LONDON (Reuters) -England coach John Mitchell has named a vastly experienced squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil starting next month as the hot favourites aim to underline their dominance of the sport with the prize that so agonisingly eluded them in 2022.
The squad of 32 named on Thursday boasts a combined 1,374 international caps, with 24 players who have previously competed at a World Cup.
Zoe Aldcroft will captain her country in her third World Cup, supported by 2014 winner Marlie Packer and Olympian Megan Jones as vice captains.
Emily Scarratt, with 118 caps to her name, is set to compete in her fifth tournament having overcome a career-threatening neck injury, with Alex Matthews and Packer in line for their fourth.
Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati, Lilli Ives Campion, Jade Shekells and Emma Sing are all World Cup debutants.
Natasha Hunt was included, three years after her shock omission from the 2022 squad and having fought back to make herself first-choice scrumhalf again.
"It is a rare and awesome opportunity for this group to represent the Red Roses at a home World Cup," Mitchell said.
"It has been a thorough two-year process to select the right blend of positional cover, skill, mindset and connection.
"Every experience and challenge has brought the 32 to this point in their life and career, and they have all earned their place. They should be proud of the opportunity to create history together."
Captain Aldcroft added: "To lead the team into a home Rugby World Cup is an incredible feeling. This group have a fantastic opportunity to inspire young boys and girls all over the country - it’s something we have spoken about as a collective and we’re relishing the chance to do so."
FAVOURITES
England are odds-on favourites for the competition on the back of an extraordinary run of 50 wins in 51 games with one defeat. Unfortunately for them that "one" was the incredible 2022 World Cup final when New Zealand snatched a last-minute England lineout - having not contested one all match - as England sought a match-winning try having eschewed a kick at goal that would have tied the scores.
That was the sixth time they have lost in the final - five to New Zealand - with their two wins coming in 1994 and 2014. Their last defeat in any match before the 2022 final was also to New Zealand in 2019.
After a warm-up match against Spain in Leicester on August 2, England get the tournament underway against the United States under the lights in Sunderland on Friday, August 22.
The September 27 final at Twickenham has long been an 82,000 sellout.
England squad for Women’s Rugby World Cup:
Forwards (18)
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 (14)
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)
*denotes number of Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments played
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
