TV Guide: The Red Roses and FA Cup return to our screens

The West Country side are going for a fourth straight title, which would match the visitors’ record from 2006 to 2009. Gloucester-Hartpury lost 62-0 at home to Saracens in 2018 but may have the edge with the England captain, Zoe Aldcroft, and Alex Matthews, who scored twice in the World Cup final.

Meanwhile, the men’s autumn internationals begin on Saturday. Ireland have the hardest task against New Zealand while Scotland shouldn’t have a problem with the United States (TNT Sports 2, 8.10pm and 5.40pm). England kick it all off against Australia (TNT 1, 3.10pm) and with my club hat on I’m hoping, at long odds, that all three former Blackheath players are selected. Noah Caluori, who scored five tries on his first start for Saracens last week, was added to Steve Borthwick’s training squad, joining another former Blackheath minis player in Theo Dan and the Lions prop Will Stuart, who was in our first XV as a teenager.

The “first round proper”, as Henry Kelly used to call it in TV quiz Going for Gold, begins in the FA Cup on Friday when Luton host non-League Forest Green Rovers (TNT Sports 1, 7.30pm). Luton went from non-League to Premier League in nine seasons and are heading back down after two relegations. Will Halloween provide a shock?

Almost 750 clubs entered the Cup in August, among them Maldon & Tiptree from the Isthmian League North. The Essex level eight side’s reward for getting through six qualifying rounds is to play away to Port Vale next Sunday.

The best game of the first round for nostalgics sends Huddersfield to Bolton, the 1922 winners at the 1923 winners. Saturday’s TV match, however, comes from St James Park (no, not that one) where Brackley Town host Notts County, who won the Cup as recently as 1894 and are overdue a run (BBC Two, 5.30pm).

Finally, England’s four-run win over India in the women’s cricket World Cup last Sunday meant that they do not have to beat New Zealand in this morning’s final group match (Sky Sports Cricket, 5.30am). The semi-finals are on Wednesday and Thursday (Sky Sports Cricket, 9.30am). The final is next Sunday.

Photograph by Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport