England women's national rugby union team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
England

Nickname	Red Roses
Emblem	Red Rose
Union	Rugby Football Union
Head coach	John Mitchell
Captain	Zoe Aldcroft
Most caps	Sarah Hunter (141)
Top scorer	Emily Scarratt (749)
Top try scorer	Sue Day (61)
Home stadium	Twickenham Stadium and others
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	1 (as of 25 November 2024)
Highest	1 (2012–2013, 2014–2015, 2017, 2020–)
Lowest	4 (2015)
First international
Wales 4–22 England  (Pontypool, Wales; 5 April 1987)
Biggest win
England 101–0 South Africa  (East Molesey, England; 14 May 2005)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 67–0 England  (Burnham, New Zealand; 13 August 1997)
World Cup
Appearances	9 (First in 1991)
Best result	Champions: (1994, 2014, 2025)
Website	England Rugby

The England women's national rugby union team, often called the Red Roses, is England's team for international women's rugby. They play in the yearly Women's Six Nations Championship against teams from France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. The Red Roses are super successful! They have won this championship 21 times out of 30. This includes 19 Grand Slams (winning every game) and 25 Triple Crowns (beating their rivals from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). They have also won the Women's Rugby World Cup three times: in 1994, 2014, and most recently in 2025. They have also been finalists six other times. Their head coach is John Mitchell.

The Red Roses' Journey in Rugby

England at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.

The England women's rugby team has a rich history. For a long time, their team badge was different from the men's team. But in 2009, they started using the same red rose emblem. This showed how the men's and women's rugby organizations were coming together.

The Red Roses have played in every Women's Rugby World Cup. They lifted the trophy in 1994, 2014, and again in 2025. They also reached the final six other times, showing their consistent strength.

Early Championships and Growth

In the 1995/1996 season, a new tournament began called the Home Nations Championship. England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales competed. England won this first championship and continued to dominate, winning every year except 1997/98.

Later, France joined the competition in 1998/99, and it became the Five Nations Championship. England quickly achieved a Grand Slam (winning all their matches) three years in a row!

Becoming the Six Nations

In the 2001/02 season, Ireland rejoined, and the tournament grew into the Women's Six Nations Championship. Since then, England has been incredibly successful. They have won the title 16 times. This includes an amazing seven wins in a row from 2006 to 2012, and another winning streak from 2019 to 2025. They have also achieved the Grand Slam 14 more times, including four years in a row from 2022 to 2025!

Team Achievements and Records

The Red Roses are a top-ranked team in the world of women's rugby.

Overall Match Performance

The England women's team has played many international matches. They have a fantastic winning record against most teams. For example, they have won all their games against Australia, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Russia, Samoa, South Africa, Sweden, and the USA. Their biggest win was 101-0 against South Africa in 2005. They have played a total of 330 matches, winning 284 of them!

World Cup Success

The Women's Rugby World Cup is the biggest prize in rugby. England has a proud history in this competition, winning it three times and being runners-up six times. Template:England Women's Rugby World Cup record

Six Nations Dominance

The Women's Six Nations Championship is another major tournament. England has won this championship many times, showing their strength in European rugby. Template:Women's Six Nations wins

Meet the Players

The Red Roses team is made up of talented athletes. The head coach, John Mitchell, chose 32 players for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. Some players were making their World Cup debut, while others, like Emily Scarratt, played in their fifth World Cup! The team captain is Zoe Aldcroft.

Star Players and Their Achievements

Many Red Roses players have been recognized for their amazing skills and contributions to rugby.

World Rugby Awards Winners

The World Rugby Awards celebrate the best players globally. Several English players have won the prestigious World Rugby Women's 15s Player of the Year award:

Other awards include the World Rugby Women's 15s Dream Team of the Year, where many Red Roses players are often featured for their outstanding play. For example, in 2023, seven English players were part of this dream team! Abby Dow also won the World Rugby Women's 15s Try of the Year in 2022 for an incredible try during the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby Hall of Fame

Six former England players have been honored by being inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. This is a very special recognition for players who have made a huge impact on the sport:

Six Nations Championship Awards

Players also receive awards for their performances in the Women's Six Nations Championship.

Many English players have also been named in the Six Nations Team of the Championship for their excellent play.

RPA Player of the Year

The Rugby Players' Association (RPA) also gives out awards. The RPA Player of the Year is voted for by the players themselves:

Some players, like Rocky Clark, Katy Daley-McLean, and Sarah Hunter, have also been inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame.

Top Players by Statistics

Here are some of the Red Roses' all-time leaders in important rugby statistics:

The Coaching Team

The coaches play a huge role in helping the Red Roses succeed. They plan strategies, train the players, and guide them during matches.

Current Coaching Staff

Here are the key coaches for the England women's team:

Name	Role
John Mitchell	Head Coach
Louis Deacon	Forwards Coach
Lou Meadows	Attack / Backs Coach
Sarah Hunter	Defence / Transition Coach
Nathan Catt	Scrum Coach

Famous Former Coaches

Some coaches have led the Red Roses to incredible victories:

• Gary Street (Head Coach from 2007–2015)

  He led the team to a World Cup win in 2014 and six Six Nations titles.

• Simon Middleton (Assistant Coach in 2014, Head Coach from 2015–2023)

  He was named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2021. Under his guidance, England won six Six Nations championships.

Team Honours and Trophies

The Red Roses have won many important tournaments and awards:

• World Cup

  Winners (3): 1994, 2014, 2025

  Runners-up (6): 1991, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021

• WXV

  Winners (2): 2023, 2024

• Six Nations Championship

  Winners (21): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

  Grand Slam (19): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

  Triple Crown (25): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

• European Championship

  Winners (5): 1997, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012

  Runners-up (1): 2004

See also

In Spanish: Selección femenina de rugby de Inglaterra para niños