Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand – Teams Guide for Pools A, B, and C as Red Roses search glory

France’s Jessy Tremouliere, England’s Emily Scaratt, and New Zealand’s Ruahei Demant will seemingly show key gamers on the World Cup

From red-hot favourites England in Pool C, to hosts and five-time winners New Zealand in Pool A, forged your eye over all the perimeters forward of kick off within the Women’s Rugby World Cup with our Teams Guide…

Pool A – New Zealand

Head coach: Wayne Smith

Co-Captains: Ruahei Demant, fly-half, Kennedy Simon, Back-row

Wayne Smith, All Blacks assistant coach between 2004-2011 and 2015-2017, took over as Black Ferns head coach this yr

Previous finest: Five-time Winners (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017)

Prospects: The most profitable ladies’s facet in historical past and hosts for this event. In some other World Cup yr prior to now, the Black Ferns could be favourites. Yet, because the final Rugby World Cup ultimate in 2017, New Zealand have been overwhelmed 4 occasions by France and twice by England, dropping 4 on the trot – twice vs France, twice vs England – final November. It could be a shock in the event that they turned issues round to win it.

Five-time World Cup winners, New Zealand’s Black Ferns are the reigning world champions, having overwhelmed England 41-32 within the 2017 ultimate in Belfast

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sat Oct 8, Australia vs New Zealand (7.15am, Eden Park, Auckland)
• Sun Oct 16, Wales vs New Zealand (3.15am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
• Sat Oct 22, New Zealand vs Scotland (4.45am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)

Squad:

Backs: Ariana Bayler (Scrum-half), Sylvia Brunt (Centre), Kendra Cocksedge (Scrum-half), Ruahei Demant (Fly-half), Amy du Plessis (Centre), Theresa Fitzpatrick (Centre), Stacey Fluhler (Wing), Renee Holmes (Full-back), Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Wing), Arihiana ino-Tauhinu (Scrum-half), Hazel Tubic (Fly-half), Ruby Tui (Wing), Renee Wickliffe (Wing), Portia Woodman (Wing).

Forwards: Alana Bremner (Back-row), Chelsea Bremner (Lock), Luka Connor (Hooker), Natalie Delamere (Hooker), Sarah Hirini (Back-row), Tanya Kalounivale (Prop), Phillipa Love (Prop), Charmaine McMenamin (Back-row), Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (Back-row), Krystal Murray (Prop), Joanah Ngan-Woo (Lock), Georgia Ponsonby (Hooker), Kendra Reynolds (Back-row), Maiakawanakaulani Roos (Lock), Amy Rule (Prop), Kennedy Simon (Back-row), Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (Prop), Santo Taumata (Prop).

Pool A – Australia

Head coach: Jay Tregonning

Captain: Shannon Parry, Back-row

Previous finest: Third (2010)

Shannon Parry will captain the Australia squad on the World Cup

Prospects: A completely inconsistent outfit, Australia have by no means overwhelmed New Zealand, and have misplaced to their neighbours some 19 occasions, whereas they’ve by no means overwhelmed England or Canada earlier than both, and their sole victory over France got here again in 2010. They do not possess the standard or energy of the highest sides.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sat Oct 8, Australia vs New Zealand (7.15am, Eden Park, Auckland)
• Sat Oct 15, Scotland vs Australia (3am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sat Oct 22, Australia vs Wales (2.15am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)

Squad:

Backs: Iliseva Batibasaga (Scrum-half), Lori Cramer (Full-back), Georgina Friedrichs (Centre), Arabella McKenzie (Fly-half/Full-back), Layne Morgan (Scrum-half), Mahalia Murphy (Centre), Siokapesi Palu (Centre), Pauline Piliae-Rasabale (Centre), Trilleen Poe (Fly-half), Cecilia Smith (Wing), Maya Stewart (Wing), Bienne Terita (Wing), Sharni Williams (Centre), Ivania Wong (Wing).

