Chiefs quartet named in training squad

In what is a big year ahead for the Red Roses - including the Rugby World Cup which starts on August 22, 2025 - Head Coach John Mitchell has certainly picked a powerful mix of talent in his 40-strong squad.

Among those included are Maisy Allen, Katie Buchanan, Maddie Fe’aunati and Nancy McGillivray, whilst fellow Chief, Claudia MacDonald is set to spend two days in camp before returning back to Sandy Park to continue her rehab on a neck injury.

Mitchell’s side ended a successful 2023/24 campaign by earning a third consecutive Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam in April, adding to the inaugural WXV 1 title secured in New Zealand six months previous.

England will spend five weeks as a collective before attacking the challenge of Six Nations runners-up France and World Champions New Zealand in September.

The squad then head out to Canada for WXV 1 where they will face the hosts, USA and the Black Ferns once again.

Mitchell said: “Our first camp of 2024/25 allows us to reset what we stand for and how we will carry ourselves as Red Roses moving forward.

“Our game is working, and we have an opportunity to dial it up again. There is a massive amount of room to improve individually and evolve our game over the next five weeks.”

As well as MacDonald, Sarah Beckett, Grace Clifford, Lizzie Hanlon. Sadia Kabeya, Connie Powell and Mia Venner will also attend the first two days of camp before returning to their their clubs.

Megan Jones and Ellie Kildunne, who are currently with the GB Rugby 7s women's squad, will return following the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.

Red Roses Pre-Season Camp 1 Squad

Forwards

Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)

Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)

Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 15 caps)

Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 8 caps)

Liz Crake (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)

Laura Keates (Loughborough Lightning, 62 caps)

Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 30 caps)

Simi Pam (Bristol Bears, uncapped)

Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)

May Campbell (Saracens, 1 cap)

Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 74 caps)

Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 53 caps)

Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)

Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)

Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)

Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)

Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)

Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)

Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 65 caps)

Steph Else (Gloucester-Hartpury, uncapped)

Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)

Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 67 caps)

Marlie Packer (Saracens, 104 caps)

Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)

Backs

Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 72 caps)

Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 21 caps)

Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)

Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 30 caps)

Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 49 caps)

Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 22 caps)

Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)

Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears, uncapped)

Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 111 caps)

Jess Breach (Saracens, 38 caps)

Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)

Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 45 caps)

Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 6 caps)

Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughorough Lightning, uncapped)

Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 45 caps)

Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 29 caps)

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