England women's national rugby union team
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:44:00 PM Wikipedia source
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 25 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. They currently hold the longest ever winning streak in rugby, of 33 consecutive games as of the 2025 World Cup final.
Infobox
Tables
| Rank | Change* | Team | Points |
| 1 | | England | 097.76 |
| 2 | | Canada | 090.13 |
| 3 | | New Zealand | 088.76 |
| 4 | | France | 086.42 |
| 5 | | Ireland | 078.20 |
| 6 | | Scotland | 077.39 |
| 7 | | Australia | 075.46 |
| 8 | | United States | 072.90 |
| 9 | | Italy | 072.37 |
| 10 | | South Africa | 071.62 |
| 11 | | Japan | 069.72 |
| 12 | | Wales | 066.13 |
| 13 | | Fiji | 063.98 |
| 14 | | Spain | 062.42 |
| 15 | | Samoa | 059.72 |
| 16 | | Hong Kong | 057.56 |
| 17 | | Netherlands | 057.42 |
| 18 | | Russia | 055.10 |
| 19 | | Kazakhstan | 053.88 |
| 20 | | Kenya | 050.68 |
| Change from the previous week | |||
| 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% |
| Rugby World Cup } }record | ||||||||||||
| Year | Round | mw- 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 | — | ||||
| mw- .mw- Champion Runner-up Third place Fourth place * Tied placing † Best placing Home venue
| ||||||||||||
| England | France | Ireland | Italy | Scotland | Spain | Wales | |
| Tournaments | 29 | 26 | 27 | 18 | 29 | 7 | 29 |
| Outright Wins | 20 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Slams | 18 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Triple Crowns | 24 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Wooden Spoons | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 8 |
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Lark Atkin-Davies | Hooker | (1995-03-03)3 March 1995 (aged 30) | 68 | Bristol Bears |
| May Campbell | Hooker | (1996-05-16)16 May 1996 (aged 29) | 4 | Saracens |
| Amy Cokayne | Hooker | (1996-07-11)11 July 1996 (aged 29) | 84 | Sale Sharks |
| Sarah Bern | Prop | (1997-07-10)10 July 1997 (aged 28) | 73 | Bristol Bears |
| Hannah Botterman | Prop | (1999-06-08)8 June 1999 (aged 26) | 58 | Bristol Bears |
| Mackenzie Carson | Prop | (1998-06-24)24 June 1998 (aged 27) | 21 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Kelsey Clifford | Prop | (2001-12-11)11 December 2001 (aged 23) | 15 | Saracens |
| Maud Muir | Prop | (2001-07-12)12 July 2001 (aged 24) | 42 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Zoe Aldcroft (c) | Second row | (1996-11-19)19 November 1996 (aged 28) | 65 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Rosie Galligan | Second row | (1998-04-30)30 April 1998 (aged 27) | 25 | Saracens |
| Lilli Ives Campion | Second row | (2003-10-10)10 October 2003 (aged 21) | 3 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Morwenna Talling | Second row | (2002-09-29)29 September 2002 (aged 22) | 23 | Sale Sharks |
| Abbie Ward | Second row | (1993-03-27)27 March 1993 (aged 32) | 76 | Bristol Bears |
| Abi Burton | Back row | (2000-03-09)9 March 2000 (aged 25) | 3 | Trailfinders |
