England Women at full strength for Rugby World Cup opener against the US | England women’s rugby union team

England have named a full-strength side to open their Rugby World Cup campaign against the US on Friday, with Emily Scarratt in line to win her 119th cap off the bench and appear at her fifth World Cup at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

John Mitchell has named an unchanged XV from the team’s 40-6 win over France in their final warmup game earlier this month. There are no injury concerns for the world No 1s as they start their pursuit of a trophy they are favourites to win in front of a record crowd for an opening game, with 40,000 tickets sold.

Zoe Aldcroft, the captain, starts at blindside flanker, with Sadia Kabeya at openside and Alex Matthews at No 8. Maddie Feaunati is set to make her first World Cup appearance from the bench, while there is no room in the 23 for the former captain Marlie Packer.

Kelsey Clifford and Emma Sing are also on the bench and will make their first World Cup appearances if introduced.

Ellie Kildunne, the world player of the year, starts at full-back, with Abby Dow, the 2025 Women’s Six Nations top try scorer, and Jess Breach on the wings. Saracens’ Zoe Harrison starts at fly-half with Natasha Hunt alongside her at scrum-half. The game will be the Gloucester-Hartpury star’s first Rugby World Cup appearance since 2017 after being left out of the England squad at the last tournament.

Mitchell said: “Sunderland have been a great host city thus far and we know it’ll be a record crowd for a Women’s Rugby World Cup opening match which shows the appetite for rugby in this region and for the competition ahead. We want to embrace the occasion whilst understanding we have to remain where our feet are and earn the right to progress through the pool stage.”

England and the US are joined in Pool A by Australia and Samoa, who meet on Saturday.