Forwards: Emily Chancellor (Back-row), Bree-Anna Cheatham (Prop), Piper Duck (No 8), Grace Hamilton (Back-row), Eva Karpani (Prop), Grace Kemp (Back-row), Atasi Lafai (Lock), Kaitlan Leaney (Lock), Michaela Leonard (Lock), Ashley sters (Hooker), Tania Naden (Hooker), Sera Naiqama (Lock), Bridie O’Gorman (Prop), Shannon Parry (Back-row), Liz Patu (Prop), Emily Robinson (Prop), Madison Schuck (Prop), Adiana Talakai (Hooker).

Pool A – Wales

Head coach: Ioan Cunningham

Captain: Siwan Lillicrap, Second row

Previous finest: Fourth (1994)

Second row Siwan Lillicrap is captain of Wales, who handed out 12 full-time contracts for the primary time of their historical past this yr

Prospects: Wales enter into this World Cup with skilled contracts of their ranks for the very first time. 2022 proved a landmark yr in Welsh rugby, with 12 full-time contracts handed out by the WRU in January, alongside semi-professional contracts too. Improvements in health confirmed in the course of the most-recent Six Nations, however Wales are nonetheless a good distance off competing on the high. With some luck, they may presumably make a semi-final right here although.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sun Oct 9, Wales vs Scotland (5.45am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sun Oct 16, Wales vs New Zealand (3.15am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
• Sat Oct 22, Australia vs Wales (2.15am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)

Squad:

Backs: Keira Bevan (Scrum-half), Lleucu George (Centre), Hannah Jones (Centre), Jasmine Joyce (Wing), Kerin Lake (Centre), Ffion Lewis (Scrum-half), Lisa Neumann (Wing), Lowri Norkett (Centre), Kayleigh Powell (Full-back), Elinor Snowsill (Centre), Niamh Terry (Fly-half), Meg Webb (Centre), Robyn Wilkins (Fly-half), Carys Williams-Morris (Centre).

Forwards: Alisha Butchers (Back-row), Alex Callender (Back-row), Gwen Crabb (Lock), Georgia Evans (Lock), Kat Evans (Hooker/Flanker), Abbie Fleming (Back-row), Cerys Hale (Prop), Sioned Harries (Back-row), Cara Hope (Prop), Natalia John (Lock), Kelsey Jones (Hooker), Bethan Lewis (Back-row), Siwan Lillicrap (Back-row), Carys Phillips (Hooker), Gwenllian Pyrs (Prop), Donna Rose (Prop), Caryl Thomas (Prop), Sisilia Tuipulotu (Lock).

Pool A – Scotland

Head coach: Bryan Easson

Captain: Rachel Malcolm, Back-row

Previous finest: Fifth (1994)

Scotland will likely be led by captain Rachel Malcolm, after the nation didn’t qualify for the final two World Cups

Prospects: Having missed out in 2014 and 2017, Scotland have certified for his or her first World Cup since 2010, edging Ireland to a play-off vs Colombia in Dubai, which they duly received. Making a quarter-final could be an enormous shock.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sun Oct 9, Wales vs Scotland (5.45am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sat Oct 15, Scotland vs Australia (3am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sat Oct 22, New Zealand vs Scotland (4.45am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)

Squad:

Backs: Shona Campbell (Wing), Megan Gaffney (Wing), Coreen Grant (Centre), Sarah Law (Fly-half), Rhona Lloyd (Wing), Caity Mattinson (Scrum-half), Mairi McDonald (Scrum-half), Liz Musgrove (Wing), Helen Nelson (Fly-half), Emma Orr (Centre), Chloe Rollie (Full-back), Eilidh Sinclair (Full-back), Hannah Smith (Centre), Meryl Smith (Centre), Lisa Thomson (Centre), Evie Wills (Centre).

