England women's national rugby union team
Team representing England in international women's rugby union
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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 21 out of 30 occasions – winning the Grand Slam 19 times and the Triple Crown 26 times – making them the most successful side in the tournament's history. They have won the Women's Rugby World Cup on three occasions (1994, 2014, and 2025), and have been runners-up on six other occasions. Their current permanent head coach, as of October 2023, is John Mitchell.[4] They currently hold the longest ever winning streak in rugby, of 33 consecutive games as of the 2025 World Cup final.
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| Nickname | Red Roses | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Emblem | Red rose | ||
| Union | Rugby Football Union | ||
| Head coach | John Mitchell[1] | ||
| Captain | Megan Jones[2] | ||
| Most caps | Sarah Hunter (141)[3] | ||
| Top scorer | Emily Scarratt (754) | ||
| Top try scorer | Sue Day (61) | ||
| Home stadium | Twickenham Stadium and others[a] | ||
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| World Rugby ranking | |||
| Current | 1 (as of 2 October 2025) | ||
| Highest | 1 (2012–2013, 2014–2015, 2017, 2020–) | ||
| Lowest | 4 (2015) | ||
| First international | |||
 Wales 4–22 England  (Pontypool, Wales; 5 April 1987) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
England 101–0 South Africa  (East Molesey, England; 14 May 2005) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 New Zealand 67–0 England (Burnham, New Zealand; 13 August 1997) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 9 (First in 1991) | ||
| Best result | Champions: (1994, 2014, 2025) | ||
| Website | England Rugby | ||
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.[citation needed]
England have taken part in every Women's Rugby World Cup competition, winning in 1994, 2014 and 2025, they have finished 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 re-joined 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 16 separate occasions. This includes 7 consecutive tournament triumphs between 2006 and 2012, and between 2019–2025 and the Grand Slam on 14 more occasions, including 3 times in a row between 2006–2008 and 2010–2012, and 4 in a row from 2022 to 2025.
Team records
| Rank | Change* | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | England | 98.09 |
| 2 | |  Canada | 91.53 |
| 3 | | New Zealand | 89.85 |
| 4 | |  France | 83.60 |
| 5 | |  Ireland | 78.20 |
| 6 | |  Scotland | 77.39 |
| 7 | |  Australia | 75.46 |
| 8 | |  United States | 72.90 |
| 9 | |  Italy | 72.37 |
| 10 | | South Africa | 71.62 |
| 11 | |  Japan | 69.72 |
| 12 | | Wales | 66.13 |
| 13 | |  Fiji | 63.98 |
| 14 | |  Spain | 62.42 |
| 15 | |  Samoa | 59.72 |
| 16 | |  Hong Kong | 57.56 |
| 17 | |  Netherlands | 57.42 |
| 18 | |  Russia | 55.10 |
| 19 | |  Kazakhstan | 53.88 |
| 20 |  1 |  Germany | 51.10 |
| *Change from the previous week | |||
Overall
- Full internationals only
Correct as of 9 August 2025
| Opponent | First game | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1998 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Canada | 1993 | 37 | 33 | 1 | 3 | 89.19% |
| Fiji | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| France | 1991 | 58 | 45 | 0 | 13 | 77.59% |
| Germany | 1997 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Ireland | 1996 | 33 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 93.94% |
| Italy | 1991 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Kazakhstan | 2000 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Netherlands | 1990 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| New Zealand | 1997 | 33 | 13 | 1 | 19 | 39.39% |
| Russia | 1994 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Samoa | 2005 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Scotland | 1994 | 34 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 94.12% |
| South Africa | 2005 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Spain | 1991 | 17 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 88.24% |
 Sweden | 1988 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| United States | 1991 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 95.24% |
| Wales | 1987 | 42 | 40 | 0 | 2 | 95.24% |
| Total | 1987 | 330 | 284 | 3 | 43 | 86.06% |
World Cup
| Rugby World Cup record | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad | Head coach | ||||
| 1991 |
Runners–up | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 28 | Squad | S. Dowling | ||||
| 1994 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 39 | Squad | S. Dowling | ||||
| 1998 |
Third place | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 219 | 78 | Squad | E. Field | ||||
| 2002 |
Runners–up | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 138 | 37 | Squad | G. Richards | ||||
| 2006 |
Runners–up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 146 | 47 | Squad | |||||
| 2010 |
Runners–up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 171 | 23 | Squad | G. Street | ||||
| 2014 |
Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 184 | 37 | Squad | G. Street | ||||
| 2017 |
Runners–up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 211 | 88 | Squad | S. Middleton | ||||
| 2021 |
Runners–up | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 270 | 84 | Squad | |||||
| 2025 |
Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 316 | 55 | Squad | J. Mitchell | ||||
| 2029 |
Qualified as 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup semi-finalists | ||||||||||||
| 2033 |
To be determined | ||||||||||||
| Total | Champions (3)† | 50 | 42 | 1 | 7 | 1803 | 506 | — | |||||
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Six Nations
Players
Current squad
On 19 March 2026, head coach John Mitchell announced England's 38-player squad for the 2026 Six Nations Championship.[6] The squad included 25 previous Rugby World Cup winners, as well as seven uncapped players.
