46 h. ago RFU unveils plan to boost women’s game and build on England’s World Cup win

Strategy includes back-to-back World Cup triumphsOther targets include 3 million fans and £60m in revenueThe Rugby Football Union has promised to “keep its foot on the gas” after unveiling an ambitious five-year action plan to build on the momentum of the Red Roses’ Women’s Rugby World Cup victory.The strategy, called Every Rose: Our Time, includes the goal of becoming the first England team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, and getting 100,000 women and girls playing the game across the country by 2030, up from the 60,000 who participate now. Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago England women's rugby superstar issues Red Roses rallying cry after World Cup glory

At 26, the England and Harlequins superstar Ellie Kildunne has already experienced a career most players dream of, being named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2024 before following that up with a winners' medal at last weekend's World Cup final

Politics

3 d. ago Brisbane Broncos beat Sydney Roosters in NRLW 2025 grand final – rugby league live

Broncos hold off Roosters for 22-18 victory at Accor StadiumAny thoughts? Get in touch with an email4 mins: After letting the ball bounce from that fifth tackle kick, the Roosters go into panic mode a little and knock on midway through their set, giving the Broncos the ball back in decent field position. Broughton puts in a deft little kick for the Broncos on the fifth, regathers, gets a pass away, but some sensational tryline defence from the Roosters forces a handover.2 mins: The Roosters start with a big pass and a strong hit up and there is plenty of fire from both teams. Kernick has an immediate impact with her first touch on the fourth tackle, making great ground. The Roosters put up a high kick and their defence is working hard from the Broncos’ first tackle. Both teams complete their first set – the Broncos get the ball back when their kick is allowed to bounce, but are wrapped up easily. Continue reading...

Sport

3 d. ago NRLW 2025 grand final: Sydney Roosters v Brisbane Broncos – rugby league live

Updates from Roosters v Broncos decider at Accor StadiumAny thoughts? Get in touch with an email4 mins: After letting the ball bounce from that fifth tackle kick, the Roosters go into panic mode a little and knock on midway through their set, giving the Broncos the ball back in decent field position. Broughton puts in a deft little kick for the Broncos on the fifth, regathers, gets a pass away, but some sensational tryline defence from the Roosters forces a handover.2 mins: The Roosters start with a big pass and a strong hit up and there is plenty of fire from both teams. Kernick has an immediate impact with her first touch on the fourth tackle, making great ground. The Roosters put up a high kick and their defence is working hard from the Broncos’ first tackle. Both teams complete their first set – the Broncos get the ball back when their kick is allowed to bounce, but are wrapped up easily. Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago Thomas Tuchel calls for World Cup schedule change that would cause chaos in UK pubs

England will face stifling temperatures in USA, Canada and Mexico should they qualify for next summer's World Cup and head coach Thomas Tuchel has urged organisers to shift kick-off times to help players cope with the heat

Events

6 d. ago Rugby World Cup winners Red Roses return to roots for Rugbyfest weekend

The victorious England Women’s Rugby team, the Red Roses, step off the international stage for nationwide grassroots rugby celebration

Politics

7 d. ago Three of London's best rugby clubs for women (that you can join)

Make like a Red Rose and hit the pitch, says Josh Barrie

Politics

7 d. ago England's Red Roses to inspire next generation after Rugby World Cup glory

The England women's rugby team will play a part in RugbyFest this weekend, with the nationwide initiative aimed at encouraging girls to take up the sport

Politics

8 d. ago England rugby player Morwenna Talling reveals she’s already broken her Rugby World Cup medal

Red Roses lock Morwenna Talling revealed she broke her Rugby World Cup gold medal during celebrations on Saturday night.

Sport

8 d. ago The Breakdown | Every World Cup match felt like a celebration of women’s rugby – the breakthrough we’ve dreamed of

When I started covering the Red Roses they played Six Nations games after many fans had left, but their World Cup triumph at a sold-out Twickenham is a new dawnA turning point, a line in the sand, a pivotal moment. Whatever you want to call it, this Rugby World Cup, and the final in particular, is a point women’s rugby won’t be turning back from. The showpiece at a sold-out Twickenham was a moment decades in the making, a long-held dream for so many in the sport.This summer has been unbelievable. The sight of thousands of fans in the stands, and not only for the England games, was just what the game needed. People travelled from abroad to support their nations but local communities also turned out for all 16 teams, which led Ruahei Demant, the New Zealand co-captain, to call England “world-leading” in supporting women’s sport. Every match also felt like a celebration of the game, whether that was down to players being applauded off their coaches, a fan at Twickenham saying “we’re al...

