Former Welwyn Rugby Club juniors contributed more than a quarter of England's points in a nine-try rout over USA.

Ella Wyrwas got the last of those tries while Zoe Harrison converted eight as the Red Roses enjoyed a 61-21 success in game one of the XVV 1.

Another from the Hobbs Way club, Helena Rowland, came off the bench in the second half while a fourth, Hannah Botterman, missed out on the match day squad.

The XVV competition is similar to the Nations Cup in football.

It is an annual event with three divisions, each split into two groups of three, with one group playing the three teams in the other.

The highest-points scorers from the six teams are then awarded the crown with England the defending champions in WXV 1.

The competition has been brought in to help increase international experience for countries, with the Rugby World Cup, the next edition in England next year, now expanded to 16.

The champs took a while to get going at the BC Place Stadium, before running in four tries in the first half, two of them for full-back Ellie Kildunne.

USA dug in with captain Kate Zackary scoring their third try during the second half before England finished strongly to run out comfortable winners.

England hooker Lark Atkin-Davies had powered over following a line-out in the 11th minute and soon crossed again as Kildunne charged forward from inside her own half to touch down under the posts.

The USA were rewarded for a positive spell on the half-hour mark when Alev Kelter collected her own kick before ducking right and dashing clear but England restored their dominance with two tries in the space of five minutes ahead of half-time through Georgia Brock and captain Alex Matthews.

USA centre Kelter charged through for her second try after the interval but England responded through debutant Bo Westcombe-Evans.

Again USA responded, this time through skipper Zackary, but John Mitchell’s side then stepped things up another gear as flanker Morwenna Talling went over for England’s sixth try.

Jess Breach, Kildunne and Wyrwas, another second-half replacement, killed the game off.

The next match is on Sunday when England play New Zealand, the Black Ferns having suffered a 29-27 loss to Ireland in game one.