England women's national rugby union team

The England women's national rugby union team, also known as the Red Roses, represents England in women's international rugby union. They compete in the annual Women's Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. England have won the championship on a total of 16 out of 25 occasions – winning the Grand Slam 15 times and the Triple Crown 21 times – making them by far the most successful side in the tournament's history. England are currently ranked first in the world. They have won the Women's Rugby World Cup twice in 1994 and 2014, and have been runners-up on five other occasions. Their coach is Simon Middleton after the contract of their previous coach Gary Street, who had been head coach since 2006, wasn't renewed. Street now coaches Harlequins Women.

For the men's team, see England national rugby union team.

England
Nickname(s)Red Roses
EmblemRed Rose
UnionRugby Football Union
Head coachSimon Middleton
CaptainSarah Hunter
Most capsRochelle Clark (137)
Top scorerEmily Scarratt (557)
Top try scorerSue Day (59)
Home stadiumTwickenham
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current1 (as of 23 November 2020)
First international
 England 22-4 Wales 
(5 April 1987)
Biggest win
 England 101–0 South Africa 
(14 May 2005)
Biggest defeat
 New Zealand 67–0 England 
(13 August 1997)
World Cup
Appearances8 (First in 1991)
Best resultChampions, 1994, 2014

History
England at the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Until May 1994 Women's’ Rugby was run by the Women's Rugby Football Union (WRFU), formed in 1983. The WRFU was responsible for rugby in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

In 1994 the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) was formed in England with each of the Home Nations governing their own countries. The RFUW currently has over 410 Clubs: 170 Senior clubs, 80 student sides, 29 Under 18's sides, 103 Under 16's sides, and 40 Schools. These clubs are slotted into regions, these being: North West, North East, Yorkshire & Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, Eastern Counties, London & South East North, South East South, South West (North) and South West (South).

Until 2009 the badge and logo of England women's national teams was significantly different from that worn by men's teams. However, in 2009 – in anticipation of the merger between the RFU and RFUW – England teams adopted the men's rose.

Sue Day

England have taken part in every Women's Rugby World Cup competition, winning in 1994 and 2014 and finishing as runner-up on four other occasions.

The 1995/1996 season saw the introduction of a Home Nations Championship between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which England won in its inaugural year. England won the Championship every year except from the 1997/98 season when Scotland won it. France joined the competition in the 1998/99 season making it the Five Nations Championship with England achieving the Grand Slam in three successive seasons. In the 2001/02 season, Ireland rejoined the fold in preparation for the World Cup, and the competition expanded to be known as the Six Nations, since when England have finished lower than runner-up on only 2 occasions, in 2013 and 2015 respectively, and have won the title on 9 separate occasions, including in 7 consecutive tournaments between 2006 and 2012 and the Grand Slam on 8 more occasions, including 3 times in a row between 2006–2008 and 2010–2012, respectively.

Results

See List of England women's national rugby union team matches

Players

Current squad

On 27 January England announced their squad for the upcoming 2020 Six Nations Championship[1]

Backs

  

Forwards

Honours
Winners (2): 1994, 2014[2]
Runners-up (5): 1991, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017
Winners (16): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020
Grand Slam (15): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2020
Triple Crown (21): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Winners (5): 1997, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
Runners-up (1): 2004

References
  1. "Red Roses Announce Squad for Upcoming 2020 Women's Six Nations". England Rugby. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. James Riach. "England 21-9 Canada – Women's rugby World Cup match report". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
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