Politics

8 d. ago Now we know what patriotism means to Shabana Mahmood – can she harness that to unite rather than divide us? | Gaby Hinsliff

The home secretary’s immigration plan is framed in punitive terms. But at least she is wrestling the debate back towards integration and belongingIn Twickenham, at the weekend, the crowd was a sea of red and white.England’s colours were everywhere – plastered on sweatshirts and painted over faces, fluttering from flags – and the mood was unmistakably joyful. For this was of course the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, not some ominous “raise the colours” rally: a chance to remember that the St George’s cross doesn’t belong to people who daub it on roundabouts to frighten the neighbours, that there is still a kind of Englishness that inspires hope, not fear. Rugby’s Red Roses, like football’s Lionesses and Gareth Southgate’s young male England squad before them, embody a consciously inclusive form of patriotism: a message that their victories are for everyone, male or female, black or white, gay or straight.Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago World Rugby sends warning to breakaway league R360 after success of Women’s World Cup

The proposed franchise-style competition is hoping to lure some of the sport’s top players but World Rugby has urged caution

Events

9 d. ago World Rugby chief hails Women’s World Cup as ‘the greatest of all

Gilpin says men’s tournament can learn from event‘It was a huge privilege historic, special, incredible’The 2025 Rugby World Cup was “the greatest of all-time”, according to the head of World Rugby, Alan Gilpin, who said the men’s tournament could learn a lot from the way the women “showcased the best of our sport”. England became world champions on Saturday after beating Canada 33-13 in front of 81,885 spectators at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, while overall 444,465 tickets were sold during the tournament.“What a truly amazing and special occasion we had at the Allianz Stadium here on Saturday,” Gilpin said. “It was the generational sporting moment we believed and hoped we could deliver. It was a huge privilege to be here and watch one of the best rugby occasions of all-time. Historic, special, incredible and many other words to describe an incredible tournament. “In my view and I have been involved in a few of these, we have been involved in the greatest Rugby World Cup of all-ti...

Politics

9 d. ago Women’s Rugby World Cup writer awards: best player, best match – our verdicts

An outstanding breakout star and teams dancing with each other highlighted a tournament success on and off the fieldBest player Sophie de Goede. The Canada forward was impressive and versatile throughout. The fact she had just returned from an anterior cruciate ligament injury was mindblowing. Continue reading...

Sport

9 d. ago World Rugby confident other nations will catch up World Cup winners England

England secured World Cup triumph on home soil in front of a capacity crowd

Politics

9 d. ago England’s Red Roses inspire new generation of fans with Rugby World Cup glory

The Red Roses took to Battersea Power Station to celebrate their victory at the Women’s Rugby World Cup final on Sunday (28 September).

Sport

9 d. ago The three bold calls that paid off for England in Women’s World Cup win

The Red Roses secured a first World Cup crown since 2014 with victory on home soil

Politics

9 d. ago England have won hearts and minds, a prize even greater than the World Cup | Robert Kitson

The Red Roses have done for rugby what the Lionesses have done for football – putting women’s sport at the forefrontSometimes it is about more than just a shiny trophy. Yes, the Red Roses are now the champions of the world and deservedly so. Yes, they have claimed the elusive glittering prize for the first time since 2014. But in all sorts of ways the past month will go down in history for something even more important: the coming of age of women’s rugby union as a mass spectator attraction in a summer of female sporting empowerment like no other.Everyone will have their own abiding memories of the past month, just as they did when the Lionesses captured their nation’s hearts in July. For every small child aching to be Chloe Kelly or Lucy Bronze there will now be others dreaming of being as brilliant as Ellie Kildunne or Meg Jones. Winning helps, of course it does, but so does relatability, connection and shared enjoyment. The Red Roses put smiles on a lot of faces not least because...

Politics

9 d. ago Fans, players celebrate in London after England defeat Canada in Women's Rugby World Cup final

Fans, players celebrate in London after England defeat Canada in Women's Rugby World Cup final  Yahoo

Sport

1 week ago John Mitchell opens door to Lions role after leading England to Women’s World Cup triumph

Mitchell is unbeaten as Red Roses head coach and is contracted through to the end of next year’s Six Nations

Politics