Red Roses v USA teams: England name unchanged XV as Ilona Maher makes World Cup debut
Ellie Kildunne (left) and Ilona Maher (right)
Red Roses boss John Mitchell has named an unchanged starting XV for their opener against the USA, while megastar Ilona Maher prepares for her World Cup bow.
The Olympic Sevens bronze medalist, who is the most followed rugby player in the world on social media, is among 11 World Cup debutants taking to the pitch at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on Friday night for the USA.
England will also hand out three World Cup debuts as well, in the form of Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati and Emma Sing.
The game will also see a record crowd for a Women’s World Cup match, with 40,000 fans expected to pack out the ground.
Red Roses name unchanged XV
The tournament favourites have named an unchanged starting XV from their 40-6 warm-up victory over France last weekend, with Mitchell backing his players to again deliver a result.
Reigning Women’s World Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne starts at full-back, with Abby Dow and Jess Breach named on the wings. Meg Jones and Tatyana Heard start in the centres, while Zoe Harrison and Mo Hunt get the nod in the halves once again.
In the pack, Alex Matthews starts at number eight, with Sadia Kabeya and captain Zoe Aldcroft named on the flanks. Abbie Ward and Morwenna Talling start in the engine room, with Maud Muir, Amy Cokayne and Hannah Botterman in the front-row.
Emily Scarrett will also mark her fifth World Cup tournament from the bench.
Speaking on his team selection, Red Roses boss Mitchell said: “We have been building nicely into the tournament and now we’re excited to get our campaign underway,” Mitchell said.
“Sunderland have been a great host city thus far and we know it’ll be a record crowd for a Women’s Rugby World Cup opening match which shows the appetite for rugby in this region and for the competition ahead.
“We want to embrace the occasion whilst understanding we have to remain where our feet are and earn the right to progress through the pool stage.”
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Maher among 11 World Cup debutants for USA
Headline selection Maher joins Keia Mae Sagapolu, Tahlia Brody, Emily Henrich in making their debuts from the starting XV, with Alivia Leatherman, Paige Stathopolous, Rachel Ehrecke, Freda Tafuna, Cass Bargell, Kristin Bitter, and Sariah Ibarra also set to make their tournament bows from the bench.
While a team with 11 World Cup debutants might seem fresh-faced, this USA side is packed with talent, with fellow Olympic hero Alev Kelter starting alongside Maher in midfield, while USA rugby icon Hope Rogers also cracks the squad.
The side is also littered with PWR stars, with Exeter Chiefs’ Hope Rogers, Rachel Johnson and Charli Jacoby, Loughborough Lightning aces Kathryn Treder, Keia Mae Sagapolu, Tahlia Brody, Bulou Mataitoga, Alev Kelter, Saracens star Lotte Sharp, Ealing Trailfinders’ Kate Zackary, Paige Stathopoulos, Alivia Leatherman and Sale Sharks’ Erica Jarrell-Searcy, Georgie Perris-Redding and Olivia Ortiz making the side.
Commenting on his selection, USA boss Sione Fukofuka said: “Our focus for the first match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is very much on ourselves and executing our game plan to put pressure on England. We know they have big external expectations on them as world number 1 and will have the pressure of being the host nation, so we are quietly going about our work, building confidence and looking forward to performing in front of family, friends and fans on the World Cup stage.
“England are World Number 1, and we expect them to be physical, accurate and confident for the full 80 minutes. They have a strong set piece and threats across the field; however, we are confident we also have a strong set piece platform with threats to attack them with confidence and have the commitment in defence to give us opportunities to create pressure.
“The team have worked hard to be here and earned their opportunity to represent the United States at the World Cup. Our intensive selection process, followed by the camps at Mt St Mary’s and Loughborough University have required the players to dig deep and work hard to make the team, so being here is a testament to that work ethic and commitment. Making it here has a level of satisfaction and excitement at the opportunity in front of us, but now we prepare to perform and earn results.”
Red Roses v USA team news in full
Red Roses: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Natasha Hunt, 8 Alex Matthews, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 6 Zoe Aldcroft (c), 5 Abbie Ward, 4 Morwenna Talling, 3 Maud Muir, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Hannah Botterman
Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Emily Scarratt, 23 Emma Sing
USA: 15 Lotte Sharp, 14 Emily Henrich, 13 Ilona Maher, 12 Alev Kelter, 11 Bulou Mataitoga, 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 9 Olivia Ortiz, 8 Rachel Johnson, 7 Georgie Perris-Redding, 6 Kate Zackary, 5 Erica Jarrell-Searcy, 4 Tahlia Brody, 3 Keia Mae Sagapolu, 2 Kathryn Treder, 1 Hope Rogers
Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Alivia Leatherman, 18 Charli Jacoby, 19 Rachel Ehrecke, 20 Freda Tafuna, 21 Cassidy Bargell, 22 Kristin Bitter, 23 Sariah Ibarra
READ MORE: Rugby World Cup 2025: Full fixtures, kick-off times and venues revealed