Scarratt closing in on record fifth World Cup

Centre Emily Scarratt is closing successful connected a record-equalling 5th Rugby World Cup aft being named successful England's 42-player training squad for nan tournament.

The 35-year-old has played successful nan past 4 World Cups for nan Red Roses and is aiming to go nan first English rugby national subordinate to play astatine 5 of nan tournaments.

Loughborough Lightning's Scarratt, who has been capped 118 times, attended her first World Cup arsenic a 20-year-old - pinch England losing nan last to New Zealand astatine Twickenham Stoop successful 2010.

Scarratt scored 16 points successful nan 2014 last triumph against Canada successful Paris, including nan game-clinching effort successful a player-of-the-match performance, earlier starting England's past 2 World Cup last defeats by New Zealand.

In nan men's crippled only 3 players; Samoa's Brian Lima and Italy duo Mauro Bergamasco and Sergio Parisse person played astatine 5 World Cups.

In nan women's game, erstwhile New Zealand fly-half Anna Richards was portion of 5 World Cups betwixt 1991 and 2010, winning nan title 4 times.

Fiao'o Fa'amausili besides won 4 World Cups for nan Black Ferns crossed her 5 tournaments, from 2002-2017. Scotland's Donna Kennedy besides played astatine 5 World Cups - her first coming successful 1994.

Hosts England are favourites to triumph nan World Cup, which gets nether measurement connected 22 August.

They defeated France 43-42 successful a thriller astatine Allianz Stadium, Twickenham successful April to unafraid their 4th consecutive Six Nations Grand Slam.

Megan Jones has established herself arsenic John Mitchell's starting extracurricular centre, but Scarratt - contempt missing retired connected England's matchday squad for nan Grand Slam triumph complete France - remains a valuable squad personnel successful a position wherever title for places is high.

The Red Roses are connected a 25-game winning tally arsenic they count down to their location World Cup, which starts against nan United States astatine Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

The squad assembled connected Monday for nan first clip and will beryllium trim down to 32 players for nan tournament.

England, who were world champions successful 2014, narrowly missed retired in melodramatic fashion astatine Eden Park successful 2022 against New Zealand.

"We cognize really important and breathtaking 2025 is for women's rugby successful England," Mitchell said. "Today is nan commencement of small wins wherever we will activity difficult into nan tournament."

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.

Gloucester-Hartpury guardant Sarah Beckett is erstwhile again a notable omission from nan squad.

The 26-year-old, who tin play astatine fastener aliases successful nan backmost row, grounded to make nan Red Roses' World Cup squad successful 2022.

Beckett was included successful Mitchell's Women's Six Nations squad earlier this twelvemonth but grounded to make an quality because of a backmost injury, pinch nan past of her 35 caps coming successful past year's Six Nations.

Loughborough Lightning fastener Cath O'Donnell is included and has returned to afloat training aft missing nan Six Nations and October's WXV1 campaigns pinch an ankle injury.

Uncapped England Under-20 duo Millie David and Sarah Parry are named aft featuring successful Mitchell's March Six Nations training squad.

Bristol Bears' David, 19, was this season's Premiership Women's Rugby associated apical try-scorer pinch an awesome tally of 17.

Prop Mackenzie Carson (ankle), world subordinate of nan twelvemonth Ellie Kildunne (hamstring), Exeter Chiefs helping Claudia MacDonald (knee) and Bristol Bears fastener Abbie Ward (toe) will each proceed their wounded rehab successful camp.