England take on Samoa as their Women’s Rugby World cup campaign continues in Northampton today.
England have been beaten finalists in five of the past six World Cups but are targeting glory on home soil this summer.
The Red Roses are in form, though, and brimming with confidence. Pre-tournament friendlies against Spain and France yielded two wins by an aggregate score of 137-13, and they thrashed the United States 69-7 in Sunderland in their Pool A opener.
They take on a Samoan side that were decimated by Australia 73-0 in their first match at the Salford Community Stadium.
England vs Samoa date, kick-off time and venue
England vs the United States takes place today on Saturday, August 30, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm BST.
The match will be played in front of over 40,000 fans at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton.
How to watch England vs Samoa
TV channel: Live coverage of the match is available via BBC Two. The BBC are the official rights holders to the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Their broadcast starts at 4.35pm BST ahead of a 5pm kick-off.
Live stream: Fans with a valid TV license can also watch the match live online via BBC iPlayer.
Live blog: Follow the match online with Standard Sport’s live blog.
England vs Samoa team news
England boss John Mitchell has rung the changes as expected after the opener against the US.
Zoe Aldcroft has been ruled out for the rest of the group stage with a knee injury, and she is one of 13 changes that Mitchell has made the XV.
Marlie Packer will resume the captaincy in Aldcroft’s absence, with the skipper missing a game for the first time since being named captain in January.
England vs Samoa lineups
England XV: Sing; Breach, Jones, Shekells, Moloney-MacDonald; Rowland, Packer; Clifford, Atkin-Davies, Bern, Campion, Galligan, Burton, Packer (capt), Feaunati.
Replacements: Campbell, Carson, Muir, Talling, Kabeya, Hunt, Harrison, Kildunne.
Samoa XV: Wright-Akeli; Lasini, Pouri-Lane, Makisi, Fiafia; Vatau, Afuie; Aiolupotea, Nonutunu, Aiono, C Onesemo-Tuilaepa, D Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Atonio, Pauaraisa, Foaese.
Replacements: Leuta, Tauasosi, Losefo, Sio, Jamie Iva, Leaula, Ah-Cheung.
England vs Samoa head to head (h2h)
England have only played Samoa twice, winning in 2005 and 2014.
The aggregate score of those two matches was 118-3.
England wins: 2
Samoa wins: 0
Draws: 0
England vs Samoa prediction
This should be fairly easy pickings for England, despite the wholesale changes to the lineup.
It could be a slow start as fringe players look to gel with each other, but you would imagine that this will be a relatively straightforward victory for the hosts.
England to win by eighty points.
England vs Samoa match odds
England to win: Suspended
Samoa to win: 50/1
Draw: 50/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
