The England Women’s team are back in action this weekend, as they begin a two-match series warm-up against Canada. The Red Roses will look to build the all-important momentum, ahead of the inaugural WXV1 tournament that stars up in New Zealand next month.
In a re-match of last year’s Rugby World Cup semi-final, England and Canada will first clash in Exeter’s Sandy Park this Saturday 23rd, before the second fixture takes place at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium on Saturday 30th September. England triumphed 26-19 on the road to the Rugby World Cup Final last November, with the Red Roses wanting to secure two more victories ahead of their return to New Zealand.
The matches will not be shown on television, despite the BBC and ITV both reportedly being offered the rights to show them (Telegraph reports). Instead, you can catch the games through a livestream on the RFU’s YouTube Channel, as a new era of the Red Roses begins. After hanging up her boots in her hometown of Newcastle, as England’s all-time record appearance holder with 138 test caps, Sarah Hunter has joined up in the new-look coaching staff.
She will be joined by former England men’s Assistant Coach John Mitchell, once he returns from the 2023 Rugby World Cup from his current role as Japan’s Defence Coach. Mitchell took over the helm of the Red Roses following the retirement of long-term Head Coach Simon Middleton, after England won the 2023 Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam. Middleton had the perfect send-off after his eight years in charge, as England won the tournament for the fifth consecutive year, in front of a record attendance for a women’s rugby match at Twickenham (58,498).
After the two-match series against Canada, England will begin their WXV1 campaign with their opening round match against Australia on Friday October 20th in Dunedin (07:00am KO UK). The Red Roses will then complete the trilogy against Canada, when they take on the North Americans on Friday October 27th (07:00am KO UK). England’s final match of the WXV1 is a re-match of last year’s Rugby World Cup Final, as they battle it out against the Black Ferns of New Zealand on Saturday November 4th (07:00am KO UK).
England fans will be sure to set their alarms for these Southern Hemisphere matches, and add to their busy rugby calendar with the Rugby World Cup in full swing. The time-zone differences means that the WXV fixtures won’t clash with any of the action in France, with an exciting competition set to get underway in New Zealand.
