England women's national rugby union team explained

England
Badge:England rugby textlogo.svg
Badge Size:150
Union:Rugby Football Union
Nickname:Red Roses
Emblem:Red Rose
Home Stadium:Twickenham
Captain:Marlie Packer
Coach:John Mitchell
Most Caps:Sarah Hunter (141)
Top Scorer:Emily Scarratt (749)
Top Try Scorer:Sue Day (61)
Pattern La1:_England_rugby_2021_h
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Pattern Ra1:_England_rugby_2021_h
Pattern So1:_whitetop
Leftarm1:FFFFFF
Body1:FFFFFF
Rightarm1:FFFFFF
Shorts1:FFFFFF
Socks1:00004A
Pattern La2:_englandrugby21a
Pattern B2:_englandrugby21a
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World Rugby Rank:1
World Rugby Rank Date:9 January 2023
World Rugby Max:1
World Rugby Max Year:2012–2013, 2014–2015, 2017, 2020–
World Rugby Min:4
World Rugby Min Year:2015
First Game: 4–22
(Pontypool, Wales; 5 April 1987)
Largest Win: 101–0
(East Molesey, England; 14 May 2005)
Largest Loss: 67–0
(Burnham, New Zealand; 13 August 1997)
World Cup Apps:9 (First in 1991)
World Cup Best:Champions, 1994, 2014
Type:women

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 20 out of 29 occasions – winning the Grand Slam 18 times and the Triple Crown 24 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]

History

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.

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 15 separate occasions. This includes 7 consecutive tournament triumphs between 2006 and 2012 and the Grand Slam on 13 more occasions, including 3 times in a row between 2006 and 2008, 2010–2012 and 2022–2024, respectively.

Team records

Overall

See also: List of England women's national rugby union team matches.

Full internationals onlyCorrect as of 13 April 2024
OpponentFirst gamePlayedWonDrawnLostWin %
1998 8 8 0 0 100.00%
1993 39 35 1 3 89.74%
2022 1 1 0 0 100.00%
1991 55 42 0 13 76.36%
1997 1 1 0 0 100.00%
1996 32 30 0 2 93.75%
1991 27 27 0 0 100.00%
2000 3 3 0 0 100.00%
1990 4 4 0 0 100.00%
1997 32 12 1 19 37.50%
1994 2 2 0 0 100.00%
2005 2 2 0 0 100.00%
1994 32 30 0 2 93.75%
2005 6 6 0 0 100.00%
1991 16 14 1 1 87.50%
1988 3 3 0 0 100.00%
1991 20 19 0 1 95.00%
1987 43 41 0 2 95.35%
Total 1987 326 280 3 43 85.39%

World Cup

See main article: England women at the Rugby World Cup.

Six Nations

Players

Current squad

On 11 March 2024, head coach John Mitchell announced England's 35-player squad for the 2024 Women's Six Nations.[2]

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: John Mitchell

Contracted players

On 3 June 2024, the RFU confirmed it had awarded full-time central contracts to 32 England senior players for the 2024–25 season, with an additional 8 players receiving transition contracts.[3]

List of all players

See main article: List of England women's national rugby union players.

Individual records

World Rugby Awards

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

World Rugby Women's 15s Player of the Year
width=40 align=centerYearwidth=170Nomineeswidth=170Winners
2001Shelley RaeShelley Rae
2006Maggie AlphonsiMaggie Alphonsi
2008Carol IsherwoodCarol Isherwood
align=center rowspan=22010Maggie Alphonsi (2)align=center rowspan=2—
Danielle Waterman
2012Michaela StanifordMichaela Staniford
2016Sarah HunterSarah Hunter
align=center rowspan=32019Sarah BernEmily Scarratt
Katy Daley-McLean
Emily Scarratt
align=center rowspan=22021Zoe AldcroftZoe Aldcroft
Poppy Cleall
2022Alex Matthews—
align=center rowspan=22023Abby DowMarlie Packer
Marlie Packer
World Rugby Women's 15s Dream Team of the Year
width=40 rowspan=2YearForwardsBackswidth=40 rowspan=2Total
width=40width=170Playerswidth=40width=170Players
align=center rowspan=420213.Sarah Bernalign=center rowspan=411.Abby Dowalign=center rowspan=45
5. Abbie Ward
6.Zoe Aldcroft
8.Poppy Cleall
align=center rowspan=420223.Sarah Bern (2)align=center rowspan=213.Emily Scarrattalign=center rowspan=46
4.Abbie Ward (2)
6.Alex Matthewsalign=center rowspan=215.Abby Dow (2)
7.Marlie Packer
align=center rowspan=520232.Lark Atkin-Daviesalign=center rowspan=211.Abby Dow (3)align=center rowspan=57
3.Sarah Bern (3)
4.Zoe Aldcroft (2)align=center rowspan=315.Ellie Kildunne
6.Alex Matthews (2)
7.Marlie Packer (2)
World Rugby 2010s Team of the Decade (Forwards)[5]
width=60width=170Playerswidth=120Positions
1.Rocky ClarkLoosehead Prop
3.Sophie HemmingTighthead Prop
5.Tamara TaylorLock
7.Maggie AlphonsiOpenside Flanker
World Rugby 2010s Team of the Decade (Backs)
width=60width=170Playerswidth=120Positions
10.Katy Daley-McLeanFly-Half
13.Emily ScarrattOutside Centre
14.Lydia ThompsonRight Wing
15.Danielle WatermanFull-Back
World Rugby Women's 15s Try of the Year
width=40Yearwidth=80Datewidth=170Nomineewidth=130Matchwidth=120Tournamentwidth=170Winner
202130 AprilAbby Dowvs. FranceExhibition Match—
20225 NovemberAbby Dow (2)vs. CanadaRugby World CupAbby Dow
202329 AprilZoe Aldcroftvs. FranceSix Nations—

