England Women name rising star Sadia Kabeya in World Cup opener

England Women name 20-year-old rising star Sadia Kabeya in side to face Fiji in World Cup opener, with veteran flanker Marlie Packer still nursing injury  

  • Simon Middleton has announced England team to face Fiji in World Cup opener
  • Marlie Packer misses out due to a foot injury and Sadia Kabeya takes her place
  • Wing Abby Dow is poised for first appearance since the Six Nations from bench
  • Captain Sarah Hunter has warned rivals, England are ready to go to a new level  

The first rule of Fight Club is not to mention it, as Brad Pitt said in the 1999 thriller.

But England captain Sarah Hunter is of a different mindset and has warned her team’s World Cup rivals the Red Roses are ready to go to a new level in New Zealand after a summer of pain.

Simon Middleton’s side are firm favourites for global glory after travelling to the southern hemisphere on the back of a record-breaking 25-match winning run.

Captain Sarah Hunter has warned World Cup rivals, England are ready to go to a new level 

But if anyone thought England were resting on their laurels, they should think again.

‘We’ve spent a lot of time in fight club and the pen of pain, but I think it has paid off,’ said experienced forward Hunter, who was part of England’s World Cup-winning squad of 2014.

‘Our set-piece has gone up another level since the Six Nations, especially the scrum. We have spent a lot of time on our work as a leadership group which I think in the USA and Wales games really came into its own. Hopefully it’s more of the same as we go through the World Cup.’

Hunter’s comments are ominous for any of the other teams competing in the southern hemisphere in the month to come. England begin their tournament on Saturday’s opening day against Fiji.

Head coach Simon Middleton has left out key flanker Marlie Packer due to a foot problem

Head coach Middleton has left out key flanker Marlie Packer who is currently not at 100 per cent due to a foot problem. Packer should be back for England’s second game with France.

Sadia Kabeya, 20, starts in place of Packer against Fiji in a strong side led by No 8 Hunter. Wing Abby Dow is poised for her first appearance since the Six Nations from the bench.

Dow suffered a horror broken leg against Wales in April, but her recovery has been remarkable thanks in no small part to the work of England’s medical team.

‘Every session she gets better,’ England head coach Middleton said of Dow. ‘It’s quite remarkable what the medics have done and it’s not by chance. The amount of effort they’ve put in has been incredible. She (Dow) scored a couple of tries in training yesterday and she puts the fear of God into defenders. Before she got injured she was the best finisher in world rugby.’

Sadia Kabeya, 20, starts in place of Packer against Fiji on Saturday as part of a strong side

England hammered the USA and Wales in warm-up games before flying to New Zealand and will do the same against a Fiji side still learning at this level.

Middleton’s only issue is the absence of Shaunagh Brown after a positive Covid-19 test. Kabeya also tested positive for the virus but has since completed her isolation period.

‘We’re going to be the bad guys on Saturday,’ said Middleton.

‘They (Fiji) are probably going to want an open, flowing game based around a bit of carnage. We want to try and bring them under control.’




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