Red Roses call up three Chiefs players ahead of home World Cup

The squad – featuring 23 forwards and 19 backs – gathered at Hazelwood on Monday 2 June for their first training camp of the summer. It includes 34 players from England’s Grand Slam-winning 2025 Six Nations campaign, as well as two Under-20 call-ups.

Among those selected are Exeter Chiefs players Claudia MacDonald, Flo Robinson and Maddie Feaunati, the latter being one of the youngest in the group.

MacDonald, however, continues to recover from a knee injury and will remain in a Return to Performance programme during camp, along with Ellie Kildunne, Mackenzie Carson, and Abbie Ward.

Chiefs interim head coach Steve Salvin said: “It is great to see three of our players named in the Red Roses squad as we head into the most exciting era of women's rugby that this country has ever seen.

The anticipation in Exeter is already building as the host of a Women’s Rugby World Cup venue, and while we will not get to see Claud, Flo and Maddie play at Sandy Park, we are ready to welcome other teams here and feel a part of this celebration of women’s sport.”

Red Roses head coach John Mitchell added: “We know how important and exciting 2025 is for women’s rugby in England. Today is the start of little wins where we will work hard into the tournament.”

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be the biggest edition yet, hosted in England with matches at venues including Sandy Park in Exeter, York Community Stadium, Salford Community Stadium, Franklin’s Gardens, and Twickenham.

Full Red Roses 2025 World Cup Training Squad

Forwards
Zoe Aldcroft, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Georgia Brock, Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Amy Cokayne, Maddie Feaunati, Rosie Galligan, Lizzie Hanlon, Lilli Ives Campion, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews, Maud Muir, Cath O’Donnell, Marlie Packer, Simi Pam, Connie Powell, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward

Backs
Holly Aitchison, Jess Breach, Millie David*, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison, Tatyana Heard, Natasha Hunt, Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne, Claudia MacDonald, Lucy Packer, Sarah Parry*, Flo Robinson, Helena Rowland, Emily Scarratt, Jade Shekells, Emma Sing, Mia Venner, Ella Wyrwas

*denotes Under-20 call-ups