Smaller balls, national anthem test & tough schedule - England gear up for WXV
Summary
England’s women’s rugby team is preparing for the WXV Global Series with a tough schedule that includes matches at home and in North America. The team is adapting to new, slightly smaller rugby balls and integrating new players and coaching staff ahead of the competition.Key Facts
- England’s women’s rugby team is training in Nottingham before the WXV Global Series.
- The team will face Australia, Canada, and New Zealand at home in September, then play Canada and the USA away in October.
- World Rugby introduced new size 4.5 balls, which are 3% smaller but weigh the same as regular balls, for the WXV competition.
- Some players criticized the smaller balls, but England’s coach John Mitchell believes good coaching is key to adapting.
- John Mitchell became a UK citizen during the summer and sang the national anthem during his citizenship test.
- New full-time England contracts were given to players Mia Venner and Flo Robinson for the 2026-27 season.
- Robinson is seen as a potential successor to veteran scrum-half Natasha Hunt.
- Emily Scarratt joined the England coaching team full-time as attack and backs coach during the off-season.
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