Marlie Packer, a two-time World Cup winner, will not join the England squad for their upcoming Tests against Canada and the United States this month. The Harlequins back-rower will stay in the United Kingdom as she and her partner, Rosie Galligan, prepare for the birth of their child.

England is set to face Canada on October 17 and October 24 (both matches kick off at 00:00 BST) before taking on the USA in a one-off match on October 30 at 21:15 BST.

The team welcomes back Kelsey Clifford for the tour, as the Saracens prop recovers from a hamstring injury. This North American tour follows a challenging September for the Red Roses, where they achieved victories against Australia and New Zealand but saw their record-breaking winning streak come to an end with a draw against Canada.

England head coach John Mitchell has emphasized the significance of the upcoming matches, describing the home Tests with Canada and the Black Ferns as "humdingers that could have gone either way." He noted that the Tests against Canada in Toronto and Ottawa are seen as the culmination of a self-titled three-Test series.

Mitchell expressed high hopes for the squad:

The 32 players travelling to North America have a great opportunity to elevate our connections as a squad because playing away from home requires togetherness. We have shown a real hunger to compete and improve, and we're excited to rip into our preparations and continue our rivalry with Canada in Toronto.

Additionally, Delaney Burns, Haidee Head, and Sophie McQueen will not travel due to injuries. Notably, Packer remains England's most capped active player with 119 caps.