AITCHISON SET FOR 50TH ENGLAND CAP AT CORPACQ STADIUM
Holly Aitchison is set to win her 50th England cap when the Red Roses open their WXV Global Series campaign against Australia at the CorpAcq Stadium.
The milestone will be a special one for the Southport-born Sale Shark, who will reach the landmark less than 40 miles from her hometown club, Firwood Waterloo RFC.
Aitchison made her England debut in a victory over New Zealand in 2021 and has gone on to establish herself as a key member of the Red Roses squad, scoring 113 international points across her first 49 appearances.
The 28-year-old fly-half is named at number 10 for the opening game of the WXV Global Series, with England looking to begin their campaign with victory on Northern soil.
Aitchison is one of two current Sharks named in the starting XV, with centre Tatyana Heard also selected to face the Wallaroos.
Heard will partner captain Megan Jones in the midfield, returning to the starting line-up following her recovery from injury.
There is further Sharks representation among the replacements, with Morwenna Talling named on the bench.
Talling has earned 29 England caps and returns to the Red Roses matchday squad after injury, completing Sale’s Northern trio for the opening fixture.
Head Coach John Mitchell is relishing the opportunity to bring the Red Roses to the region for the opening game of their WXV Global Series campaign.
“I have very fond memories of the North West from my time with Sale Sharks so it’s awesome to be able to take our game to this part of the country,” he said.
“Playing in a different part of the country allows us to be present in the community and keeps the game healthy.”
ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA
15 Ellie Kildunne
14 Mia Venner
13 Megan Jones (C)
12 Tatyana Heard
11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald
10 Holly Aitchison
9 Natasha Hunt
1 Mackenzie Carson
2 May Campbell
3 Sarah Bern
4 Delaney Burns
5 Lilli Ives Campion
6 Abi Burton
7 Sadia Kabeya – vice captain
8 Maddie Feaunati
Replacements:
16 Bryony Field
17 Hannah Botterman
18 Maud Muir
19 Morwenna Talling
20 Marlie Packer
21 Lucy Packer
22 Zoe Harrison
23 Helena Rowland
Related articles
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