Hall of famers

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

width=140Playerswidth=120Year inductedwidth=30
Carol Isherwood2014[6]
Gill Burns2014[7]
Maggie Alphonsi2016[8]
Sue Dorrington2022[9]
Mary Forsyth2022[10]

Six Nations Awards

The following England players have been recognised in the Women's Six Nations Awards since 2020:[11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Six Nations Player of the Championship
width=40Yearwidth=170Nomineewidth=170Winner
2020Emily ScarrattEmily Scarratt
align=center rowspan=22021Zoe Aldcroftalign=center rowspan=2Poppy Cleall
Poppy Cleall
align=center rowspan=22022Sarah Bernalign=center rowspan=4—
Marlie Packer
align=center rowspan=22023Holly Aitchison
Marlie Packer (2)
2024Ellie KildunneEllie Kildunne
Six Nations Try of the Championship
width=40Yearwidth=170Nomineewidth=90Matchwidth=170Winnerwidth=30
align=center rowspan=22024Abby Dowvs. Irelandalign=center rowspan=2—align=center rowspan=2[16]
Ellie Kildunnevs. Wales
Six Nations Team of the Championship
width=40 rowspan=2YearForwardsBackswidth=40 rowspan=2Total
width=40width=170Playerswidth=40width=170Players
align=center rowspan=320223.Sarah Bernalign=center rowspan=214.Lydia Thompsonalign=center rowspan=35
6.Alex Matthews
7.Marlie Packer15.Helena Rowland
align=center rowspan=620231.Hannah Bottermanalign=center rowspan=210.Holly Aitchisonalign=center rowspan=69
4.Zoe Aldcroft
5.Sarah Beckettalign=center rowspan=211.Abby Dow
6.Sadia Kabeya
7.Marlie Packer (2)align=center rowspan=214.Jess Breach
8.Alex Matthews (2)
align=center rowspan=52024align=center rowspan=21.Hannah Botterman (2)9.Natasha Huntalign=center rowspan=59
10.Holly Aitchison (2)
3.Maud Muir11.Abby Dow (2)
5.Zoe Aldcroft (2)13.Meg Jones
7.Sadia Kabeya (2)15.Ellie Kildunne

Rugby Players' Association Player of the Year

The following players have been voted as the RPA England Player of the Year since 2013:[17]

RPA Player of the Year (2013–16)
width=60Yearwidth=200Winnerswidth=30
2013Emily Scarratt[18]
2014Rachael Burford[19]
2015Rocky Clark[20]
2016Sarah Hunter[21]
RPA Player of the Year (2017–20)
width=60Yearwidth=200Winnerswidth=30
2017Tamara Taylor[22]
2018Danielle Waterman[23]
2019Sarah Bern[24]
2020Zoe Aldcroft[25]
RPA Player of the Year (2021–24)
width=60Yearwidth=200Winnerswidth=30
2021Poppy Cleall[26]
2022Marlie Packer[27]
2023Sadia Kabeya[28]
2024Alex Matthews[29]

Statistical leaders

[30] Players active at international level as of April 2024 are listed in bold italics.

