Women's Rugby World Cup: Red Roses unchanged for final vs Canada at Twickenham as Ellie Kildunne passed fit
Red Roses and Canada unchanged for Women's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday (4pm kick-off); Ellie Kildunne passed fit to play; John Mitchell's side seek first World Cup triumph since 2014; Canada knocked out defending champions New Zealand to make final
Friday 26 September 2025 06:25, UK
England head coach John Mitchell has named an unchanged squad for Saturday's Women's Rugby World Cup final against Canada, with star full-back Ellie Kildunne passed fit to play.
Having missed the quarter-final victory over Scotland, Kildunne (concussion) and loosehead prop Hannah Botterman (back spasm) returned last time weekend for England's semi-final win over France, only for the former to limp off in Bristol late on.
Kildunne has overcome her leg complaint to start again, however, as the Red Roses get ready to host Canada in Saturday's World Cup final at a sold-out Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
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Wings Abby Dow and Jess Breach combine with Kildunne for the back-three, while the midfield remains Megan Jones and Tatyana Heard, and half-backs Zoe Harrison and Natasha Hunt.
Into the forwards, Botterman showed no ill effects on her return and starts with hooker Amy Cokayne and tighthead Maud Muir to form the front-row, with the second row pairing Morwenna Talling and Abbie Ward.
Zoe Aldcroft captains the side from blindside flanker, with openside Sadia Kabeya and No 8 Alex Matthews completing the back-row.
As has been the case throughout the whole tournament, England's replacements bench is stacked with quality and depth.
Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford and Sarah Bern provide front-row cover, Rosie Galligan and Maddie Feaunati are the second row and back-row replacements respectively, with scrum-half Lucy Packer and back options Holly Aitchison and Helena Rowland rounding out the 23.
"Our staff and players have worked hard to reach this stage of the tournament," Mitchell said on Thursday.
"Playing a World Cup final at Allianz Stadium in front of a record 82,000 is a significant milestone for the sport.
"We are well prepared for the challenge against Canada. It is number one versus number two in the world, and we know the contest will demand a full 80 minutes. Our focus remains on staying in our process and executing effectively."
Red Roses: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Natasha Hunt; 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Amy Cokayne, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Morwenna Talling, 5 Abbie Ward, 6 Zoe Aldcroft (c), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Alex Matthews.
Replacements: 16 Lark Atkin-Davies, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland.
Mitchell: World Cup final week a big emotional wheel
Red Roses head coach John Mitchell told Sky Sports on Thursday:
"It's really good to get to this point. Three years ago we basically set a vision and everyone bought into it and now we've got the opportunity to finish it. That's the exciting thing.
"We've just been keeping everything normal and easy and just stayed really focused on our plan. We'll just keep our processes all the same and make sure we're also having lots of fun during the week.
"You can get drawn into the semantics and you definitely go through your mind around the gratitude of the opportunity. You tend to reflect a little bit on the period of time to get to this point.
"I'm thinking about the people that don't make it as well in the starting team, all those sort of things. And then the pressure, people forget the pressure is actually on your family and your friends, because they want you to win.
"Whereas we've got to disregard all that and stay focused and more importantly work hard on what we've got to do to get it right on Saturday.
"You've got all those factors because you do connect with your families and friends and they're the ones who are carrying the emotion because they can't control it. At least we can control it by how we're going to go about things.
"It certainly becomes a bigger emotional wheel, doesn't it? But I think the longer you're in it, it helps you get out of it. It's only human to be able to experience it and feel it. It's important not to suppress it.
"But it's really cool to be able to go: 'No, that can wait. Stay focused on the footy.'"
Canada unchanged for third game running
After thrashing Australia in the quarter-finals and their stunning semi-final victory over defending champions New Zealand, Canada have named an unchanged team and squad for the third game running for Saturday's World Cup final.
There are two survivors from Canada's defeat to England in the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup final. Karen Paquin starts at openside flanker with Tyson Beukeboom on the bench as she was eight years ago, while World Rugby's Women's Player of the Year nominee Sophie de Goede starts at lock.
Starting XV: 15 Julia Schell, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Florence Symonds, 12 Alexandra Tessier, 11 Asia Hogan-Rochester, 10 Taylor Perry, 9 Justine Pelletier; 1 McKinley Hunt, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 Daleaka Menin, 4 Sophie de Goede, 5 Courtney O'Donnell, 6 Caroline Crossley, 7 Karen Paquin, 8 Fabiola Forteza.
Replacements: 16 Gillian Boag, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia Demerchant, 19 Tyson Beukeboom, 20 Laetitia Royer, 21 Gabrielle Senft, 22 Olivia Apps, 23 Shoshanah Seumenutafa.
What's next?
England's Red Roses will host Canada in the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday September 27 (4pm kick-off).
France will face defending champions New Zealand earlier on the same day in the Bronze final at Twickenham (12.30pm).
