The eight Red Roses playing in their first Women’s Rugby World Cup
Meet the eight England Women rugby players who will play at their first Women’s Rugby World Cup as England hosts the 2025 World Cup.
Abi Burton
Red Roses back row Abi Burton has made an incredible return to playing rugby, let alone playing at the World Cup. Just four years ago she suffered a life-threatening illness and was put in a medically induced coma for more than three weeks.
Fortunately, Burton overcame the illness and returned to the sport in time to feature for Team GB sevens at the Paris Olympics.
Shortly after, the Trailfinders Women’s player was named in the Red Roses squad for the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
She capped off her phenomenal story with not just one, but two tries on her England debut against Wales. Now with two caps and a Six Nations Grand Slam, she will be looking to top that by lifting the trophy at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
May Campbell
Since making her debut for England in during the 2023 Women’s Six Nations, Saracens Women’s May Campbell has had to bide her time before she could add to it.
Now 29, she finished the Premiership Women’s Rugby season with an impressive 16 tries and topped the tackle charts with 230.
This form saw her make two appearances as a replacement in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations and she has now been rewarded with a call up to her first Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Mackenzie Carson
Born in Canada, Mackenzie Carson actually played for Canada against England before transferring allegiance in 2023 to the Red Roses through the World Rugby birth-right rules.
Since her debut, the Gloucester-Hartpury prop has played 22 times for England Women and has won three Six Nations Grand Slams in that time.
Carson has also enjoyed a successful two-year stint at Gloucester-Hartpury, helping the team to two the PWR trophy in both seasons.
Kelsey Clifford
Saracens women’s Kelsey Clifford came through the England Rugby age-grade pathway, representing her country at U18 and U20 level.
She then made her Red Roses debut against Scotland during the 2023 Women’s Six Nations, later helping the side to win WXV 1.
She played in every game of the 2024 Six Nations, as well as four matches in the 2025 edition as the Red Roses won their fourth consecutive Grand Slam.
Maddie Feaunati
Since moving to Exeter Chiefs Women from New Zealand, 22-year-old Maddie Feaunati has enjoyed an impressive rise through the ranks.
It comes as little surprise as her father, Isaac Feaunati, represented Samoa and played for Bath, Leeds, Rotherham and London Irish.
She made her Red Roses debut in the 2024 Six Nations and started four out of the five matches as the team won the Grand Slam earlier this year.
Lilli Ives Campion
Loughborough Lightning lock Lilli Ives Campion is the youngest member of the Red Roses World Cup squad at just 21 years old.
She was captain of England U20 Women, who she played for on 11 occasions.
She made her debut as a replacement in September 2024, before earning her first start against Italy during the 2025 Six Nations.
Jade Shekells
Red Roses centre Jade Shekells made her England Rugby debut against Italy during the 2025 Six Nations, having already represented England and Team GB in sevens.
Shekells competed at the 2024 Olympics with Team GB, in addition to playing in the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens.
She won the PWR with Gloucester-Hartpury this season, her first with the club and has now won two caps for England.
Emma Sing
Another member of the Gloucester-Hartpury title winners, Emma Sing made her England debut in 2022 against Scotland.
A week later, she scored her first international try in the 74-0 win over Italy. Sing was part of the squad for the 2023 Six Nations and WXV 1 later that year, but had to wait until this year’s tournament to add to her caps.
Her form in the PWR, where she scored her club’s second try of the final, saw her rewarded with a place in John Mitchell’s Rugby World Cup squad.
