Ainsworth makes first Scotland start as Bonar returns on bench

Ainsworth makes first Scotland start as Bonar returns on bench. Scrum-half Ceitidh Ainsworth will make her first start for Scotland Women, while lock Sarah Bonar makes the match-day squad for the first time since the 2025 Rugby World Cup, for Saturday's visit by New Zealand.

What happened

Glasgow lock Holland Bogan returns to the matchday squad to make her second start for Scotland. Harlequins' Bonar is set to earn her 52nd cap from the bench as she returns from injury. Having made her debut off the bench in last weekend's 64-26 defeat by Canada, Glasgow Warriors' Ainsworth replaces clubmate Rhea Clarke at scrum-half in one of four changes made by interim head coach Dave Butcher for the WXV Series match at Hive Stadium.

IRFU await news of 'massive opportunity' to join PWRPublished5 hours agoBevan in fly-half switch for Wales' WXV openerPublished1 day agoLloyd looks for positives from 'frustrating' Canada lossPublished4 days agoScotland line-upChloe Rollie (Edinburgh Rugby), Rhona Lloyd (Sale Sharks), Rachel Philipps (Edinburgh), Meryl Smith (Bristol Bears), Shona Campbell (Sale Sharks); Helen Nelson (Trailfinders), Ceitidh Ainsworth (Glasgow Warriors); Anne Young (Glasgow Warriors), Lana Skeldon (Bristol Bears), Elliann Clarke (Glasgow Warriors), Emma Wassell (Trailfinders), Holland Bogan (Glasgow Warriors), Rachel Malcolm, capt (Trailfinders), Eva Donaldson (Sale Sharks), Evie Gallagher (Bristol Bears).

Skip to content Red Roses: Jess Breach, Alex Matthews return for England Women vs Canada as John Mitchell rings changes John Mitchell's England Red Roses face Canada in first of three Tests on Saturday, playing side they beat at Twickenham to win 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup; Red Roses face Canada in WXV Global Series on Saturday in Exeter, and then away on Friday October 16 and Friday October 23 Thursday 17 September 2026 14:09, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Red Roses head coach John Mitchell speaks to Sky Sports about their drive ahead WXV Global Series home Tests with Canada and New Zealand Jess Breach and Alex Matthews return to start for England's Red Roses against Canada in the first of three WXV Tests between the sides on Saturday, as head coach John Mitchell makes nine changes.

Skip to content BMW PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy makes promising start with two early birdies Thursday 17 September 2026 10:50, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Rory McIlroy birdied two of his opening four holes at the BMW PGA Championship. Sale Sharks' Eva Donaldson also comes into the starting line-up on the openside flank against the Black Ferns and, in the front row, Glasgow's Anne Young will start at loosehead prop.

The wider picture

Clarke drops to the bench along with Sale prop Leah Bartlett, while Bristol Bears second row Hollie Cunningham and Glasgow forward Becky Boyd drop out the match-day squad. Replacements: Aicha Sutcliffe (Glasgow Warriors), Leah Bartlett (Sale Sharks), Molly Poolman (Edinburgh), Sarah Bonar (Harlequins), Adelle Ferrie (Edinburgh), Rhea Clarke (Glasgow Warriors), Hannah Ramsay (Edinburgh), Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs). Hooker Bryony Field scored on her international debut last weekend in the dominant win over Australia and earns a maiden start in an all-changed front row featuring Hannah Botterman and Maud Muir.

Morwenna Talling is also back among the starting contingent from the second row. Image: England wing Jess Breach returns on the wing for the visit of Canada to Exeter Red Roses team to play CanadaRed Roses: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Jess Breach, 13 Megan Jones (c), 12 Helena Rowland, 11 Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Lucy Packer; 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Maud Muir, 4 Morwenna Talling, 5 Lilli Ives Campion, 6 Abi Burton, 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Alex Matthews. Photograph: Atlantic Studios‘Godfather of AI’ says tech regulation is nearing Covid-style pivot momentSafety crisis makes it more likely that governments will be spurred into action, says Yoshua BengioConcerns over AI safety are reaching a point where governments realise they must act to protect the public, similarly to in the Covid pandemic, according to one of the “godfathers” of the technology.

Yoshua Bengio said recent events, including a “swarm” of OpenAI agents hacking a startup and tech insider warnings of an existential threat, were cutting through – making government action more likely. “We believe this is an emergency, and call on the Royal Society to use its influence to convey this view to government and the media. ”Last week, a researcher at Anthropic, the startup behind the Claude chatbot, resigned after warning that colleagues believed AI could “kill us all by the end of the decade”.

What has been reported

Related topicsRugby UnionScottish RugbyRelated internet linksScottish Rugby Union Breach and Matthews, both of whom played major roles in 2025's Women's Rugby World Cup glory – as England beat Canada in the final – come into the side on the right wing and at No 8 respectively. Mitchell's side face Canada in Tests on Saturday in Exeter, Friday October 16 in Toronto, and Friday October 23 in Ottawa. They also face New Zealand on Saturday September 26 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Red Roses' second-half blitz earns 48-15 win over Australia in WXV Global Series openerPollock: I want to explore new avenues. . . and new sportsNot got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract Image: Meg Jones (left) captains England again as Alex Matthews (centre), Jess Breach (right) return to the side vs Canada Lucy Packer – another try scorer against the Wallaroos – is named at scrum-half with fly-half Zoe Harrison outside her. Helena Rowland is reinstated to the midfield alongside captain Meg Jones.

Three Exeter Chiefs players – Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Maddie Feaunati and Flo Robinson – are in the squad as the Red Roses prepare to play at their club stadium, Sandy Park, for the first time since September 2023.

What happens next

"This is the first Test of an exciting three-Test series between the No 1 and No 3 teams in the world," head coach Mitchell said. Image: No 8 Alex Matthews scored two tries in the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup final success vs Canada "You need rivalries in our sport and our rivalry with Canada is one that has evolved to a great level. They are a well-coached team who will bring a different challenge to the one Australia presented.

"England's squad contains 974 Test caps, while 14 players in the matchday 23 were involved in the World Cup final triumph over Canada at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Replacements: 16 May Campbell, 17 Mackenzie Carson, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Delaney Burns, 20 Maddie Feaunati, 21 Marlie Packer, 22 Flo Robinson, 23 Holly Aitchison. Around Sky Upgrade to get all of Sky Sports, including 1500 live football matches this season Not got Sky? Get instant access to Sky Sports with no contract Home Sports Scores Watch Sky Bet More Podcasts Upcoming on Sky Get Sky Sports Sky Sports App Sky Sports with no contract Kick It Out British South Asians in Football Watch Sky Sports 👀 Sky Data Layer Sky Data Layer Viewer ➡️ Clear

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across bbc.co.uk, skysports.com, theguardian.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.