Forwards: Leah Bartlett (Prop), Christine Belisle (Prop), Sarah Bonar (Lock), Elliann Clarke (Prop), Katie Dougan (Prop), Ellis Martin (Hooker), Jade Konkel-Roberts (Back-row), Rachel Malcolm (Back-row), Rachel McLachlan (Back-row), Louise McMillan (Lock), Lyndsay O’Donnell (Lock), Lana Skeldon (Hooker), Jodie Rettie (Hooker), Emma Wassell (Lock), Molly Wright (Hooker), Anne Young (Prop).

Pool B – Canada

Head coach: Kevin Rouet

Captain: Sophie de Goede, No 8

Previous finest: Runners-up (2014)

Sophie de Goede, a place-kicking No 8, is captain of Canada

Prospects: A far more durable opposition within the ladies’s recreation than their counterparts are in males’s competitors, Canada have usually gone far in World Cups, showing in 4 semi-finals and a ultimate of their historical past. They will likely be looking for to high Pool B, and with that get a form quarter-final draw to make one other semi-final.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sun Oct 9, Japan vs Canada (3.15am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sun Oct 16, Italy vs Canada (12.45am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
• Sun Oct 23, Canada vs USA (3.15am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)

Squad:

Backs: Elissa Alarie (Full-back), Alysha Corrigan (Full-back), Paige Farries (Centre), Maddy Grant (Wing), Anaїs Holly (Fly-half), Sara Kaljuvee (Centre), Sarah-Maude Lachance (Wing), Brianna Miller (Scrum-half), Justine Pelletier (Scrum-half), Taylor Perry (Fly-half), Sabrina Poulin (Wing), Julia Schell (Fly-half), Alexandra Tessier (Fly-half/Centre), Marie Thibault (Centre).

Forwards: Tyson Beukeboom (Lock), Gillian Boag (Hooker), Sophie de Goede (No 8), Olivia DeMerchant (Prop), Alex Ellis (Prop), Fabiola Forteza (Back-row), Ngalula Fuamba (Lock), Courtney Holtkamp (Lock), McKinley Hunt (Lock), Brittany Kassil (Prop), DaLeaka Menin (Prop), Mikiela Nelson (Prop), Karen Paquin (Back-row), Laura Russell (Hooker), Gabrielle Senft (Back-row), Sara Svoboda (Back-row), Emma Taylor (Lock), Emily Tuttosi (Hooker).

Pool B – Italy

Head coach: Andrea Di Giandomenico

Captain: Elisa Giordano, Back-row

Previous finest: eighth (1991)

Prospects: Appearing in simply the fourth World Cup of their historical past, Italy are at the moment ranked fifth on this planet such has been their outcomes and performances of current occasions. They stay nicely beneath the standard of England, New Zealand, Canada and France although. Will fancy themselves to e book a quarter-final place out of this pool.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sun Oct 9, USA vs Italy (12.45am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sun Oct 16, Italy vs Canada (12.45am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
• Sun Oct 23, Japan vs Italy (12.45am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)

Squad:

Backs: Sara Barattin (Scrum-half), Beatrice Capomaggi (Centre), Alyssa D’Inca (Centre), Manuela Furlan (Full-back), Francesca Granzotto (Wing), Veronica Madia (Fly-half), Maria Magatti (Wing), Aura Muzzo (Wing), Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Wing), Beatrice Rigoni (Centre), Sofia Rolfi (Wing), Michela Sillari (Centre), Sofia Stefan (Scrum-half), Emma Stevanin (Fly-half).

Forwards: Ilaria Arrighetti (Back-row), Francesca Barro (Prop), Melissa Bettoni (Hooker), Giordana Duca (Lock), Valeria Fedrighi (Lock), Giada Franco (Back-row), Lucia Gai (Prop), Elisa Giordano (Back-row), Isabella Locatelli (Lock), Gaia Maris (Prop), Michela Merlo (Prop), Sara Seye (Prop), Francesca Sgorbini (Back-row), Emanuela Stecca (Prop), Sara Tounesi (Prop), Silvia Turani (Prop), Vittoria Vecchini (Hooker), Beatrice Veronese (Back-row).

