Aitchison earns 50th cap as Hunt and Heard return for England's WXV opener against Australia

Holly Aitchison will reach her 50th cap for England when the Red Roses open their 2026 WXV Global Series campaign against Australia at Salford’s CorpAcq Stadium on Saturday, with head coach John Mitchell making five changes from the side that clinched the Guinness Women’s Six Nations title in Bordeaux in May.

The 28-year-old Sale Sharks fly-half starts close to home — the ground sits near her hometown of Southport and her first rugby club, Firwood Waterloo — and her milestone appearance is the headline moment in a squad that also marks the return of several key players from injury.

Natasha Hunt is back at scrum-half after a knee injury restricted her to just 13 minutes of England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland. The 89-cap veteran had been absent for the remainder of the Championship and slots straight back into the starting XV. Tatyana Heard and Hannah Botterman also return, both having missed the Six Nations campaign with injury; Heard’s last Test appearance came in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final at Allianz Stadium.

May Campbell gets the nod at hooker for her sixth cap, with Saracens clubmate Bryony Field named among the replacements and in line for a Test debut. Lilli Ives Campion and Delaney Burns continue their lock partnership, while Abi Burton, Sadia Kabeya and Maddie Feaunati retain their places in the back row. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Ellie Kildunne keep their starting berths in the back three, joined this time by Mia Venner.

Mitchell said the fixture’s location was a deliberate effort to grow the game’s footprint beyond its traditional heartlands. “Playing in a different part of the country allows us to be present in the community and keeps the game healthy,” he said. “You’ve not only got to be visible, but if you can actually be close to your community, I think that’s even better.”

The head coach also pointed to the squad’s pre-season work as a foundation for the tournament ahead. “The girls have worked hard in pre-season to deepen their bond and that will make us stronger on the field. We’re excited to get our WXV Global Series underway and aim to excite and entertain.”

Megan Jones captains the side from outside centre, with Sadia Kabeya serving as vice-captain.