| Maddie Feaunati | Back row | (2002-05-18)18 May 2002 (aged 23) | 17 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Sadia Kabeya | Back row | (2002-02-22)22 February 2002 (aged 23) | 23 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Alex Matthews | Back row | (1993-08-03)3 August 1993 (aged 32) | 76 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Marlie Packer | Back row | (1989-10-02)2 October 1989 (aged 35) | 111 | Saracens |
| Natasha Hunt | Scrum-half | (1989-03-21)21 March 1989 (aged 36) | 82 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Lucy Packer | Scrum-half | (2000-02-02)2 February 2000 (aged 25) | 33 | Harlequins |
| Holly Aitchison | Fly-half | (1997-09-13)13 September 1997 (aged 27) | 40 | Sale Sharks |
| Zoe Harrison | Fly-half | (1998-04-14)14 April 1998 (aged 27) | 59 | Saracens |
| Tatyana Heard | Centre | (1995-01-14)14 January 1995 (aged 30) | 31 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Megan Jones | Centre | (1996-10-28)28 October 1996 (aged 28) | 27 | Trailfinders |
| Helena Rowland | Centre | (1999-09-19)19 September 1999 (aged 25) | 41 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Emily Scarratt | Centre | (1990-02-08)8 February 1990 (aged 35) | 118 | Loughborough Lightning |
| Jade Shekells | Centre | (1996-09-28)28 September 1996 (aged 28) | 3 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Jess Breach | Wing | (1997-11-04)4 November 1997 (aged 27) | 47 | Saracens |
| Abby Dow | Wing | (1997-09-29)29 September 1997 (aged 27) | 54 | Unattached |
| Claudia Moloney-MacDonald | Wing | (1996-01-04)4 January 1996 (aged 29) | 35 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Ellie Kildunne | Fullback | (1999-09-08)8 September 1999 (aged 25) | 53 | Harlequins |
| Emma Sing | Fullback | (2001-03-11)11 March 2001 (aged 24) | 10 | Gloucester–Hartpury |
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
| 2001 | Shelley Rae | Shelley Rae |
| 2006 | Maggie Alphonsi | Maggie Alphonsi |
| 2008 | Carol Isherwood | Carol Isherwood |
| 2010 | Maggie Alphonsi (2) | — |
| Danielle Waterman | ||
| 2012 | Michaela Staniford | Michaela Staniford |
| 2016 | Sarah Hunter | Sarah Hunter |
| 2019 | Sarah Bern | Emily Scarratt |
| Katy Daley-McLean | ||
| Emily Scarratt | ||
| 2021 | Zoe Aldcroft | Zoe Aldcroft |
| Poppy Cleall | ||
| 2022 | Alex Matthews | — |
| 2023 | Abby Dow | Marlie Packer |
| Marlie Packer | ||
| 2024 | Ellie Kildunne | Ellie Kildunne |
| Alex Matthews (2) | ||
| 2025 | Megan Jones | — |
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
| 2022 | Maud Muir | — |
| 2024 | Maddie Feaunati |
| 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) | ||
| No. | Players | Positions |
| 1. | Rocky Clark | Loosehead Prop |
| 3. | Sophie Hemming | Tighthead Prop |
| 5. | Tamara Taylor | Lock |
| 7. | Maggie Alphonsi | Openside Flanker |
| No. | Players | Positions |
| 10. | Katy Daley-McLean | Fly-Half |
| 13. | Emily Scarratt | Outside Centre |
| 14. | Lydia Thompson | Right Wing |
| 15. | Danielle Waterman | Full-Back |
| 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 |
| Players | Year inducted | Refs |
| Carol Isherwood | 2014 | |
| Gill Burns | 2014 | |
| Maggie Alphonsi | 2016 | |
| Sue Dorrington | 2022 | |
| Mary Forsyth | 2022 | |
| Rocky Clark | 2025 |
| Year | Nominee | Winner |