Note: The age and number of caps listed for each player is as of 11 April 2026, the first day of the tournament.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May Campbell | Hooker | 16 May 1996 (aged 29) | 5 | Saracens |
| Amy Cokayne | Hooker | 11 July 1996 (aged 29) | 89 | Sale Sharks |
| Connie Powell | Hooker | 13 July 2000 (aged 25) | 19 | Harlequins
|
| Sarah Bern | Prop | 10 July 1997 (aged 28) | 79 | Bristol Bears |
| Hannah Botterman | Prop | 8 June 1999 (aged 26) | 62 | Bristol Bears |
| Mackenzie Carson | Prop | 24 June 1998 (aged 27) | 23 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Kelsey Clifford | Prop | 11 December 2001 (aged 24) | 21 | Saracens |
| Lizzie Hanlon | Prop | 30 July 2001 (aged 24) | 1 | Harlequins |
| Annabel Meta | Prop | 11 August 2005 (aged 20) | 0 | Trailfinders |
| Maud Muir | Prop | 12 July 2001 (aged 24) | 48 | Gloucester–Hartpury
|
| Christiana Balogun | Second row | 2 October 1997 (aged 28) | 0 | Bristol Bears |
| Lilli Ives Campion | Second row | 10 October 2003 (aged 22) | 5 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Demelza Short | Second row | 28 November 2006 (aged 19) | 0 | Bristol Bears |
| Morwenna Talling | Second row | 5 August 2002 (aged 23) | 28 | Sale Sharks |
| Jodie Verghese | Second row | 9 January 2003 (aged 23) | 0 | Saracens
|
| Abi Burton | Back row | 9 March 2000 (aged 26) | 4 | Trailfinders |
| Maddie Feaunati | Back row | 18 May 2002 (aged 23) | 23 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Daisy Hibbert-Jones | Back row | 23 October 2002 (aged 23) | 1 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Sadia Kabeya | Back row | 22 February 2002 (aged 24) | 28 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Haineala Lutui | Back row | 8 August 2006 (aged 19) | 0 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Alex Matthews | Back row | 3 August 1993 (aged 32) | 81 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Marlie Packer | Back row | 2 October 1989 (aged 36) | 112 | Saracens
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| Natasha Hunt | Scrum-half | 21 March 1989 (aged 37) | 88 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Lucy Packer | Scrum-half | 2 February 2000 (aged 26) | 38 | Harlequins |
| Flo Robinson | Scrum-half | 4 October 2001 (aged 24) | 1 | Exeter Chiefs
|
| Holly Aitchison | Fly-half | 13 September 1997 (aged 28) | 44 | Sale Sharks |
| Zoe Harrison | Fly-half | 14 April 1998 (aged 27) | 65 | Saracens
|
| Tatyana Heard | Centre | 14 January 1995 (aged 31) | 36 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Megan Jones (c) | Centre | 28 October 1996 (aged 29) | 33 | Trailfinders |
| Sarah Parry | Centre | 21 October 2005 (aged 20) | 0 | Harlequins |
| Helena Rowland | Centre | 19 September 1999 (aged 26) | 46 | Loughborough Lightning
|
| Jess Breach | Wing | 4 November 1997 (aged 28) | 53 | Saracens |
| Millie David | Wing | 15 June 2005 (aged 20) | 0 | Bristol Bears |
| Claudia Moloney-MacDonald | Wing | 4 January 1996 (aged 30) | 36 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Mia Venner | Wing | 3 May 2002 (aged 23) | 2 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Bo Westcombe-Evans | Wing | 19 June 2002 (aged 23) | 2 | Loughborough Lightning
|
| Ellie Kildunne | Fullback | 8 September 1999 (aged 26) | 57 | Harlequins |
| Emma Sing | Fullback | 11 March 2001 (aged 25) | 13 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
World Cup squads
List of all players
Individual records
