England name team for Women's Rugby World Cup opener against the United States
Skipper Zoe Aldcroft leads the squad at blindside flanker, with number eight Alex Matthews and openside Sadia Kabeya alongside her in the back row and Abbie Ward and Morwenna Talling lining up in the second row.
Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne and Maud Muir complete the forwards.
Vice-captain Megan Jones continues at centre alongside Tatyana Heard, while Jess Breach, Abby Dow and Ellie Kildunne make up the back three, Natasha Hunt starts at scrum-half and Zoe Harrison is at fly-half.
World Cup debutants Kelsey Clifford, Maddie Feaunati and Emma Sing are named as replacements and veteran Emily Scarratt is also on the bench as she prepares for her fifth tournament.
England team to face USA: Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach, Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews.
Replacements: Lark Atkin-Davies, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Emma Sing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
10 minutes ago
- BBC News
Fitzpatrick and Hojgaard start well at British Masters
British Masters - round one-6 T Aiken (SA), M Schwab (Aut), L Haotong (Chn), M Siem (Ger); -5 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), K Nakajima (Jap)Selected others: -4 M Wallace (Eng), E Ferguson (Sco); -3 R Hojgaard (Den), N Hojgaard (Den), A Fitzpatrick Eng); -1 L Donald (Eng), M Penge (Eng); +1 A Rai (Eng)Full leaderboard English Ryder Cup hopeful Matt Fitzpatrick carded a five-under 67 to sit one shot behind joint leaders Thomas Aiken, Matthias Schwab, Li Haotong and Marcel Siem after the opening round of the British was also a strong start from another Englishman in Matt Wallace, who opened with four birdies in the first five holes and finished alongside Scotland's Ewen Ferguson in a group of five players on four the 2022 US Open champion, said: "This week is another opportunity to play well."Despite making what he described as "a bit of a ropey start", Fitzpatrick, who is hoping to earn a call-up for next month's Ryder Cup, said he ultimately "played really solid"."It really felt like I've hit the ball well and done everything right," he Rasmus Hojgaard is the only player who can overtake Ireland's Shane Lowry - who is playing at the Tour Championship, a non-qualifying event - to clinch the sixth and final automatic spot in Europe's team for the Ryder posted a 69 to sit in a group of five on three under that includes his twin brother Nicolai."I get reminded of it [the Ryder Cup permutation] every day at the moment," said Rasmus will earn a place in Luke Donald's team if he finishes in a tie for 29th with one other player or better, as he seeks the 13.7 points he who picked up two birdies on the front and back nine, with his only bogey arriving at the fifth hole after a wayward approach to the green, added: "You can't just forget about it."I try to focus on 'what can I do to try and put myself in position to have a chance of winning this golf tournament?', and that's taking it hole by hole and do my best."If it happens, it would be great, but I don't try and put too much energy into it."The tournament on the Belfry's Brabazon course is the final qualifying event for the biennial contest between Europe and the United States, which is being staged for the 45th time next showpiece will be held from 26-28 September at Bethpage Black in New York. Fitzpatrick states his case Fellow Ryder Cup hopeful Fitzpatrick mixed seven birdies with two bogeys as he continued to make his case for inclusion by Donald, as Europe aim to retain the trophy away from home for the first time since 2012."It means the world to be a part of it," said Fitzpatrick. "Outside of winning a major, it is normally the first thing on a goal sheet at the start of a Ryder Cup year."We have got a great opportunity to do something we have not done in a while and obviously to be a part of that would be special."Donald is due to announce his six captain's picks on 1 it is far from certain who he will select, with Jon Rahm, Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka and England's Fitzpatrick, Wallace, Aaron Rai, Marco Penge and Harry Hall all likely to be under consideration.
The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
Arsenal closing in on Eberechi Eze transfer as midfielder left out of Crystal Palace Conference League squad
Eberechi Eze 's £60million transfer from Crystal Palace to Arsenal could be confirmed as early as this weekend. Eze is set to become Arsenal 's seventh signing of the summer after they moved to hijack Tottenham's bid for the England international. It is believed the finishing touches on a deal to sign the 27-year-old, which catapults Arsenal's spending to beyond £250m, are all but completed. Eze's stunning move to the Emirates accelerated this week following a knee injury sustained by Kai Havertz. The Germany international came on as a second-half substitute in Arsenal's 1-0 win at Manchester United, and completed the game, but he did not participate in the club's open training session at the Emirates on Wednesday. It is unclear how long Havertz, who is still being assessed, will face on the sidelines. But the hastiness to swoop for Eze is evidence Arsenal did not want to take any chances as Mikel Arteta – backed by sporting director Andrea Berta – bids to lead the north Londoners to their first Premier League title in 22 years. Eze is now poised to follow striker Viktor Gyokeres (£55m), defender Cristhian Mosquera (£13m), midfielder Martin Zubimendi (£60m), goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (£5m), midfielder Christian Norgaard (£10m) and forward Noni Madueke (£48.5m) in making the switch to the Emirates. Arteta will face the media at the club's training ground on Friday to preview his side's second match of the campaign, at home to Leeds on Saturday evening. Eze was left out of Palace's Conference League qualifier against Norwegian outfit Fredrikstad at Selhurst Park, which is the Eagles' first ever European tie.
Glasgow Times
12 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Chloe Kelly won't change anything in vow to keep good times rolling at Arsenal
Kelly's stardom reached new heights when she fired home the decisive spot-kick in England's shootout triumph over Spain at last month's European Championships. The 27-year-old is the bookmakers' odds-on favourite, ahead of Masters winner Rory McIlroy, to claim the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award. Chloe Kelly won the Champions League with Arsenal last season (Zed Jameson/PA) But Kelly, who also scored the winning goal for England in their Euro 2022 success, said: 'I am just myself all of the time and it doesn't change my mindset or me as a person. Nothing changes in my eyes. I just love playing football and having fun. 'Since the Euros, I have spent loads of time with my family, which is special to me. I have switched off completely from the game and social media and focused on myself and what I need to do to keep going. I am excited now for the season to start and I cannot wait to get back on the pitch.' Kelly's back-to-back Euros glory came after winning the Champions League for Arsenal in what has been a dream summer for the player who re-signed for the Gunners last month following a loan period from Manchester City. But she continued: 'It is definitely not hard to get going again. You want to get going straightaway. We have got competitions to win this season that we are so hungry for, and once you taste success you want more of it, and we will continue to do that. 'For me, I just want to win everything that is possible, and my eyes are set high for this season with Arsenal, and future tournaments for England, too.' Kelly scored the decisive penalty in England's shootout win against Spain (Peter Byrne/PA) Kelly was speaking alongside two of Arsenal's other summer signings, Olivia Smith and Taylor Hinds, who have both joined from Liverpool. Arsenal made Smith, who netted seven times in her debut Women's Super League season, the first £1million player in the women's game after agreeing a world-record fee with the Reds. 'It is definitely an honour, to come with such a hefty price tag for such a young player like me,' said the 20-year-old. 'Arsenal see the potential that I have, and they see my mindset. I am hungry, driven, I want to learn, I want to grow and I want to win things ultimately. 'The money is not really a big deal for me. It is more about being around these girls and to keep growing and learning in this environment.' Arsenal will open their bid to dethrone Chelsea as WSL champions against London City Lionesses on September 6.