| 2020 | Emily Scarratt | Emily Scarratt |
| 2021 | Zoe Aldcroft | Poppy Cleall |
| Poppy Cleall | ||
| 2022 | Sarah Bern | — |
| Marlie Packer | ||
| 2023 | Holly Aitchison | |
| Marlie Packer (2) | ||
| 2024 | Ellie Kildunne | Ellie Kildunne |
| 2025 | Abby Dow | — |
| Year | Nominee | Match | Winner | Ref |
| 2024 | Abby Dow | vs. Ireland | — | |
| Ellie Kildunne | vs. Wales | |||
| 2025 | Abby Dow (2) | vs. Scotland |
| Year | Forwards | Backs | Total | ||
| No. | Players | No. | Players | ||
| 2022 | 3. | Sarah Bern | 14. | Lydia Thompson | 5 |
| 6. | Alex Matthews | ||||
| 7. | Marlie Packer | 15. | Helena Rowland | ||
| 2023 | 1. | Hannah Botterman | 10. | Holly Aitchison | 9 |
| 4. | Zoe Aldcroft | ||||
| 5. | Sarah Beckett | 11. | Abby Dow | ||
| 6. | Sadia Kabeya | ||||
| 7. | Marlie Packer (2) | 14. | Jess Breach | ||
| 8. | Alex Matthews (2) | ||||
| 2024 | 1. | Hannah Botterman (2) | 9. | Natasha Hunt | 9 |
| 10. | Holly Aitchison (2) | ||||
| 3. | Maud Muir | 11. | Abby Dow (2) | ||
| 5. | Zoe Aldcroft (2) | 13. | Megan Jones | ||
| 7. | Sadia Kabeya (2) | 15. | Ellie Kildunne | ||
| 2025 | 3. | Sarah Bern (2) | 13. | Megan Jones (2) | 4 |
| 4. | Abbie Ward | 14. | Abby Dow (3) | ||
| Year | Nominee | Winner |
| 2025 | Abi Burton | — |
| Jade Shekells |
| Year | Winners | Ref |
| 2013 | Emily Scarratt | |
| 2014 | Rachael Burford | |
| 2015 | Rocky Clark | |
| 2016 | Sarah Hunter | |
| 2017 | Tamara Taylor |
| Year | Winners | Ref |
| 2018 | Danielle Waterman | |
| 2019 | Sarah Bern | |
| 2020 | Zoe Aldcroft | |
| 2021 | Poppy Cleall | |
| 2022 | Marlie Packer |
| Year | Winners | Ref |
| 2023 | Sadia Kabeya | |
| 2024 | Alex Matthews | |
| 2025 | Zoe Aldcroft (2) |
| Year | Inductees | Ref |
| 2021 | Rocky Clark | |
| 2022 | Katy Daley-McLean | |
| 2023 | Sarah Hunter |
| Year | Winners | Ref |
| 2023 | Emily Scarratt | |
| 2024 | Marlie Packer |
| Rank | Player | Caps |
| 1. | Sarah Hunter | 141 |
| 2. | Rocky Clark | 137 |
| 3. | Emily Scarratt | 118 |
| 4. | Katy Daley-McLean | 116 |
| 5. | Tamara Taylor | 115 |
| 6. | Marlie Packer | 108 |
| 7. | Amy Garnett | 100 |
| 8. | Helen Clayton | 87 |
| 9. | Rachael Burford | 84 |
| 10. | Danielle Waterman | 82 |
| Rank | Player | Points |
| 1. | Emily Scarratt | 749 |
| 2. | Katy Daley-McLean | 542 |
| 3. | Sue Day | 305 |
| 4. | Nicola Crawford | 285 |
| 5. | Shelley Rae | 275 |
| 6. | Gill Burns | 241 |
| 7. | Danielle Waterman | 235 |
| 8. | Marlie Packer | 230 |
| 9. | Kat Merchant | 225 |
| Lydia Thompson |
| Rank | Player | Tries |
| 1. | Sue Day | 61 |
| 2. | Nicola Crawford | 57 |
| 3. | Emily Scarratt | 54 |
| 4. | Jess Breach | 52 |
| Marlie Packer | ||
| 6. | Abby Dow | 49 |
| 7. | Danielle Waterman | 47 |
| 8. | Kat Merchant | 45 |
| Lydia Thompson | ||
| 10. | Ellie Kildunne | 42 |
| Nationality | Name | Role |
| New Zealand | John Mitchell | Head Coach |
| England | Louis Deacon | Forwards Coach |
| England | Lou Meadows | Attack Coach |
| England | Sarah Hunter | Defence Coach |
| England | Nathan Catt | Scrum Coach |
| England | Charlie Hayter | Head of Performance |
| England | Ethan Kinney | Lead S&C Coach |
References
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