Pool B – USA

Head coach: Rob Cain

Captain: Kate Zackary, Back-row

Previous finest: Winners (1991)

Prospects: Previous winners again in 1991, the USA have traditionally been one of many high sides on the World Cup, making two additional finals (1994, 1998) and a semi-final in 2017. Recent years has actually seen them battle for type, nevertheless, with them dropping eight of their final 9 to France, Canada (three Tests), Ireland, New Zealand and England (twice) – struggling a humiliating 89-0 loss to the Red Roses final November.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sun Oct 9, USA vs Italy (0.45am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sat Oct 15, USA vs Japan (5.30am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sun Oct 23, Canada vs USA (3.15am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)

Squad:

Backs: Meya Bizer (Full-back), Gabby Cantorna (Fly-half), Lotte Clapp (Wing), Jennine Detiveaux (Wing), Tess Feury (Full-back), Megan Foster (Fly-half), Eti Haungatau (Centre), McKenzie Hawkins (Fly-half), Katana Howard (Centre), Bridget Kahele (Scrum-half), Alev Kelter (Centre/Full-back), Olivia Ortiz (Scrum-half), Carly Waters (Scrum-half).

Forwards: Evelyn Ashenbrucker (Lock), Catie Benson (Prop), Elizabeth Cairns (Back-row), Jett Hayward (Hooker), Charli Jacoby (Prop), Nick James (Prop), Erica Jarrell (Prop), Kathryn Johnson (Back-row), Rachel Johnson (Back-row), Joanna Kitlinksi (Hooker), Jenny Kronish (Lock), Maya Learned (Prop), Jordan Matyas (Lock), Kathryn Treder (Hooker), Georgie Perris-Redding (Back-row), Hope Rogers (Prop), Kristine Sommer (Lock), Hallie Taufoou (Lock), Kate Zackary (Back-row).

Pool B – Japan

Head coach: Lesley McKenzie

Captain: Saki Minami, Prop

Previous finest: eighth (1994)

Prospects: Featuring in simply their second World Cup since 2002, Japan are an rising facet within the ladies’s recreation and in 2022 picked up victories over Australia and Fiji, having pushed Italy, Scotland and Ireland shut lately. A troublesome pool would see something aside from elimination as an enormous shock.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sun Oct 9, Japan vs Canada (3.15am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sat Oct 15, USA vs Japan (5.30am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sun Oct 23, Japan vs Italy (0.45am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)

Squad:

Backs: Megumi Abe (Scrum-half), Ria Anoku (Full-back), Mana Furuta (Centre), Ai Hirayama (Full-back), Komachi Imakugi (Fly-half), Yuki Ito (Wing), Rinka Matsuda (Wing), Hinano Nagura (Wing), Shione Nakayama (Centre), Ayasa Otsuka (Fly-half), Ayaka Suzuki (Centre), Moe Tsukui (Scrum-half), Minori Yamamoto (Centre).

Forwards: Kyoko Hosokawa (Back-row), Sachiko Kato (Prop), Masami Kawamura (Lock), Wako Kitano (Prop), Hinata Komaki (Prop), Sakurako Korai (Back-row), Makoto Lavemai (Prop), Saki Minami (Prop), Ayano Nagai (Back-row), Iroha Nagata (Back-row), Nijiho Nagata (Hooker), Yuka Sadaka (Prop), Seina Saito (Back-row), Yuna Sato (Lock), Misaki Suzuki (Back-row), Maki Takano (Lock), Kie Tamai (Lock), Kotomi Taniguchi (Hooker), Otoka Yoshimura (Lock).

