (co-capt), Freda Tafuna. Replacements: Paige Stathopoulos, Alivia Leatherman, Mona Lisa Tupou, Erica Jarrell-Searcy (co-capt), Hann Humphreys, Kate Zackary, Taina Tukuafu, Katana Howard.
Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (capt); Aura Muzzo, Alyssa D’Incà, Beatrice Rigoni, Francesca Granzotto; Emma Stevanin, Alia Bitonci, Vittoria Zanette, Vittoria Vecchini, Alessia Pilani, Giulia Cavina, Giordana Duca, Francesca Sgorbini, Mascia Jelic, Elisa Giordano. Replacements: Silvia Fent, Giorgia Cuoghi, Gaia Dosi, Elettra Costantini, Alissa Ranunccini, Sofia Stefan, Sara Mannini, Gaia Buso.