England captain Meg Jones insists the smaller balls being trialled in the forthcoming WXV Global Series “reward perfection” but will reserve judgement on them until the campaign is over.
World Rugby has introduced the new women’s bespoke 4.5 ball, which is 3 per cent smaller than the standard size 5 but is the same weight, for the forthcoming competition involving the sport’s top 12 sides.
According to the global game’s governing body, the smaller size is “specially designed to suit female players” and give a “better platform for showcasing handling skills”.
When the trial was announced in May, England fly-half Zoe Harrison described it as the “worst decision someone has ever made” and opinion has been divided over whether the different ball is necessary.
John Mitchell’s world champions open their six-Test WXV series against Australia at CorpAcq Stadium on Saturday and play further matches against Canada – three times – New Zealand and America.
“I’m not one to be complaining about it because it’s here now, we can’t do anything about it,” Jones said.
“We’ll perform regardless of the size of the ball. It’s an interesting area to deliver on an international stage, but I’ll give feedback when needed.
“They reward perfection a little bit. The margin of error is a lot smaller – you see a little bit more dying of the ball with passing.
“It’s been a while getting used to it. I know some girls are getting a little bit frustrated, but the nature of it is that it’s here now and we’ll work well with it and we’ll do our best.
“Will it elevate the game? It’s hard to say. To keep the ball alive more with offloads etc…it’s got a little bit fatter in the middle so I don’t know if it helps us necessarily in that respect.
“It’s an interesting topic and we’ll see how it pans out, but that’s how it is.”
England have been strengthened by the return of four 2025 World Cup winners from injury with centre Tatyana Heard (foot), replacement prop Hannah Botterman (ankle), Natasha Hunt (knee) and replacement lock Morwenna Talling (leg) all back after taking limited or no part in the Six Nations.
Sale fly-half Holly Aitchison will make her 50th international appearance at her home ground and is one of five changes to the starting XV that thumped France in May, with hooker May Campbell and wing Mia Venner completing the adjustments. Hooker Bryony Field is primed for a debut off the bench.
Red Roses XV to face Australia (Saturday 12 September, 3pm BST): 1 Mackenzie Carson, 2 May Campbell, 3 Sarah Bern; 4 Delaney Burns, 5 Lilli Ives Campion; 6 Abi Burton, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Maddie Feaunati; 9 Natasha Hunt, 10 Holly Aitchison; 11 Claudia Moloney-Mac Donald; 12 Tatyana Heard, 13 Meg Jones (capt.), 14 Mia Venner; 15 Ellie Kildunne.
Replacements: 16 Bryony Field, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Morwenna Talling, 20 Marlie Packer; 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Helena Rowland.
PA
