Burns eyes seventh England cap as key opportunity arises against Australia

Bristol Bears forward Delaney Burns, 24, is set to face Australia on Saturday in Manchester as she looks to build on her six England caps. She earned her first three caps in 2023 before waiting until the 2026 Six Nations to add a further three to her tally.

With Abbie Ward, Rosie Galligan and Zoe Stratford all unavailable due to pregnancy or maternity leave, Burns has been given a rare opportunity to be part of the England squad from the outset of the upcoming WXV Global Series campaign — a first for her in her international career. She says she is now regarded as one of the more experienced line-out forwards in the group and is focused on supporting younger players coming through the squad.

Although she missed out on one of England's 32 contracted playing spots, Burns says she is working hard on her defensive game this season in an effort to reach the next level.

Community work off the pitch

Away from playing, Burns has been heavily involved with the Bristol Bears Foundation, coaching and giving talks to girls at schools across the greater Bristol area. The sessions cover topics beyond rugby, including the menstrual cycle, body image, the effects of social media and AI, and staying mentally and physically safe. She notes that some of this work targets more deprived parts of Bristol, aiming to give children in those communities new opportunities. The initiative has helped launch a new South Bristol girls' team that has already attracted 50-60 players.

If selected for Saturday's match, Burns will be supported from the stands by her grandfather, who travels from Poole to watch as many of her games as possible and originally introduced her to the sport.