WXV 1: France forced into reshuffle

France were the final team in WXV 1 to name their 30-player squad for the first edition of the tournament, which will get underway in Wellington on 20 October.

Co-coaches Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz have been forced into a reshuffle ahead of the journey to New Zealand, though, after Lilou Graciet and Romane Ménager were ruled out through injury.

England, Canada and Wales all confirmed their squads on Sunday as the countdown for the tournament in New Zealand continued.

The return of Jasmine Joyce headlined the Wales announcement, while the England and Canada squads include a number of players who were part of Rugby World Cup 2021.

The Black Ferns have also included 18 players who were part of the squad that tasted RWC 2021 success on home soil last November. Wallaroos coach, Jay Tregonning, meanwhile, has stuck largely with the group that competed in the World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2023 earlier this year.

France

Les Bleues coaches Mignot and Ortiz had included four uncapped players in the squad that will compete in New Zealand.

Océane Bordes, Suliana Sivi, Graciet and Léa Champon were named as part of an otherwise experienced group that features lots of players who appeared at RWC 2021.

However, Graciet has since been withdrawn through injury, alongside Ménager. They have been replaced in the squad by Caroline Boujard and the uncapped Kiara Zago.

Mignot said: "We are impatient to join the team and engage in this new competition. Playing in the southern hemisphere is always an exceptional experience, and the WXV [competition] set up by World Rugby offers a fantastic opportunity to our young team.

"With a period of living together for four weeks and three matches on the programme, this competition should contribute to our development."

Forwards: Yllana Brosseau, Clara Joyeux, Assia Khalfaoui, Coco Lindelauf, Ambre Mwayembe, Elisa Riffonneau, Agathe Sochat, Laure Touyé, Madoussou Fall, Manaé Feleu, Audrey Forlani, Kiara Zago, Axelle Berthoumieu, Léa Champon, Charlotte Escudero, Émeline Gros, Gaëlle Hermet.

Backs: Océane Bordes, Pauline Bourdon Sansus, Alexandra Chambon, Carla Arbez, Lina Queyroi, Nassira Konde, Marine Ménager, Gabrielle Vernier, Cyrielle Banet, Caroline Boujard, Émilie Boulard, Morgane Bourgeois, Suliana Sivi.

England

Marlie Packer will captain an England squad that contains 21 players who were part of the party that travelled to New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2021 last year.

Zoe Aldcroft and Helena Rowland have been selected as vice-captains by interim coach Louis Deacon.

“We have selected a squad rich in experience, versatility, and talent; a squad we are excited to see take to the field in the inaugural WXV competition,” Deacon said.

“We’re relishing the opportunity to go up against three of the world’s best teams in Australia, Canada and New Zealand as well as experiencing three different cities in a fantastic rugby-loving nation.”

Forwards: Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Maud Muir, Lark Atkin-Davies, Amy Cokayne, Connie Powell, Zoe Aldcroft, Rosie Galligan, Cath O'Donnell, Maisy Allen, Sarah Beckett, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews, Marlie Packer, Morwenna Talling.

Backs: Natasha Hunt, Lucy Packer, Ella Wyrwas, Holly Aitchison, Sophie Bridger, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Amber Reed, Helena Rowland, Jess Breach, Abby Dow, Ellie Kildunne, Claudia MacDonald.

Canada

Coach Kevin Rouet has selected 28 players who were part of the squad that played England in back-to-back test matches in September.

Of those, six have made their senior Canada debut in 2023. A total of 21 players were also part of the squad that took part in RWC 2021.

Rouet said: “Over the last year since the Rugby World Cup, we’ve developed good consistency with a strong core group of players. There has been a lot of positive growth and development with continued collaboration with our sevens program as well as the Pacific Four Series and the test matches in England.

“Gaining more frequent elite competition experience is very important as we continue to look towards the 2025 Rugby World Cup. We are excited about the opportunity presented to us with WXV and are looking forward to three more great matches against some of the best teams in the world.” 

Forwards: Alexandria Ellis, Ashlynn Smith, Brittany Kassil, Courtney Holtkamp, DaLeaka Menin, Emily Tuttosi, Fabiola Forteza, Gabrielle Senft, Gillian Boag, Julia Omokhuale, Laetitia Royer, McKinley Hunt, Mikiela Nelson, Sara Cline, Sara Svoboda, Sophie de Goede, Tyson Beukeboom.

Backs: Alexandra Tessier, Claire Gallagher, Fancy Bermudez, Florence Symonds, Julia Schell, Justine Pelletier, Krissy Scurfield, Madison Grant, Olivia Apps, Paige Farries, Sabrina Poulin, Sarah-Maude Lachance, Shoshanah Seumanutafa.

