Campion and Brock named in England WXV squad

Back rows Lilli Ives Campion and Georgia Brock have been selected in England's 30-player squad for the WXV campaign.

Campion, 20, and Brock, 23, won their solitary Test caps during the wins over France and New Zealand this month.

There is no place for former captain Poppy Cleall, who was a key part of England's past two World Cup campaigns.

Hooker Connie Powell returns from injury and is preferred to May Campbell.

Two uncapped prospects – Loughborough wing Bo Westcombe-Evans and Bristol centre Pheobe Murray – are named among the backs.

Marlie Packer captains the squad, with Zoe Aldcroft and Natasha Hunt continuing as vice-captains.

Cleall has not featured since head coach John Mitchell took charge last autumn.

She was picked as part of his 2024 Six Nations squad, but did not play in the first two matches before a cut to her knee in training ended her campaign.

She subsequently lost her central contract with England.

"I kind of thought I had one more year in me as a professional, but that was someone else's choice," 32-year-old Cleall told Contested., external

She said she had phoned Mitchell to signal her intention to fight for her international place.

"My aim and my plan is still to go with the World Cup with England," she said.

"That home World Cup is huge for me personally. If I don't make the team I will be proud I stayed in and gave myself the chance, rather than giving up now."

England travel to Canada as WXV champions, having won the inaugural tournament in New Zealand in November.

They play the United States on 29 September before matches against New Zealand and Canada on the following two weekends.

England are on a 17-match winning streak, stretching back to their defeat by New Zealand in the World Cup final in 2022.

They are top of the world rankings – more than seven points clear of second-placed New Zealand – and hot favourites to win WXV before next year's home World Cup.

England squad for WXV

Forwards

Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 55 caps)

Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 59 caps)

Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 63 caps)

Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)

Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, 1 cap)

Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 17 caps)

Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 76 caps)

Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 8 caps)

Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps)

Rosie Galligan (Saracens, 16 caps)

Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)

Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 69 caps)

Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 32 caps)

Marlie Packer (Saracens, 106 caps)

Connie Powell (Harlequins, 19 caps)

Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 15 caps)

Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)

Backs

Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 32 caps)

Jess Breach (Saracens, 40 caps)

Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women, 47 caps)

Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 51 caps)

Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 24 caps)

Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 74 caps)

Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 45 caps)

Phoebe Murray (Bristol Bears, uncapped)

Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 23 caps)

Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 31 caps)

Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning, 113 caps)

Bo Westcombe-Evans (Loughborough Lightning, uncapped)

Ella Wyrwas (Saracens, 6 caps)