Women’s Rugby World Cup: England name Burton in back row for Spain warm-up

Flanker Abi Burton makes her first Test start as England begin their pursuit of a home women’s Rugby World Cup title with a warm-up match against Spain on Saturday.

The 25-year-old has fought her way back to the top after spending more than three weeks in an induced coma in 2022 as she was treated for autoimmune encephalitis.

The former Sevens player’s previous two appearances for the Red Roses came off the bench in this year’s Six Nations campaign.

Elsewhere England make 10 changes from the starting line-up that beat France in their Grand Slam decider in April, with several front-line stars rested.

Inside centre Jade Shekells and second row Lilli Ives Campion, who both have two caps, are given a chance to stake their claims, while Lucy Packer is in at starting scrum-half with Natasha Hunt on the bench.

Marlie Packer, winning her 111th cap, captains the side from open-side flanker with Maddie Feaunati switching to number eight and Burton completing the back row.

The versatile Helena Rowland starts for the first time on the wing having previously covered the position from the bench. Jess Breach is on the other with Emma Sing continuing at full-back.

Zoe Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya, Holly Aitchison and Abby Down are among the replacements.

England’s meeting with Spain, ranked 13th in the world, is the first of two warm-up matches for the World Cup. They will also take on France away next week, before they begin their World Cup campaign against the United States in Sunderland on 22 August.

England: Sing; Rowland, Jones, Shekells, Breach; Harrison, L Packer; Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Galligan, Campion, Burton, M Packer (capt) Feaunati.

Replacements: Campbell, Botterman, Muir, Aldcroft, Kabeya, Hunt, Aitchison, Dow