England women's national rugby union team

Last updated

England
England rugby textlogo.svg
Nickname(s)Red Roses
EmblemRed Rose
Union Rugby Football Union
Head coach John Mitchell
Captain Marlie Packer
Most caps Sarah Hunter (141)
Top scorer Emily Scarratt (749)
Top try scorer Sue Day (61)
Home stadium Twickenham
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Kit body England rugby 2021 h.png
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Kit right arm England rugby 2021 h.png
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Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks whitetop.png
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Kit left arm englandrugby21a.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body englandrugby21a.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm englandrugby21a.png
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Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current1 (as of 9 January 2023)
Highest1 (2012–2013, 2014–2015, 2017, 2020–)
Lowest4 (2015)
First international
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 4–22 England  Flag of England.svg
( Pontypool, Wales; 5 April 1987)
Biggest win
Flag of England.svg  England 101–0 South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg
( East Molesey, England; 14 May 2005)
Biggest defeat
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 67–0 England  Flag of England.svg
( Burnham, New Zealand; 13 August 1997)
World Cup
Appearances9 (First in 1991)
Best resultChampions, 1994, 2014

The England women's national rugby union team, commonly known as the Red Roses, represents England in women's international rugby union. They compete in the annual Women's Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. England have won the championship on a total of 19 out of 28 occasions – winning the Grand Slam 17 times and the Triple Crown 23 times – making them the most successful side in the tournament's history, helped by their status as the only fully professional women’s team in 2019. They won the Women's Rugby World Cup in 1994 and 2014, and have been runners-up on six other occasions. Their current permanent head coach, as of October 2023, is John Mitchell. [1]

Contents

History

England at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup. 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup - England 26.jpg
England at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Until 2009 the badge and logo of England women's national teams was significantly different from that worn by men's teams. However, in 2009 in anticipation of the merger between the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football Union for Women England teams adopted the men's rose.[ citation needed ]

England have taken part in every Women's Rugby World Cup competition, winning in 1994 and 2014 and finishing as runner-up on six other occasions.

The 1995/1996 season saw the introduction of a Home Nations Championship between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which England won in its inaugural year. England won the Championship every year, except for the 1997/98 season when it was won by Scotland.

France joined the competition in the 1998/99 season making it the Five Nations Championship, with England achieving the Grand Slam in three successive seasons.

In the 2001/02 season, Ireland rejoined the fold in preparation for the World Cup and the competition expanded to be known as the Six Nations. Since then England have finished lower than runner-up on only 2 occasions, in 2013 and 2015 respectively, and have won the title on 14 separate occasions. This includes 7 consecutive tournament triumphs between 2006 and 2012 and the Grand Slam on 12 more occasions, including 3 times in a row between 2006–2008 and 2010–2012, respectively.

Records

Top 20 rankings as of 15 April 2024 [2]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 096.18
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 090.56
3Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 088.00
4Steady2.svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 086.27
5Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 081.61
6Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 076.50
7Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 075.80
8Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 073.41
9Steady2.svgFlag of the United States.svg  United States 072.57
10Steady2.svgIRFU flag.svg  Ireland 072.35
11Steady2.svgFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 069.38
12Steady2.svgFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 065.17
13Steady2.svgFlag of Spain.svg  Spain 065.15
14Steady2.svgFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 061.10
15Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 059.57
16Steady2.svgFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 058.98
17Steady2.svgFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 058.65
18Steady2.svgFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 058.31
19Steady2.svgFlag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 055.97
20Steady2.svgFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 052.72
*Change from the previous week

Overall

Full internationals only

Correct as of 13 April 2024

OpponentFirst gamePlayedWonDrawnLostWin %
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 19988800100.00%
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 199339351389.74%
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 20221100100.00%
Flag of France.svg  France 1991554201376.36%
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 19971100100.00%
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 199632300293.75%
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 1991272700100.00%
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 20003300100.00%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 19904400100.00%
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1997321211937.50%
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 19942200100.00%
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 20052200100.00%
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 199432300293.75%
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 20056600100.00%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 199116141187.50%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 19883300100.00%
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 199120190195.00%
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 198743410295.35%
Total198732628034385.39%

