Women’s Rugby World Cup: Sarah Hunter leads 32-strong squad ahead of New Zealand masterpiece

captain Sarah Hunter Leads a strong group of 32 including flanker Marley Packer and Alex Matthews, prop Laura Keats, winger Lydia Thompson and center Emily Scarat.

Another star of 2014 was the drop out of veteran scrum-half Natasha Hunt in favor of Lean Infante, Claudia McDonald and Lucy Packer.

Head coach Simon Middleton has chosen a split of 19 forwards and 13 backs for the World Cup campaign against Fiji in Auckland on October 8, with 19 players making their tournament debuts.

England entered the event as strong favorites after scoring 125 points in two warm-up games against the United States and Wales, extending their record wins to 25 Tests following a Grand Slam earlier in the year. Will join.

“First and foremost, I want to start by thanking those who missed out on the selection,” Middleton said.

“Among the wider team, there is not a single player who has not given his all. is.”

“If I had to call up someone between now and the tournament, or during the World Cup, I could do it with 100% confidence that I would bring in the top players.

“My heartfelt congratulations to those who have been selected for the team. Winning the selection means you have done something special and you have stood out in your training and performance application.

“I’m really confident in the balance of the team. I’m happy with how the team is cohesive and how the game is coming together. We still have a lot of work to do. I hope we improve game by game.” .”

With 135 appearances, Hunter is the team’s most-appeared player and has appeared in four World Cups, three of which he has been a skipper.

“This is not to single out an individual, but it would be dereliction not to mention Captain Sarah Hunter,” Middleton said.

“Sara is now a better captain than she has ever been.

“Sometimes when you work with someone for a long time, you have to remember her good qualities, but her demeanor is incredible.

“Her pride and love for representing her country have never been stronger.

England squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.: Forwards: Z Aldcroft (Gloucester Hartpury), S Bern (Bristol Bears), H Bottermann (Saracens), S Brown (Harlequins), P Cleall (Saracens), A Cockayne (Harlequins), V Cornborough (Harlequins) L Davis (Bristol Bears), R Garrigan (Harlequin), S Hunter (Loughborough Lightning, captain), S Kaveya (Loughborough Lightning), L Keats (Worcester Warriors College), A Matthews (Gloucester Hartpley), M Muir (Gloucester Hartpury) ), C O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), M Packer (Saracens), C Powell (Gloucester Hartpury), M Turling (Loughborough Lightning), A Ward (Bristol Bears).

Backs: H Aitchison (Saracens), J Breech (Saracens), A Dow (Wasp), Z Harrison (Saracens), T Hurd (Gloucester Hartpury), L Infante (Saracens), E Kildane (Harlequin), C McDonald ( Exeter) Chiefs), S McKenna (Saracens), L Packer (Harlequins), H Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), E Scarat (Loughborough Lightning), L Thompson (Worcester Warriors).

Additional report from PA