8 h. ago Red Roses coaching staff to remain in their roles regardless of World Cup outcome, RFU confirm

The Red Roses are happy to continue backing Mitchell after his latest Six Nations triumph

Politics

9 h. ago John Mitchell to remain Red Roses coach even if England fail to win home World Cup

The New Zealander is under contract until after next year’s Women’s Six Nations and will remain in post

Events

11 h. ago The Breakdown | Red Roses triumph again but cannot afford another World Cup wobble

Seven straight Six Nations titles is impressive but rivals may have been encouraged by the nervous finish against FranceThere are two contrasting schools of thought after England’s grand-slam clinching win against France on Saturday. According to John Mitchell, the Red Roses’ head coach, his side’s nervy 43-42 victory was ideal preparation for the World Cup this year. Alternatively, as the former England hooker Brian Moore succinctly put it during post-match TV analysis: “If they were playing New Zealand, would they have got away with that?”Between them Mitchell and Moore know plenty about World Cup disappointment. The former was head coach of the All Blacks side beaten in the semi-finals of the 2003 men’s tournament in Australia. Moore was part of the England team edged out by the Wallabies in the final in 1991. They have spent enough time in top-level rugby to know how abruptly best-laid plans can be foiled and that wanting something badly guarantees you zilch. Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago England coach John Mitchell questions smaller women’s World Cup squad size

Squad sizes are capped at 32 for the women’s tournament, one fewer than men’s sides are permitted to select at the World Cup

Politics

3 d. ago Narrow win ‘ideal’ for England’s World Cup preparations, says Mitchell

Red Roses win Six Nations after 43-42 victory over FranceCoach believes Twickenham experience will help playersJohn Mitchell said England’s one-point win over France was the “ideal” test for his side with the Rugby World Cup on the horizon.The Red Roses won their seventh consecutive Women’s Six Nations title after holding off a late French comeback at Twickenham. It was by far the closest match for England in this tournament, with their other four matches resulting in dominant wins. The lack of competition that the Red Roses face have led some to believe they needed a loss or a close game to learn from in order to know the answers if challenged at the upcoming World Cup. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Aldcroft holds nerve but England will need to raise level to go all the way at World Cup | Andy Bull

Red Roses were one more mistake away from missing out on the grand slam to France but it should not have been so closeThere’s no such thing as an easy grand slam and, in the very end, England’s turned out to be as hard-won as any of them. One point up with one minute to play after conceding a sixth try at the tail end of one of the great helter-skelter Test matches, their skipper, Zoe Aldcroft, had the smarts to lead the team in a slow march back from the posts to the middle of the pitch as the clock ran on into the red. The Red Roses were, at that point, one more mistake, one more missed tackle, one more France score away from going down to their first defeat since the last World Cup, in their final match before the next one.Twickenham was only half full, but the crowd was as loud as double the number. And in all the tumult, it was the French who folded. Taïna Maka knocked the ball on from the restart. The whistle went, the ball was dead, and the game was won. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago John Mitchell explains why England’s Women’s Six Nations close shave was ‘ideal’ for Red Roses

England secured a seventh successive title despite a major scare against France

Economics

3 d. ago England survive mighty fright against France to claim Women’s Six Nations grand slam again

England 43-42 France: The Red Roses just about clung on after a thunderous comeback from the visitors at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Events

3 d. ago England hold on to claim Women’s Six Nations grand slam with one

England 43-42 FranceDow and Sing score twice before visitors’ late fightbackThere was a moment after France’s Joanna Grisez scored where fans were wondering if this would be the day England’s stranglehold on this competition came to an end. The Red Roses were 31-7 up after 23 minutes, but a resolute France cut back the lead to one point in the final minute. A French knock-on ended the game and the sheer pressure the hosts were under was plain to see by the wild celebrations by the England players at full-time. Despite the nervous ending for England, they not only retained the trophy at Twickenham but claimed a seventh successive title. England’s victory stretched their winning run in this tournament to 34 games and 25 in all competitions.The Red Roses are used to lifting silverware, but the trophy they are hunting will be on the line in the next game they could play here in five months’ time in the Rugby World Cup final. That has eluded them since 2014 and it remains their main targ...