Pool C – England

Head coach: Simon Middleton

Captain: Sarah Hunter, No 8

Previous finest: Two-time winners (1994, 2014)

Prospects: The reddest of red-hot favourites. England head into this World Cup off the again of a sensational world-record 25 consecutive Test victories. They haven’t tasted defeat since July 2019, and no facet has come inside 12 factors of England this calendar yr. They have overwhelmed the opposite high nations France (10 consecutive wins), New Zealand (two complete wins) and Canada throughout the run, in addition to just about everybody else, and by dominant scorelines too. Anything lower than World Cup glory could be massively disappointing.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sat Oct 8, Fiji v England (4.45am, Eden Park, Auckland)
• Sat Oct 15, France v England (8am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sun Oct 23, England v South Africa (5.45am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)

Squad:

Backs: Holly Aitchison (Centre), Jess Breach (Wing), Abby Dow (Wing), Zoe Harrison (Fly-half), Tatyana Heard (Centre), Leanne Infante (Scrum-half), Ellie Kildunne (Full-back), Claudia MacDonald (Scrum-half), Sarah McKenna (Full-back), Lucy Packer (Scrum-half), Helena Rowland (Fly-half), Emily Scarratt (Centre), Lydia Thompson (Wing).

Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft (Lock), Sarah Bern (Prop), Hannah Botterman (Prop), Shaunagh Brown (Prop), Poppy Cleall (Back-row), Amy Cokayne (Hooker), Vickii Cornborough (Prop), Lark Davies (Hooker), Rosie Galligan (Lock), Sarah Hunter (Back-row), Sadia Kabeya (Back-row), Laura Keates (Prop), Alex Matthews (Back-row), Maud Muir (Prop), Cath O’Donnell (Lock), Marlie Packer (Back-row), Connie Powell (Hooker), Morwenna Talling (Lock), Abbie Ward (Lock).

Pool C – France

Head coach: Thomas Darracq

Captain: Gaelle Hermet

Previous finest: Third (1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2017)

Prospects: If there’s to be a facet to win this World Cup who’ve by no means lifted it earlier than, then it is going to be France. Les Bleus have by no means made a ultimate of their historical past, however have fallen on the semi-final stage a outstanding six occasions, together with on the final 4 tournaments in a row. Six Nations Grand Slam winners in 2018, France have been at all times a tricky match for England, however have fallen off the tempo over the previous couple of years. They have finished to such an extent they’ve misplaced 10 on the bounce to the Red Roses. They have overwhelmed New Zealand usually themselves, nevertheless, and will likely be within the hunt for the title.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sat Oct 8, South Africa vs France (2.15am, Eden Park, Auckland)
• Sat Oct 15, France vs England (8am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)
• Sat Oct 22, France vs Fiji (7.15am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)

Squad:

Backs: Emilie Boulard (Full-back), Pauline Bourdon (Scrum-half), Alexandra Chambon (Scrum-half), Caroline Drouin (Fly-half), Maelle Filopon (Centre), Joanna Grisez (Wing), Chloe Jquet (Centre/Full-back), Melissande Llorens (Wing), Marine Menager (Wing), Lina Queyroi (Scrum-half), Laure Sansus (Scrum-half), Jessy Tremouliere (Full-back), Gabrielle Vernier (Centre).

Forwards: Julie Annery (Back-row), Rose Bernadou (Prop), Yllana Brosseau (Prop), Annaelle Deshaye (Prop), Célia Domain (Prop), Charlotte Escudero (Back-row), Madoussou Fall (Lock), Manae Feleu (Lock), Celine Ferer (Lock), Emeline Gros (Back-row), Gaelle Hermet (Back-row), Clara Joyeux (Prop), Assia Khalfaoui (Prop), Coco Lindelauf (Prop), Marjorie Mayans (Back-row), Romane Menager (No 8), Safi N’Diaye (Lock), Agathe Sochat (Hooker), Laure Touye (Hooker).

