FOUR SHARKS NAMED IN RED ROSES SQUAD FOR WXV GLOBAL SERIES 

Four Sale Sharks Women players have been named in the Red Roses squad for their upcoming WXV Global Series tour of North America. 

Amy Cokayne, Morwenna Talling, Holly Aitchison and Tatyana Heard have all been selected in John Mitchell’s 32-player squad, which will travel to Canada and the USA for three Tests. 

Cokayne, who has earned 94 England caps, has been named as one of the squad’s vice-captains, while Talling heads into the tour with 32 caps to her name. 

Aitchison, who celebrated her 50^th cap in the recent win over Australia at the Salford Community Stadium will be on the plane alongside Heard. The centre, who has played for the Roses 37 times, made her Sharks debut at the weekend with an impressive display which culminated in a try in the Manchester sunshine in a dominant win for Sale.  

Mitchell’s side will renew their Test rivalry with Canada in Toronto on Friday 16 October, before facing the hosts again in Ottawa a week later. The tour will conclude against a USA side that will likely include Sale Sharks’ own Georgie Perris-Redding, Erica Jarrell-Searcy and Katana Howard, in New Jersey on Friday 30 October. 

Mitchell said: “Our last two Tests against Canada and New Zealand have been humdingers that could have gone either way; they were hugely important to our development towards 2029. 

“Playing quality opposition and learning to adapt under pressure will help us raise our level and improve our game. 

“The 32 players travelling to North America have a great opportunity to elevate our connections as a squad because playing away from home requires togetherness. We have shown a real hunger to compete and improve, and we’re excited to rip into our preparations and continue our rivalry with Canada in Toronto.” 

While the Roses head to North America, the rest of the Sharks squad continue their JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup campaign. The side travel to Leicester Tigers this weekend knowing a win will see them reach the semi-final for the first time in their history.  

Looking further ahead, fans can start to get excited for the next time the side will play at the Morson Stadium – the opening day of the season. Gloucester Hartpury will visit Manchester on 21^st November and tickets are available for the curtain raiser here.  

Forwards 

Christiana Balogun (Bristol Bears, 1 cap)  
Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 87 caps)  
Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)  
Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women, 12 caps)  
May Campbell (Saracens, 7 caps)  
Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 31 caps)  
Kelsey Clifford (Saracens, 25 caps)  
Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks, 94 caps) – vice captain  
Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps)  
Bryony Field (Saracens, 3 caps)   
Daisy Hibbert-Jones (Loughborough Lightning, 1 cap)  
Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning, 11 caps)  
Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning, 34 caps)  
Haineala Lutui (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps)   
Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 84 caps) – vice-captain  
Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 56 caps)  
Demelza Short (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)   
Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 32 caps) 

Backs 

Holly Aitchison (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)   
Jess Breach (Saracens, 59 caps)  
Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 73 caps)  
Tatyana Heard (Sale Sharks, 37 caps)  
Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 91 caps)  
Megan Jones (Trailfinders Women, 41 caps) – captain  
Ellie Kildunne (Bristol Bears, 65 caps)  
Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)  
Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 47 caps)   
Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs, 6 caps)  
Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 54 caps)  
Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury, 17 caps)   
Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury, 5 caps)  
Bo Westcombe-Evans (Trailfinders Women, 2 caps)