Most Caps
width=35Rankwidth=140Playerwidth=40Caps
align=center bgcolor=Gold1. 141
align=center bgcolor=Silver2. 137
align=center bgcolor=#cc99663. 116
4. 115
5. Emily Scarratt 111
6. Marlie Packer 104
7. 100
8. 87
9. 84
10. 82
Most Points
width=35Rankwidth=140Playerwidth=40Points
align=center bgcolor=Gold1. Emily Scarratt 749
align=center bgcolor=Silver2. 542
align=center bgcolor=#cc99663. 305
4. 285
5. 275
6. 241
7. 235
8. Marlie Packer 230
9. 225
Lydia Thompson
Most Tries
width=35Rankwidth=140Playerwidth=40Tries
align=center bgcolor=Gold1. 61
align=center bgcolor=Silver2. 57
align=center bgcolor=#cc99663. Emily Scarratt 53
4. 47
5. Marlie Packer 46
6. 45
Lydia Thompson
8. Jess Breach 40
9. Abby Dow 37
10. 36

Coaches

Current coaching staff

The following table outlines the current England senior coaching team, as of the 2024 Women's Six Nations.[31]

width=150Namewidth=150Role
John MitchellHead Coach
Louis DeaconForwards Coach
Lou MeadowsAttack Coach
Sarah HunterDefence Coach
Charlie HayterHead of Performance
Brian AshtonCoaching Consultant

Notable former coaches

1x World Cup winner (2014)

1x World Cup runner-up (2010)

6x Six Nations winner (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

1x World Rugby Coach of the Year (2021)

2x World Cup runner-up (2017, 2021)

6x Six Nations winner (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Honours

Winners (2): 1994, 2014[32]

Runners-up (6): 1991, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021

Winners (1): 2023

Winners (20): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Grand Slam (18): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024

Triple Crown (24): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024

Winners (5): 1997, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012

Runners-up (1): 2004

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Orchard . Sara . England: John Mitchell appointed women's head coach after Simon Middleton departure . 4 May 2023 . BBC Sport . 4 May 2023.
  2. Web site: 35-player Red Roses squad announced for Six Nations . www.englandrugby.com . . 11 March 2024 . 11 March 2024 . en-GB.
  3. News: Red Roses contracts announced for 2024/25 . . 3 June 2024 . 3 June 2024.
  4. News: Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby . www.world.rugby . 16 March 2024 . en.
  5. News: Eight Red Roses named in World Rugby team of the decade . www.englandrugby.com . England Rugby . 7 December 2020 . 4 November 2023 . en-UK.
  6. Web site: Carol Isherwood - World Rugby - Hall of Fame . 2022-06-29 . www.world.rugby . en.
  7. Web site: Gillian Burns - World Rugby - Hall of Fame . 2022-06-29 . www.world.rugby . en.
  8. Web site: Margaret Alphonsi - World Rugby - Hall of Fame . 2022-06-29 . www.world.rugby . en.
  9. Web site: Sue Dorrington - World Rugby - Hall of Fame . 2022-12-30 . www.world.rugby . en.
  10. Web site: Mary Forsyth - World Rugby - Hall of Fame . 2022-12-30 . www.world.rugby . en.
  11. News: Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship . . 18 February 2024.
  12. News: Poppy Cleall crowned 2021 Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship . . 29 April 2021 . 18 February 2024.
  13. News: Kildunne wins Guinness Player of the Championship . . 17 May 2024 . 18 May 2024.
  14. News: 2022 TikTok Women's Six Nations Team of the Championship revealed . . 14 May 2022 . 18 April 2024.
  15. News: Revealed: The Fans' 2024 Team of the Championship . . 16 May 2024 . 18 May 2024.
  16. Web site: Try of the Championship - Vote Now . sixnationsrugby.com . . 2 May 2024 . 2 May 2024.
  17. Web site: The RPA Awards – Previous Awards . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2022 . en-UK.
  18. News: 2013 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  19. News: 2014 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  20. News: 2015 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  21. News: 2016 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  22. News: 2017 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  23. News: 2018 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  24. News: 2019 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  25. News: 2020 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  26. News: 2021 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  27. News: 2022 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  28. News: 2023 – The RPA . therpa.co.uk . . 30 December 2023 . en-UK.
  29. News: The RPA Awards: 2024 Winners . therpa.co.uk . . 29 May 2024 . 29 May 2024 . en-UK.
  30. Web site: Player Records . www.englandrugby.com . . 29 April 2024 . en-GB.
  31. News: John Mitchell appointed Red Roses Head Coach . www.englandrugby.com . . 4 May 2023 . 18 January 2024.
  32. Web site: England 21-9 Canada – Women's rugby World Cup match report. James Riach. The Guardian. 17 August 2014 . 2 December 2014.

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