Red Roses make four changes for Canada Test in Toronto — SkimNews
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- John Mitchell made four changes to the Red Roses starting lineup for the Canada Test in Toronto, bringing in hooker Amy Cokayne, centre Tatyana Heard, loosehead prop Hannah Botterman and back-row Abi Burton.
- Helena Rowland, Bryony Field and Mackenzie Carson drop to the replacements bench, while flanker Sadia Kabeya returns from a leg injury and Marlie Packer misses the North American trip ahead of partner Rosie Galligan giving birth.
- Bristol Bears forward Demelza Short (20) features as a replacement for the first time in the WXV Global Series.
- The Test follows last month's 26-26 draw with Canada in Exeter and a last-play 26-19 win over New Zealand at Twickenham in the WXV Global Series.
- Mitchell framed the Toronto match as a "different environment and challenge" and a chance to "raise our level" as the side builds towards the 2029 World Cup cycle.
- Red Roses schedule: Canada in Toronto on October 17, Canada in Ottawa on October 23, then USA in New Jersey on October 30 — with the Ottawa Test set for a record North American crowd for a standalone women's rugby match.
Why it matters: With four rotation changes one month after the Exeter stalemate, the side is using the Toronto Test to test combinations and depth ahead of the 2029 cycle Mitchell explicitly named — a stakes-raising move given the second Test in Ottawa is already set to draw a record North American standalone women's rugby crowd.
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