5 h. ago Women’s Rugby World Cup: England’s Megan Jones on dealing with grief

The 28-year-old centre, whose last World Cup appearance was in 2017, will start for England at a home tournament the year after both her parents died.

Economics

6 h. ago Red Roses ‘look forward to being hunted’ at Women’s Rugby World Cup, declares John Mitchell

England kick off against USA in Sunderland on Friday Hosts unchanged from warm-up win over FranceJohn Mitchell has said he and his England team know they will be “hunted” at this Women’s Rugby World Cup as the world No 1 side and the favourites to lift the trophy on 27 September.The Red Roses start their campaign against the USA on Friday night at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland and have named an unchanged XV from the 40-6 win over France in their final warmup game. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago Women's Rugby World Cup: England at full strength as squad named to face USA in opener

Emily Scarratt is set to make her 119th cap

Politics

10 h. ago England Women at full strength for Rugby World Cup opener against the US

Emily Scarratt to win 119th cap at Stadium of Light in fifth World CupJohn Mitchell names unchanged side from 40-6 warm-up win over FranceEngland have named a full-strength side to open their Rugby World Cup campaign against the US on Friday, with Emily Scarratt in line to win her 119th cap off the bench and appear at her fifth World Cup at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.John Mitchell has named an unchanged XV from the team’s 40-6 win over France in their final warmup game earlier this month. There are no injury concerns for the world No 1s as they start their pursuit of a trophy they are favourites to win in front of a record crowd for an opening game, with 40,000 tickets sold. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago England Women at full strength for Rugby World Cup opener against the USA

Scarratt to win 119th cap at Stadium of Light in fifth World CupMitchell’s side unchanged from warm-up win over FranceEngland have named a full-strength side to open their Rugby World Cup campaign against the USA on Friday, with Emily Scarratt in line to win her 119th cap off the bench and appear at her fifth World Cup at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.John Mitchell has named an unchanged XV from the team’s 40-6 win over France in their final warmup game this month. Holly Aitchison, Helena Rowland and Claudia Moloney-MacDonald are out injured but the world No 1s will look familiar as they start their pursuit of a trophy they are favourites to win in front of a record crowd for an opening game, with 40,000 tickets sold. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Ellie Kildunne exclusive: No excuses now, England have put in the work to be crowned world champions

Red Roses looking to go one further after their Women’s Rugby World Cup final defeat three years ago

Politics

35 h. ago Linking sex attacks to migration is 'dangerous racist diversion' warn women's rights groups

In a letter to Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper, organisations including Rape Crisis England and Wales, the End Violence Against Women Coalition and Refuge called on ministers to stand up to the 'dangerous narrative'

Events

37 h. ago Brazil aim to make waves at their first Women’s Rugby World Cup

Tournament debutants will make history as the first South American team to qualify, just 17 years after their first matchSixteen. That is how many Tests Brazil’s women’s rugby team has played, just six more than England played in 2024 alone. The Yaras have recorded five wins but one of those was history-making: a first victory against Colombia last June that secured qualification for the Rugby World Cup. They will be the first South American country at the women’s tournament and the first Brazil team, male or female, to compete in rugby’s global showpiece. “It is incredible,” says their captain, Eshyllen Coimbra.The remarkable story began in 2008 with their first international match. Brazil lost 10-0 to the Netherlands in what would be their sole fixture before an 11-year hiatus, mainly due to a lack of regional opponents. Brazil’s union focused on women’s sevens and rugby league before the 15s team was revived in 2019. One of the main reasons for doing so was the potential for Worl...

Politics

37 h. ago England winger Abby Dow relishing World Cup opener in Sunderland

England open the tournament at the Stadium of Light on Friday night with a clash against the United States in Pool A.

Politics

37 h. ago The Breakdown | Brazil aim to make waves at their first Women’s Rugby World Cup

Tournament debutants Brazil are making history in England, as the first South American team to qualify for a Women’s Rugby World CupSixteen. That is how many Tests Brazil’s women’s rugby team has played, just six more than England played in 2024 alone. The Yaras have recorded five wins but one of those was history-making: a first victory against Colombia last June that secured qualification for the Rugby World Cup. They will be the first South American country at the women’s tournament and the first Brazil team, male or female, to compete in rugby’s global showpiece. “It is incredible,” says their captain, Eshyllen Coimbra.The remarkable story began in 2008 with their first international match. Brazil lost 10-0 to the Netherlands in what would be their sole fixture before an 11-year hiatus, mainly due to a lack of regional opponents. Brazil’s union focused on women’s sevens and rugby league before the 15s team was revived in 2019. One of the main reasons for doing so was the potenti...