Wales

Coach Ioan Cunningham has opted for consistency in his squad for the inaugural WXV 1 tournament as Hannah Jones captains a group that has largely been together since the start of the Women's Six Nations 2023.

Jasmine Joyce, Alisha Butchers, Donna Rose and Meg Web have also been selected having missed much of the season due to sevens commitments or injury.

Cunningham said: “We have chosen the 30 players who will make history and represent Wales in the first WXV tournament to be played in New Zealand in October. We are under no illusions of the task ahead of us, but we are relishing the opportunity to play our part in this exciting new competition.

“As a squad, coaches and staff, we are excited to test ourselves against the best in the world and to measure our progress and to see how far we have come. The WXV is innovative development for rugby and provides us with another tournament to measure our progress ahead of the 2025 World Cup."

Forwards: Gwenllian Pyrs, Abbey Constable, Kelsey Jones, Carys Phillips, Kat Evans, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Donna Rose, Cerys Hale, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Alisha Butchers, Bryonie King, Alex Callender, Kate Williams, Beth Lewis (VC), Sioned Harries.

Backs: Jasmine Joyce, Nel Metcalfe, Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Carys Cox, Meg Webb, Kerin Lake, Hannah Bluck, Carys Williams-Morris, Lleucu George, Robyn Wilkins, Niamh Terry, Keira Bevan, Meg Davies.

New Zealand

Black Ferns coaches Allan Bunting, Steve Jackson, Mike Delany and Tony Christie have named a 30-player squad that includes four uncapped players.

Loose-head prop Chrys Viliko, tight-head Sophie Fisher, flanker Layla Sae and back-three player Martha Mataele have been rewarded for their form in the Farah Palmer Cup with inclusion in the group that will represent New Zealand on home soil.

Kennedy Simon and Ruahei Demant will continue as co-captains while there is a return for their fellow RWC 2021 winner Ruby Tui following her sabbatical.

“It has been a very tough selection for our coaching group, which demonstrates the growth in our women’s game and a reflection our depth is certainly building. Our new players have really stood out in several important behaviours we value. All of which we have been looking for in this year’s Farah Palmer Cup,” Black Ferns director of rugby, Bunting said.

“It is an exciting opportunity for them to come on this journey and look to continue their growth both on and off the field. The future of our internal competition is exciting to see."

Forwards: Kate Henwood, Sophie Fisher, Tanya Kalounivale, Krystal Murray, Amy Rule, Chrys Viliko, Luka Connor, Natalie Delamere, Georgia Ponsonby, Chelsea Bremner, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Charmaine Smith, Alana Bremner, Lucy Jenkins, Liana Mikaele Tu’u, Layla Sae, Kennedy Simon (co-captain).

Backs: Ariana Bayler, Iritana Hohaia, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, Ruahei Demant (co-captain), Rosie Kelly, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai’i (Sylvia) Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Patricia Maliepo, Renee Holmes, Martha Mataele, Mererangi Paul, Ruby Tui, Katelyn Vahaakolo.

Australia

Wallaroos coach Tregonning has named his squad for WXV 1, with Michaela Leonard set to retain the captaincy as Piper Duck continues her rehabilitation following ankle surgery.

Tregonning has called up four uncapped players for the tournament in New Zealand. Reds back Melanie Wilks is joined in the squad by Waratahs trio Brianna Hoy, Desiree Miller and Leilani Nathan.

Waratahs second-row Atasi Lafai has also been included, having recovered from the injury she suffered during RWC 2021.

“The squad remains largely the same from the Pacific Four Series as we look to continue to build combinations and test experience. New Zealand into England, France and Wales is an exciting way to finish up the 2023 season," Tregonning said.

“I am particularly happy for Atasi Lafai – she had a tough break with her injury at the World Cup last year.

"The grit and determination that she has shown during what has been a long rehab journey for her this year has been a testament to her character.”

Forwards: Bree-Anna Cheatham, Brianna Hoy, Eva Karpani, Bridie O’Gorman, Emily Robinson, Ashley Marsters, Tania Naden, Adiana Talakai, Annabelle Codey, Atasi Lafai, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard (captain), Sera Naiqama, Leilani Nathan, Emily Chancellor, Tabua Tuinakauvadra.

Backs: Jasmin Huriwai, Layne Morgan, Carys Dallinger, Arabella McKenzie, Faitala Moleka, Georgina Friedrichs, Trilleen Pomare, Cecilia Smith, Melanie Wilks, Lori Cramer, Desiree Miller, Maya Stewart, Ivania Wong, Siokapesi Palu.