Pool C – South Africa

Head coach: Stanley Raubenheimer

Captain: Nolusindiso Booi, Second row

Previous finest: tenth (2010, 2014)

Prospects: Unlike their male counterparts, South Africa’s ladies’s facet have struggled traditionally on the World Cup. They did not even qualify 4 years in the past, and have solely been taking part in different top-tier nations because the mid-2000s. Wins have been onerous to return by, and heavy defeats to England and France are anticipated.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sat Oct 8, South Africa vs France (2.15am, Eden Park, Auckland)
• Sun Oct 16, Fiji vs South Africa (5.45am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
• Sun Oct 23, England vs South Africa (5.45am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)

Squad:

Backs: Jakkie Cilliers (Centre), Libbie se van Rensburg (Fly-half), Zenay Jordaan (Fly-half), Tayla Kinsey (Scrum-half), Nomawethu Mabenge (Wing), Zintle Mpupha (Centre), Simamkele Namba (Wing), Aphiwe Ngwevu (Centre), Rumandi Potgieter (Scrum-half), Chuma Qawe (Wing), Chumisa Qawe (Centre), Nadine Roos (Wing), Unam Tose (Scrum-half), Eloise Webb (Wing).

Forwards: Nolusindiso Booi (Lock), Roseline Botes (Hooker), Sanelisiwe Charlie (Prop), Lusanda Dumke (Back-row), Micke Gunter (Hooker), Lindelwa Gwala (Hooker), Aseza Hele (Back-row), Catha Jacobs (Lock), Babalwa Latsha (Prop), Lerato Makua (Lock), Nompumelelo Mathe (Lock), Monica Mazibukwana (Prop), Sinazo Mcatshulwa (Back-row), Rights Mkhari (Back-row), Azisa Mkiva (Prop), Yonela Ngxingolo (Prop), Asithandile Ntoyanto (Prop), Sizophila Solontsi (Back-row).

Pool C – Fiji

Head coach: Senirusi Seruvakula

Captain: Sereima Leweniqila, Back-row

Previous finest: First look (2022)

Prospects: The solely event debutants, Fiji have by no means confronted any of the Six Nations nations of their historical past, nor have they performed New Zealand or USA earlier than. Their ladies’s Sevens facet picked up bronze on the Tokyo Olympics, although, and a number of other of these gamers have been drafted into the World Cup squad. They are available largely as an unknown amount.

Fixtures (All occasions GMT):

• Sat Oct 8, Fiji vs England (4.45am, Eden Park, Auckland)
• Sun Oct 16, Fiji vs South Africa (5.45am, Waitakere Stadium, Auckland)
• Sun Oct 23, France vs Fiji (7.15am, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei)

Squad:

Backs: Lavena Cavuru (Scrum-half), Ilisapeci Delaiwau (Wing), Sesenieli Donu (Utility again), Raijieli Laqeretabua (Centre), Kolora Lomani (Wing), Melaia Matanatabu (Centre), Vitalina Naikore (Wing), Ana Maria Naimasi (Utility again), Alowesi Nakoci (Utility again), Roela Radiniyavuni (Full-back), Timaima Ravisa (Utility again), Merewalesi Rokouono (Fly-half), Ana Maria Roqica (Scrum-half), Akasnisi Sokoiwasa (Wing), Talei Wilson (Utility again)

Forwards: Ema Adivitaloga (Back-row), Raijieli Daveua (Utility ahead), Sereima Leweniqila (Back-row), Vika Matarugu (Prop), Rusila Nagasau (Utility ahead), Karalaini Naisewa (Back-row), Merevesi Ofakimalino (Back-row), Siteri Rasolea (Prop), Akosita Ravato (Back-row), Joma Rubuti (Prop), Jiowana Sauto (Hooker), Asinate Serevi (Lock), Bitila Tawake (Utility ahead), Bulou Vasuturaga (Prop), Iris Verebalavu (Hooker), Mereoni Vonosere (Prop), Sulita Waisega (Lock)