Politics

3 d. ago England v France: Women’s Six Nations grand slam decider – live

Live news from the 4.45pm BST kick-off at TwickenhamSarah Rendell’s preview | And you can drop Luke an emailThere are two games to think about at Twickenham on Saturday, the one the Red Roses will play in, and the one they want to play in. The first is their grand slam decider against France, which kicks off at 4.45pm. The second – at the same venue, five months and one day later – is the World Cup final which, if everything goes as the team hopes at the Stadium of Light, Franklin’s Gardens, Ashton Gate and the other grounds they will visit between now and then, will be the next game they play at the home of English rugby.Mitchell makes nine changes. The women’s world player of the year, Ellie Kildunne, is ruled out by injury so Gloucester-Hartpury’s Emma Sing will start at full-back. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago First Europe, then the world: Twickenham awaits in year of twin peaks for England

Grand slam clash is vital stepping stone in Red Roses’ quest to reclaim the World Cup crown they last held in 2014There are two games to think about at Twickenham on Saturday, the one the Red Roses will play in, and the one they want to play in. The first is their grand slam decider against France, which kicks off at 4.45pm. The second – at the same venue, five months and one day later – is the World Cup final which, if everything goes as the team hopes at the Stadium of Light, Franklin’s Gardens, Ashton Gate and the other grounds they will visit between now and then, will be the next game they play at the home of English rugby.The Red Roses head coach, John Mitchell, has been around long enough to know the smart thing to do is separate the two. “We’ve got to be careful focusing on the World Cup final because we’ve got to earn the right to contest it,” Mitchell said this week. “It’s good to have the chance to be back at our home stadium, but it’s an isolated situation, that’s the wa...

Politics

4 d. ago Zoe Harrison urges England to embrace the occasion in grand slam clash with France

Harrison has got the nod at fly half as the Red Roses battle their fiercest foes at Allianz Stadium for Women’s Six Nations glory

Politics

4 d. ago The vital opportunity that the Red Roses must take in Women’s Six Nations grand slam decider

England face a necessary test against their fiercest foes France in front of another good crowd at Twickenham

Politics

5 d. ago Ellie Kildunne ruled out of grand slam decider as Zoe Harrison starts at fly

Harrison edges out Holly Aitchison for the starting No 10 shirt as England take on France at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Politics

5 d. ago Ellie Kildunne ruled out of grand slam decider as Zoe Harrison starts at fly half for Red Roses

Harrison edges out Holly Aitchison for the starting 10 shirt as England take on France at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Politics

5 d. ago Six Nations: England star Ellie Kildunne to miss Grand Slam decider after suffering hamstring injury

England will be without their star full back as they push for a seventh straight Six Nations title

Events

8 d. ago Willie Mullins goes for broke with 15 horses in last big jumps race of season

The trainer is responsible for nearly half the field in Saturday’s bet365 Gold Cup which could decide the outcome of his battle with Dan Skelton for the British trainers’ championship

Politics

1 week ago Aston Villa give Unai Emery answer he was looking for with Newcastle demolition

ASTON VILLA 4-1 NEWCASTLE UNITED: After suffering Champions League heartbreak in midweek, the Villans gave Unai Emery and his coaching staff what they wanted with a brutally brilliant display that the Magpies could't live with

Politics

1 week ago Red Roses rout Scotland to set up Six Nations grand slam decider

It will all come down to the final day of the Six Nations

Politics

1 week ago Rampant Red Roses rout Scotland to set up grand slam decider with France

England 59-7 ScotlandTwickenham finale will decide destination of titleEngland felled Scotland in a devastating manner to set up a grand slam decider against France in the Women’s Six Nations as they bid for their seventh successive title. The 59-7 victory was the team’s 33rd consecutive win in the tournament.England were heavy favourites heading into the match as Scotland have never beaten the Red Roses in the tournament, with their last win across all competitions against their rivals coming in 1999. Continue reading...

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