SEVEN Gloucester-Hartpury players have been named in the England squad for this month’s WXV Global Series, strengthening the Forest and Hartpury connection to the world champion Red Roses.

Head coach John Mitchell has selected a 36-player group for three home Tests against Australia, Canada and New Zealand, with Gloucester-Hartpury providing one of the strongest club contingents.

Mackenzie Carson, Alex Matthews, Sophie McQueen and Maud Muir are included among the forwards, while Natasha “Mo” Hunt, Emma Sing and Mia Venner have been selected in the backs.

The call-ups continue Hartpury’s significant influence on the England set-up, with several members of the squad having developed through the Gloucestershire rugby system before establishing themselves at the highest level.

Matthews is one of the most experienced Gloucester-Hartpury representatives, with 82 England caps, while scrum-half Hunt has 89.

Prop Muir has already accumulated 53 international appearances at the age of 25, while Carson enters the series with 29 caps.

Sing has become another regular member of the Red Roses set-up and has 17 caps, with Venner on four.

McQueen is the only uncapped Gloucester-Hartpury player in the squad and could make her senior international debut during the series.

The seven are part of an experienced England group containing a combined 1,234 international caps, with 25 of the players selected having been involved in the country’s 2025 Rugby World Cup triumph.

England spent the opening three weeks of their pre-season programme at the University of Nottingham before returning to London to complete preparations for their first fixture.

They will begin the series against Australia at the CorpAcq Stadium in Salford on Saturday, September 12.

A repeat of last year’s World Cup final follows when England face Canada at Sandy Park, Exeter, on Saturday, September 19.

The series concludes with a major fixture against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday, September 26, where more than 50,000 spectators are expected.

Mitchell said England had enjoyed a positive pre-season and praised the standards set by his players during their preparations.

He said: “The girls have worked hard to elevate their connections, making us stronger, and have driven high standards.”

Mitchell said the squad had trained with considerable intensity ahead of the three matches and believes there remains more to come from his players as the new international cycle develops.

“This squad is only four weeks old, there is plenty in the tank,” he added.

The series provides England with three major Tests on home soil after last year’s World Cup success, while offering McQueen the opportunity to join her Gloucester-Hartpury teammates as a full senior international.

For Forest rugby followers, the selections also underline the continuing importance of Hartpury and Gloucester-Hartpury to the national game, with established internationals and emerging players again represented in England colours.

All three matches will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and England Rugby’s YouTube channel, giving supporters the chance to follow the Gloucester-Hartpury contingent throughout the series as England begin their latest senior international campaign on home soil later this month.