Alex Matthews will captain the Red Roses for the first time when they take on USA in their WXV 1 opener in Vancouver at 8.30pm on Sunday.
Matthews, who is set for her 70th cap, leads a starting XV which also includes two international debutants in Bristol Bears centre Phoebe Murray and Loughborough Lightning wing Bo Westcombe-Evans.
Attack coach Lou Meadows said: “We have been building on our game for the past eight weeks towards our WXV opener against USA. This group of girls are excited for their opportunity to attack the tournament right from the start for the Red Roses this Sunday.
“We understand our reality and just want to get playing.”
Lucy Packer and Zoe Harrison link up in the half-back positions with Jess Breach, Emily Scarratt and Ellie Kildunne retaining their positions in the backline following the 24-12 warm-up win over New Zealand.
Flanker Georgia Brock starts while Rosie Galligan returns from injury to partner Abbie Ward in the second row.
The front row of Mackenzie Carson, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern remains the same and Morwenna Talling completes the forwards from blindside flanker.
England won last year’s inaugural WXV tournament, and they will go on to play New Zealand and Canada after Sunday’s opener.
Red Roses team to play USA
15 Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 45 caps)
14 Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)
13 Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 113 caps)
12 Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 40 caps)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 51 caps)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 23 caps)
1 Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 17 caps)
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 63 caps)
4 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)
5 Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
6 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 15 caps)
7 Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap)
8 Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 69 caps) – captain
Replacements
16 Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 76 caps)
17 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 8 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 32 caps)
19 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 55 caps)
20 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps)
21 Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)
22 Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 32 caps)
23 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 31 caps)
Welsh Rugby Union give 37 professional contracts to women players
The Welsh Rugby Union has issued new full-time professional contracts to 37 women players.
The move – which comes as Ioan Cunningham’s squad prepares to face Australia in the WXV2 tournament in South Africa this weekend – includes many extended two-year deals for the first time.
The WRU, who first introduced full-time deals for 12 of its players in January 2022 and subsequently increased that number to 25 for 2023, said the new agreement makes Wales one of the best-paid international women’s teams in the world game.
Among those retained under the new deal are squad captain Hannah Jones, 76-times capped hooker Carys Phillips, recent matchday skipper Kiera Bevan and Team GB sevens star Jasmine Joyce.
There are also deals for talented youngsters Nel Metcalfe, Sian Jones and Molly Reardon, as well as the likes of Lleucu George, Alex Callender, Abbie Fleming, Sisilia Tuipulotu and Alisha Butchers.
Wales recorded third-place finishes in the Women’s Six Nations Championship in 2022 and 2023, but picked up the wooden spoon this year with their only victory coming at home against Italy.
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