1 week ago England make 13 changes to starting XV to face Samoa in Women’s Rugby World Cup

Marlie Packer captains Red Roses in second pool gameHelena Rowland starts at 10 after shaking off injuryMarlie Packer will captain the Red Roses against Samoa on Saturday as one of 13 changes to England’s starting XV from their opening 69-7 win against the USA at the Rugby World Cup.Claudia Moloney-MacDonald and Helena Rowland, who were injured for the first game, are both named in the starting team at wing and fly-half, respectively. Holly Aitchison, who also did not play against the USA with a knock, is again absent from the matchday squad. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Analysing the early form of three Women’s Rugby World Cup favourites

England, New Zealand and Canada kicked off with victory but there were areas of concern amid the positive resultsThe three main contenders to win the trophy at Twickenham next month came through their opening group matches at the Rugby World Cup with dominant scorelines but far from perfect performances. England, the hosts, thrashed USA 69-7, Canada overcame Fiji 65-7 and New Zealand beat a resolute and determined Spain 54-8. Have any of them emerged as clear favourites? Let’s take a look at each performance.The Red Roses admitted they had room for improvement with two particular areas letting them down: restarts and handling errors. When the England head coach, John Mitchell, was asked about the restarts he said: “There is always something to work on, this game is never finite. We will move that into the next preparation. It’s good that we’ve got something to work on.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Women's Rugby World Cup: Edel McMahon's return for Ireland's opener is key, says Scott Bemand

Ireland begin their campaign this weekend

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2 w. ago England v USA: Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 opening game – live

Pool A updates from 7.30pm BST at Stadium of LightWomen’s rugby prepares for liftoff | Mail Alex“It’s only natural there’s some nerves,” says John Mitchell, England’s head coach. “The wait is over, now we can let our rugby do our talking on the pitch.” He’s keen to play down expectations, pointing out every team starts equal.Mitchell has done his best to take his pressure off the players in the buildup, repeatedly pointing out that New Zealand are the world champions; that England must take this crown. Trying to engineer a challenger mindset, naturally. Continue reading...

Sport

2 w. ago England ready to confront USA and Ilona Maher’s stardust in World Cup opener

Red Roses have lost only once to Friday’s opponents but refuse to get caught up in the hype of a home tournamentThe talking will stop and the sport get under way on Friday night when the Red Roses raise the curtain on the most anticipated women’s rugby tournament of all time. The USA are first in line at the 2025 Rugby World Cup to try to upset the world No 1 team, but if recent history is anything to go by it will be England striding to a dominant win.The two sides have played 21 times and the US have won one – the 1991 World Cup final. In 2025, the USA have played six games and won one, 31-24 against Fiji. England have played seven matches in this calendar year and have won all of them, extending their unbeaten run to 27 matches. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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

3 w. 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...

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