Red Roses Announce Squad for 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup

It’s a remarkable comeback for the 35-year-old centre. Scarratt, the all-time leading points scorer in women’s rugby, spent over a year sidelined by a serious neck injury that cast doubts over her playing future. Now, she’s not just back – she’s central to England’s bid to lift their first World Cup since 2014.

Head coach John Mitchell is backing proven talent, with 24 of the 32 players boasting World Cup experience. Scrum-half Natasha Hunt also returns to the fold after her controversial omission from the 2022 squad.

Between Scarratt and Hunt, the pair boast nearly 200 caps – and their leadership will be vital as England prepare to go all the way on home soil.

England warm up against Spain at Leicester’s Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday, August 2. Then, it’s down to business – kicking off the tournament against the USA at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on Friday, August 22 (7:30pm KO).

Next up: Samoa in Northampton (August 30), before a blockbuster group stage clash with Australia in Brighton on Saturday, September 6.

Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 63 caps), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 66 caps), Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 71 caps), Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 56 caps), Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps), May Campbell (Saracens, 3 caps), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 21 caps), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 13 caps), Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 83 caps), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps), Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 24 caps), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps), Sadia Kabeya, (Loughborough Lightning, 21 caps), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 75 caps), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 40 caps), Marlie Packer (Saracens, 110 caps), Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 22 caps), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 74 caps)

Backs: Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 40 caps), Jess Breach (Saracens, 45 caps), Abby Dow (Unattached, 52 caps), Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 57 caps), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 29 caps), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 80 caps), Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 25 caps), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 52 caps), Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 35 caps), Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 31 caps), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 39 caps), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 118 caps), Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps), Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 8 caps)

England vs USA, Sunderland, 7.30pm

Australia vs Samoa, Salford, 12pm

Scotland vs Wales, Salford, 2.45pm

Canada vs Fiji, York, 5.30pm

France vs Italy, Exeter, 8.15pm

Ireland vs Japan, Northampton, 12pm

South Africa vs Brazil, Northampton, 2.45pm

New Zealand vs Spain, York, 5.30pm

Canada vs Wales, Salford, 12pm

Scotland vs Fiji, Salford, 2.45pm

England vs Samoa, Northampton, 5pm

USA vs Australia, York, 7.30pm

Ireland vs Spain, Northampton, 12pm

New Zealand vs Japan, Exeter, 2pm

Italy vs South Africa, York, 3.30pm

France vs Brazil, Exeter, 4.45pm

Canada vs Scotland, Exeter, 12pm

USA vs Samoa, York, 1.30pm

Wales vs Fiji, Exeter, 2.45pm

England vs Australia, Brighton, 5pm

Japan vs Spain, York, 12pm

Italy vs Brazil, Northampton, 2pm

New Zealand vs Ireland, Brighton, 2.45pm

France vs South Africa, Northampton, 4.45pm

Quarter-final 1: Winner Pool C vs Runner-up Pool D, Exeter, 12.30pm

Quarter-final 2: Winner Pool B vs Runner-up Pool A, Bristol, 4pm

Quarter-final 3: Winner Pool D vs Runner-up Pool C, Exeter, 12.30pm

Quarter-final 4: Winner Pool A vs Runner-up Pool B, Bristol, 4pm

Semi-final 1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF2, Bristol, 7pm

Semi-final 2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4, Bristol, 3.30pm

Bronze final: Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2, London, 12.30pm

Final: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2, London, 4pm