Mitchell sets WXV Global Series as England’s 2029 World Cup audition

John Mitchell has told England to treat the WXV Global Series as an early opportunity to measure their progress towards the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup. The Red Roses, the reigning world champions, will face Australia, Canada and New Zealand at home before travelling to Canada and the United States.

The demanding programme will run across September and October, giving Mitchell’s squad a substantial block of high-level international rugby. He wants the series to form part of England’s planning for the next stage of development rather than be viewed only as a set of individual fixtures.

England begin against Australia in Salford on September 12. Canada will visit Sandy Park one week later, before New Zealand face the Red Roses at Twickenham. The remaining programme takes England to Canada and the United States.

The fixtures give England matches against three leading opponents before the overseas leg. Australia, Canada and New Zealand were selected for a schedule designed to test the world champions across a demanding run of games.

For Mitchell, the series will provide an early indication of how the squad is developing after England’s World Cup success. The 2029 tournament remains the longer-term target, while the home matches and subsequent trips will give the Red Roses a chance to assess their progress against major international opposition.

The WXV Global Series therefore marks the beginning of England’s next development phase. Mitchell has challenged his players to approach it as an audition for places and progress on the road to the 2029 World Cup, with the September and October fixtures setting the first significant test.