Red Roses name team for first World Cup warm-up with one starting debut

Abi Burton will make her first start for the Red Roses on Saturday when they take on Spain at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in the first of their World Cup warm-up matches.

The Trailfinders Women flanker made two appearances for her country during this year’s Six Nations, scoring two tries from the bench against Wales before making another appearance as a replacement against France.

The 25-year-old will pack down in the back-row alongside captain Marlie Packer and No.8 Maddie Feaunati.

Olympian Jade Shekells, who also made her debut in this year’s Six Nations, will start at inside centre alongside vice-captain Megan Jones.

Fixture

Women's Internationals

England Women

97 - 7

Full-time

Spain Women

All Stats and Data

This match will serve as one of two auditions, with a match against France at Stade Guy Boniface next week as well, for the players to impress John Mitchell and stake a claim to start in the World Cup opener against the USA in Sunderland on August 22.

The match – and next week’s encounter with France – will be co-streamed on England Rugby’s YouTube channel and BBC iPlayer.

Red Roses XV
15 Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 8 caps)
14 Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 39 caps)
13 Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 25 caps)
12 Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury, 2 caps)
11 Jess Breach (Saracens, 45 caps)
10 Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 57 caps)
9 Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 31 caps)
1 Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 13 caps)
2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
3 Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 71 caps)
4 Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 24 caps)
5 Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 2 caps)
6 Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)
7 Marlie Packer (Saracens, 110 caps) – captain
8 Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps)

Replacements
16 May Campbell (Saracens, 3 caps)
17 Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
18 Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 40 caps)
19 Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 63 caps)
20 Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 21 caps)
21 Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 80 caps)
22 Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)
23 Abby Dow (Unattached, 52 caps)