Politics

38 h. ago Amy Jones: England in a good place ahead of Women’s World Cup

England start their campaign against South Africa on October 3 in Bengaluru.

Politics

60 h. ago Zoe Aldcroft: ‘This World Cup has the potential to change women’s rugby for ever’

Red Roses captain on the chance to grow the sport in England this summer, how she benefits from impostor syndrome and playing youth rugby against boys“I was playing for Scarborough against Whitby,” says Zoe Aldcroft as the England women’s rugby captain pauses before the start of the World Cup this week and describes one of her formative experiences in the game. “I must have been 12 at the time as I was the only girl playing rugby and we were up at Whitby. It was the coldest day ever and the wind was whipping. There was such a steep slope at Whitby Rugby Club and they had this massive guy playing for them. Whenever he broke the line they always used to shout ‘Cannonball.’”Aldcroft, the inspirational 28-year-old leader and lock forward, lets slip a gap-toothed grin as she remembers the scene. “He’d broken the line and, as the full-back, I was the last one between him and the try line. I knew I had to stop him so I dropped my shoulder and just nailed him. I think it stunned a lot of pe...

Politics

5 d. ago Stirling Albion stumble in Challenge Cup opener ahead of striker's Forfar return

The Binos fell to a disappointing 3-0 loss at home to Dundee United's B side in the first match of the revamped KDM Evolution Trophy 'league phase' - with a league trip to Station Park on the horizon.

Events

6 d. ago ‘I always loved a camera’: Maud Muir on life through a lens in England women’s rugby team

Red Roses prop on her creative endeavours and England expectations before the Rugby World Cup on home soil“I like capturing people’s laughs; I think being able to hear it through the picture is so cool,” Maud Muir says as she discusses her favourite photographs from hundreds she has taken behind the scenes in the England women’s camp over the past five years.Muir, the 24-year-old prop, and her teammates are preparing for a home Rugby World Cup, starting with the opener against USA in Sunderland next Friday. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago ‘FC Como just felt right’: Alisha Lehmann on her surprise switch from Juventus

Winger with millions of followers explains how the ‘female-first mentality’ at the Serie A minnows was a big drawIt is not difficult to understand why any Italian club would want to sign Alisha Lehmann: last season she helped Juventus win a league and cup double, she is an international winger who accumulated 19 goals and 10 assists in England’s Women’s Super League and, yes, there is the small matter of her 16.7m Instagram followers and 12m TikTok followers, an online presence that commands a commercial power vast for any athlete and pretty unique in women’s football.What is perhaps not so immediately obvious is why, aged 26 and with her peak football years probably ahead, she would opt to join a club that finished in the bottom half of Serie A last season and cannot yet offer European football. However, the Switzerland forward’s reasons for signing a three-year deal with FC Como Women, she says, have a deeper meaning. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Man Utd transfer news: Champions League winner opens door to £25m Old Trafford move

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been left out of the Paris Saint-Germain squad for their UEFA Super Cup clash with Tottenham and is open to leaving the club this summer

Sport

1 week ago Arsenal player ratings vs Athletic Club: Martin Zubimendi majestic as Viktor Gyokeres opens his account

Gunners warm up for Premier League opener with a comfortable win in the Emirates Cup

Sport

1 week ago Red Roses rugby ace ready for 'battle' at World Cup – 'we're about to go to war'

Meg Jones is part of John Mitchell's Red Roses England squad for the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, which will take place on home soil

Events

1 week ago Arsenal and Brighton in new transfer talks over Lionesses hero Michelle Agyemang

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal's teenage starlet Michelle Agyemang was recently named Young Player of the Tournament as England retained their UEFA Women's European Championship title in Switzerland

Sport

2 w. ago Brits warned over virus dangerous to newborns and elderly after surge

The Australian winter is often a good predictor of how viruses will spread in England, according to NHS officials as pregnant women were urged to get the RSV vaccine to protect their newborn children

Events