World Cup

Rugby World Cup
YearRoundPldWDLPFPASquad
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1991 Runners-up43015628 Squad
Flag of Scotland.svg 1994 Champions550017239 Squad
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 1998 Third Place540121978 Squad
Flag of Spain.svg 2002 Runners-up430113837 Squad
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2006 Runners-up540114647 Squad
Flag of England.svg 2010 Runners-up540117123 Squad
Flag of France.svg 2014 Champions 541018437 Squad
IRFU flag.svg 2017 Runners-up 540121188 Squad
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2021 Runners-up 650127084 Squad
Flag of England.svg 2025 Qualified
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2029 TBD
Flag of the United States.svg 2033
TotalChampions4436171487451
  Champion  Runner-up  Third place  Fourth place
* Tied placing Best placingHome venue

Six Nations

Flag of England.svg  England Flag of France.svg  France IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Tournaments2724251627727
Outright Wins18620100
Grand Slams16510100
Triple Crowns22211
Wooden Spoons0053926

Players

Current squad

On 11 March 2024, head coach John Mitchell announced England's 35-player squad for the 2024 Women's Six Nations. [3]

Note: The age and number of caps listed for each player is as of 23 March 2024, the first day of the tournament.

Head coach: Flag of New Zealand.svg John Mitchell

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Lark Atkin-Davies Hooker (1995-03-03)3 March 1995 (aged 29)54 Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears
Amy Cokayne Hooker (1996-07-11)11 July 1996 (aged 27)72 Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Connie Powell Hooker (2000-07-13)13 July 2000 (aged 23)14 Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Hannah Botterman Prop (1999-06-08)8 June 1999 (aged 24)42 Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears
Mackenzie Carson Prop (1998-11-28)28 November 1998 (aged 25)10 Flag of England.svg Gloucester-Hartpury
Kelsey Clifford Prop (2001-12-11)11 December 2001 (aged 22)3 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Lizzie Hanlon Prop (2001-07-30)30 July 2001 (aged 22)0 Flag of England.svg Exeter Chiefs
Maud Muir Prop (2001-07-12)12 July 2001 (aged 22)25 Flag of England.svg Gloucester-Hartpury
Zoe Aldcroft Lock (1996-11-19)19 November 1996 (aged 26)48 Flag of England.svg Gloucester-Hartpury
Rosie Galligan Lock (1998-04-30)30 April 1998 (aged 25)14 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Catherine O'Donnell Lock (1996-06-13)13 June 1996 (aged 27)30 Flag of England.svg Loughborough Lightning
Morwenna Talling Lock (2002-09-29)29 September 2002 (aged 21)11 Flag of England.svg Sale Sharks
Abbie Ward Lock (1993-03-27)27 March 1993 (aged 30)61 Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears
Sarah Beckett Back row (1999-02-14)14 February 1999 (aged 25)34 Flag of England.svg Gloucester-Hartpury
Poppy Cleall Back row (1992-06-12)12 June 1992 (aged 31)65 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Maddie Fe'aunati Back row (2002-05-18)18 May 2002 (aged 21)0 Flag of England.svg Exeter Chiefs
Sadia Kabeya Back row (2002-02-22)22 February 2002 (aged 22)13 Flag of England.svg Loughborough Lightning
Alex Matthews Back row (1993-08-03)3 August 1993 (aged 30)62 Flag of England.svg Gloucester-Hartpury
Marlie Packer (c) Back row (1989-10-02)2 October 1989 (aged 34)99 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Natasha Hunt Scrum-half (1989-03-21)21 March 1989 (aged 35)67 Flag of England.svg Gloucester-Hartpury
Lucy Packer Scrum-half (2000-02-02)2 February 2000 (aged 24)16 Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Ella Wyrwas Scrum-half (1999-03-07)7 March 1999 (aged 25)6 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Holly Aitchison Fly-half (1997-09-13)13 September 1997 (aged 26)25 Flag of England.svg Bristol Bears
Zoe Harrison Fly-half (1998-04-14)14 April 1998 (aged 25)46 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Helena Rowland Fly-half (1999-09-19)19 September 1999 (aged 24)28 Flag of England.svg Loughborough Lightning
Sophie Bridger Centre (2000-06-26)26 June 2000 (aged 23)2 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Sydney Gregson Centre (1996-01-20)20 January 1996 (aged 28)3 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Tatyana Heard Centre (1995-01-14)14 January 1995 (aged 29)18 Flag of England.svg Gloucester-Hartpury
Megan Jones Centre (1996-10-28)28 October 1996 (aged 27)16 Flag of England.svg Leicester Tigers
Emily Scarratt Centre (1990-02-08)8 February 1990 (aged 34)108 Flag of England.svg Loughborough Lightning
Jessica Breach Wing (1997-11-04)4 November 1997 (aged 26)33 Flag of England.svg Saracens
Abby Dow Wing (1997-09-29)29 September 1997 (aged 26)40 Flag of England.svg Trailfinders
Vicky Laflin Wing (1997-07-23)23 July 1997 (aged 26)0 Flag of England.svg Trailfinders
Ellie Kildunne Fullback (1999-09-08)8 September 1999 (aged 24)38 Flag of England.svg Harlequins
Emma Sing Fullback (2001-03-11)11 March 2001 (aged 23)6 Flag of England.svg Gloucester-Hartpury

