57 h. ago Premiership Women’s Rugby gears up to to surf England’s World Cup wave

New season given massive boost by Rugby World Cup that brought an England triumph, unprecedented attendances and a huge rise in TV viewersThe Premiership Women’s Rugby season begins at the Stoop on Friday, just across the road and almost a month on from England’s Rugby World Cup victory against Canada in the final at Twickenham.One of the most famous images of that day was the Red Roses captain, Zoe Aldcroft, jumping around with the trophy, an image her teammate Meg Jones has now had tattooed on her leg, and the Gloucester-Hartpury lock will be aiming to replicate the pictures if her club side defend the title they have won for the past three seasons come the PWR final on 28 June. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Sadia Kabeya: ‘Meeting others in rugby who look like me brought me out of my shell – I can be myself now’

England’s World Cup winner on fitting in, developing a special scrum cap and that ‘wow’ Red Roses triumph at TwickenhamWhen the final whistle blew, relief washed over Sadia Kabeya. In front of a record crowd, she hugged her England teammate Lucy Packer and only then realised that the Red Roses had won the Rugby World Cup. The final against Canada had been so “gruelling”, Kabeya found it hard to believe they were world champions until she heard that sound. “It was amazing,” Kabeya says. “The full-time whistle was a lot of relief, a chance to breathe out and then: ‘Wow, we’ve done it.’”England’s triumph capped a dominant three years, a 33-game winning run, but the off-field impact is what Kabeya remembers most. In particular, getting off the team bus to be greeted by thousands of supporters and the roar from the 81,885-strong Twickenham crowd after the anthems. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago England captain Zoe Aldcroft on winning World Cup: ‘We had so much belief’

Back from partying in Ibiza after a ‘massive whirlwind’, the Gloucester-Hartpury forward is now focused on success in the Premiership Women’s Rugby“I was telling myself: ‘Don’t cry right now, Zoe. Do not cry right now.’ But I just knew that we’d done it.”Zoe Aldcroft is reflecting on the moment last month when she realised England had won the Women’s Rugby World Cup. There were 12 minutes to play at a sold-out, increasingly euphoric Twickenham, but the hosts had created a 20-point cushion against Canada thanks to Alex Matthews’s second try. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. 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

2 w. 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

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3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. ago England fans soak up celebrations as Red Roses mark Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph

Rain could not England marked their World Cup win with a celebration event at Battersea Power Station

Sport

3 w. ago England squad ratings: how all the Red Roses performed at Rugby World Cup

Strength in depth was key, with 32 players contributing in a tournament in which John Mitchell’s side were rarely troubledHannah Botterman Bristol Bears Wanted to prove she is the best loosehead prop in the world and duly delivered. England at times would have been in big trouble without her, particularly in the semi-final where she came out with three turnovers. Her skilful try against the USA was a highlight and at the age of 26 may not even be in her prime yet. 9/10Appearances 4 | Tries 1 | Points 5 Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘They have changed my life’: John Mitchell open to staying as England coach

Coach may extend contract after 2026 Six Nations‘Some parts of the day will stick in my life forever’John Mitchell has described coaching England’s World Cup-winning women’s team as a life-changing event and revealed he is open to the idea of continuing in his role beyond the 2026 Six Nations. England beat Canada 33-13 at a sold-out Twickenham, with a record 5.8 million watching on television, to lift the World Cup and extend their winning run to 33 games, an unbeaten streak that takes in the whole of Mitchell’s reign, which began in 2023. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Mike Tindall congratulates England's Women's Rugby World Cup champions as he shares photo with wife Zara at the game and admits 'there will be some sore heads in the morning'

Mike Tindall was among those congratulating the England women's Red Roses team after they beat Canada to win the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday evening.

Sport

3 w. ago The vital next steps for women’s rugby after England’s World Cup triumph

A sold-out crowd at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham showed how far the game has come - and driving more competition throughout the sport is key to the future

Politics

3 w. ago Abby Dow: ‘The Red Roses haven’t just won a medal — we’ve won for women’s sport’

Interview: After helping England to World Cup success on home soil, Dow reflects on a remarkable day at Twickenham and her formative days with her family at Maidenhead Rugby Club

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