England face Fiji in the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
England are the favorites to win the title in New Zealand and are expected to overtake the Fijians after three consecutive major tournaments and consecutive victories over world champions New Zealand a year ago.
The Black Fires, France and Canada are the closest contenders, but England dominate the rankings and their coach Simon Middleton recently admitted that anything other than winning the final would be a failure.
England have won all of their last 24 matches, while Fiji has lost the only two matches they have played this year, to Australia and Canada.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is the match?
The England match against Fiji will take place at Eden Park and begin at 4:45 UK time on Saturday morning.
how to watch
The England vs Fiji match will be shown live on UK TV via ITV 1, the match can be streamed online via the ITV Hub.
English team
Ellie Keldon; Lydia Thompson, Emily Scarrat, Helena Rowland, Claudia MacDonald; Zoe Harrison, Leanne Infante; Vicki Kornborough, Amy Kokin, Sarah Byrne, Zoe Aldecroft, Abby Ward, Alex Matthews, Sadia Capia, Sarah Hunter (captain).
Who are the stars of England?
This year’s World Player of the Year Zoe Aldecroft featured in the England squad, showing a high work rate centered around loading and disarming. Prop Sarah Bern has been devastating in the last six nations, as her pace and offensive power reach new heights. Marley Packer thrives on collapse and covers every blade of grass, while next to her in the back row is Captain Sarah Hunter, who offers 135 matches of experience. And there’s firepower behind the scrum, with Emily Scarratt serving as a key attacker and winger Abby Dow, who quickly recovered from a broken leg, stands out as a winger trying to score.
England face Fiji in the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
England are the favorites to win the title in New Zealand and are expected to overtake the Fijians after three consecutive major tournaments and consecutive victories over world champions New Zealand a year ago.
The Black Fires, France and Canada are the closest contenders, but England dominate the rankings and their coach Simon Middleton recently admitted that anything other than winning the final would be a failure.
England have won all of their last 24 matches, while Fiji has lost the only two matches they have played this year, to Australia and Canada.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is the match?
The England match against Fiji will take place at Eden Park and begin at 4:45 UK time on Saturday morning.
how to watch
The England vs Fiji match will be shown live on UK TV via ITV 1, the match can be streamed online via the ITV Hub.
English team
Ellie Keldon; Lydia Thompson, Emily Scarrat, Helena Rowland, Claudia MacDonald; Zoe Harrison, Leanne Infante; Vicki Kornborough, Amy Kokin, Sarah Byrne, Zoe Aldecroft, Abby Ward, Alex Matthews, Sadia Capia, Sarah Hunter (captain).
Who are the stars of England?
This year’s World Player of the Year Zoe Aldecroft featured in the England squad, showing a high work rate centered around loading and disarming. Prop Sarah Bern has been devastating in the last six nations, as her pace and offensive power reach new heights. Marley Packer thrives on collapse and covers every blade of grass, while next to her in the back row is Captain Sarah Hunter, who offers 135 matches of experience. And there’s firepower behind the scrum, with Emily Scarratt serving as a key attacker and winger Abby Dow, who quickly recovered from a broken leg, stands out as a winger trying to score.
Amelia Kensington is a contributor to Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, presenting complex topics in an accessible and engaging way while maintaining a strong commitment to accuracy and relevance.