List of all players

Notable players

World Rugby Awards

The following England players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001: [4]

World Rugby Women's 15s Try of the Year
YearDateNomineeMatchTournamentWinner
202130 April Abby Dow vs. France Exhibition Match
20225 November Abby Dow (2)vs. Canada Rugby World Cup Abby Dow
202329 April Zoe Aldcroft vs. France Six Nations

Hall of famers

England have five former players who have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame:

PlayersYear inductedRefs
Carol Isherwood 2014 [6]
Gill Burns 2014 [7]
Maggie Alphonsi 2016 [8]
Sue Dorrington 2022 [9]
Mary Forsyth 2022 [10]

Six Nations Player of the Championship

The following England players have been shortlisted for the Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship since 2020: [11]

YearNomineesWinners
2020 Emily Scarratt Emily Scarratt
2021 Zoe Aldcroft Poppy Cleall
Poppy Cleall
2022 Sarah Bern
Marlie Packer
2023 Holly Aitchison
Marlie Packer (2)

Rugby Players' Association Player of the Year

The following players have been voted as the RPA England Player of the Year since 2013: [12]

Individual records

As of 23 March 2024 [24]

Players active at international level as of March 2024 are listed in bold italics.

Coaches

Current coaching staff

The following table outlines the current England senior coaching team, as of the 2024 Women's Six Nations. [25]

NameRole
Flag of New Zealand.svg John Mitchell Head Coach
Flag of England.svg Louis Deacon Forwards Coach
Flag of England.svg Lou MeadowsAttack Coach
Flag of England.svg Sarah Hunter Transition Coach
Flag of England.svg Charlie HayterHead of Performance

Notable former coaches

Honours

Winners (2): 1994, 2014 [26]
Runners-up (6): 1991, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021
Winners (1): 2023
Winners (19): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Grand Slam (17): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
Triple Crown (23): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
Winners (5): 1997, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
Runners-up (1): 2004

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References

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  3. "35-player Red Roses squad announced for Six Nations". www.englandrugby.com. England Rugby. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  4. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Eight Red Roses named in World Rugby team of the decade". www.englandrugby.com. England Rugby. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. "Carol Isherwood - World Rugby - Hall of Fame". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  7. "Gillian Burns - World Rugby - Hall of Fame". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  8. "Margaret Alphonsi - World Rugby - Hall of Fame". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  9. "Sue Dorrington - World Rugby - Hall of Fame". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  10. "Mary Forsyth - World Rugby - Hall of Fame". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  11. "Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship". Six Nations Rugby . Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  12. "The RPA Awards – Previous Awards". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association . Retrieved 30 December 2022.
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  14. "2014 – The RPA". therpa.co.uk. Rugby Players' Association . Retrieved 30 December 2023.
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