World Rugby Awards
The following England players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
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| Year | Forwards | Backs | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Players | No. | Players | ||
| 2021 | 3. | Sarah Bern | 11. | Abby Dow | 5 |
| 5. | Abbie Ward | ||||
| 6. | Zoe Aldcroft | ||||
| 8. | Poppy Cleall | ||||
| 2022 | 3. | Sarah Bern (2) | 13. | Emily Scarratt | 6 |
| 4. | Abbie Ward (2) | ||||
| 6. | Alex Matthews | 15. | Abby Dow (2) | ||
| 7. | Marlie Packer | ||||
| 2023 | 2. | Lark Atkin-Davies | 11. | Abby Dow (3) | 7 |
| 3. | Sarah Bern (3) | ||||
| 4. | Zoe Aldcroft (2) | 15. | Ellie Kildunne | ||
| 6. | Alex Matthews (2) | ||||
| 7. | Marlie Packer (2) | ||||
| 2024 | 3. | Maud Muir | 10. | Holly Aitchison | 6 |
| 4. | Zoe Aldcroft (3) | 14. | Abby Dow (4) | ||
| 8. | Alex Matthews (3) | 15. | Ellie Kildunne (2) | ||
| 2025 | 1. | Hannah Botterman | 10. | Zoe Harrison | 7 |
| 3. | Maud Muir (2) | ||||
| 5. | Abbie Ward (3) | 13. | Megan Jones | ||
| 6. | Alex Matthews (4) | 15. | Ellie Kildunne (3) | ||
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| Year | Date | Nominee | Match | Tournament | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30 April | Abby Dow | vs. France | Exhibition Match | — |
| 2022 | 5 November | Abby Dow (2) | vs. Canada | Rugby World Cup | Abby Dow |
| 2023 | 29 April | Zoe Aldcroft | vs. France | Six Nations | — |
| 2025 | 22 August | Jess Breach | vs. United States | Rugby World Cup | |
Hall of famers
England have six former players who have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame:
| Players | Year inducted | Refs |
|---|---|---|
| Carol Isherwood | 2014 | [15] |
| Gill Burns | 2014 | [16] |
| Maggie Alphonsi | 2016 | [17] |
| Sue Dorrington | 2022 | [18] |
| Mary Forsyth | 2022 | [19] |
| Rocky Clark | 2025 | [20] |
Six Nations Awards
The following England players have been recognised in the Women's Six Nations Awards since 2020:[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]
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Rugby Players' Association Player of the Year
The following players have been voted as the RPA England Player of the Year since 2013:[30]
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Statistical leaders
Players active at international level as of February 2026 are listed in bold italics.
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Coaches
Current coaching staff
The following table outlines the current England senior coaching team, as of the 2026 Six Nations Championship.[48][49]
| Nationality | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand |
John Mitchell | Head Coach |
| England |
Louis Deacon | Forwards Coach |
| England |
Emily Scarratt | Attack Coach |
| England |
Sarah Hunter | Defence Coach |
| England |
Joanne Yapp | Head of Pathways |
| England |
Charlie Hayter | Head of Performance |
| England |
Ethan Kinney | S&C Coach |
Notable former coaches
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Honours
- Winners (21): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024,[55] 2025[56]
- Grand Slam (19): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024,[55] 2025[56]
- Triple Crown (26): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024,[55] 2025,[56] 2026
See also
Notes
- The England women's team uses a variety of venues around England, to promote women's rugby to a wider audience. Twickenham is typically used for games of major importance.
