England women's national rugby union team


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, 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.

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, 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

Overall

;Full internationals only
Correct as of 9 August 2025
OpponentFirst gamePlayedWonDrawnLostWin %
19987700100%
199337331389.19%
20221100100%
19915845013%
19971100100%
1996333102%
1991262600100%
20003300100%
19904400100%
1997331311939.39%
19942200100%
20052200100%
1994343202%
20056600100%
1991171511%
19883300100%
199121200195.24%
1987424002%
Total1987330284343%

World Cup

Six Nations

Players

Current squad

On 24 July 2025, head coach John Mitchell announced England's 32-player squad for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. The squad included eight players who were making their Rugby World Cup debut, while centre Emily Scarratt became the first English player to earn selection for five World Cups.
Note: The age and number of caps listed for each player is as of 22 August 2025, the first day of the tournament.

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:
YearNomineesWinners
2001Shelley RaeShelley Rae
2006Maggie AlphonsiMaggie Alphonsi
2008Carol IsherwoodCarol Isherwood
2010Maggie Alphonsi —
2010Danielle Waterman—
2012Michaela StanifordMichaela Staniford
2016Sarah HunterSarah Hunter
2019Sarah BernEmily Scarratt
2019Katy Daley-McLeanEmily Scarratt
2019Emily ScarrattEmily Scarratt
2021Zoe AldcroftZoe Aldcroft
2021Poppy CleallZoe Aldcroft
2022Alex Matthews—
2023Abby DowMarlie Packer
2023Marlie PackerMarlie Packer
2024Ellie KildunneEllie Kildunne
2024Alex Matthews Ellie Kildunne
2025Megan Jones—

YearNomineesWinners
2022Maud Muir—
2024Maddie Feaunati—

PlayersPositions
1.Rocky ClarkLoosehead Prop
3.Sophie HemmingTighthead Prop
5.Tamara TaylorLock
7.Maggie AlphonsiOpenside Flanker

PlayersPositions
10.Katy Daley-McLeanFly-Half
13.Emily ScarrattOutside Centre
14.Lydia ThompsonRight Wing
15.Danielle WatermanFull-Back

YearDateNomineeMatchTournamentWinner
202130 AprilAbby Dowvs. FranceExhibition Match—
20225 NovemberAbby Dow vs. CanadaRugby World CupAbby Dow
202329 AprilZoe Aldcroftvs. FranceSix Nations—
202522 AugustJess Breachvs. United StatesRugby World Cup—

Hall of famers

England have six former players who have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame:
PlayersYear inducted
Carol Isherwood2014
Gill Burns2014
Maggie Alphonsi2016
Sue Dorrington2022
Mary Forsyth2022
Rocky Clark2025

Six Nations Awards

The following England players have been recognised in the Women's Six Nations Awards since 2020:
YearNomineeWinner
2020Emily ScarrattEmily Scarratt
2021Zoe AldcroftPoppy Cleall
2021Poppy CleallPoppy Cleall
2022Sarah Bern—
2022Marlie Packer—
2023Holly Aitchison—
2023Marlie Packer —
2024Ellie KildunneEllie Kildunne
2025Abby Dow—

YearNomineeMatchWinner
2024Abby Dowvs. Ireland—
2024Ellie Kildunnevs. Wales—
2025Abby Dow vs. Scotland—

YearNomineeWinner
2025Abi Burton—
2025Jade Shekells—

Rugby Players' Association Player of the Year

The following players have been voted as the RPA England Player of the Year since 2013:
YearWinners
2013Emily Scarratt
2014Rachael Burford
2015Rocky Clark
2016Sarah Hunter
2017Tamara Taylor

YearWinners
2018Danielle Waterman
2019Sarah Bern
2020Zoe Aldcroft
2021Poppy Cleall
2022Marlie Packer

YearWinners
2023Sadia Kabeya
2024Alex Matthews
2025Zoe Aldcroft

YearInductees
2021Rocky Clark
2022Katy Daley-McLean
2023Sarah Hunter

YearWinners
2023Emily Scarratt
2024Marlie Packer