Latest news with #RedRoses
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Scarratt closing in on record fifth World Cup
Centre Emily Scarratt is closing in on a record-equalling fifth Rugby World Cup after being named in England's 42-player training squad for the 35-year-old has played in the past four World Cups for the Red Roses and is aiming to become the first English rugby union player to play at five of the Lightning's Scarratt, who has been capped 118 times, attended her first World Cup as a 20-year-old - with England losing the final to New Zealand at Twickenham Stoop in scored 16 points in the 2014 final win against Canada in Paris, including the game-clinching try in a player-of-the-match performance, before starting England's past two World Cup final defeats by New Zealand. In the men's game only three players; Samoa's Brian Lima and Italy duo Mauro Bergamasco and Sergio Parisse have played at five World the women's game, former New Zealand fly-half Anna Richards was part of five World Cups between 1991 and 2010, winning the title four Fa'amausili also won four World Cups for the Black Ferns across her five tournaments, from 2002-2017. Scotland's Donna Kennedy also played at five World Cups - her first coming in England are favourites to win the World Cup, which gets under way on 22 defeated France 43-42 in a thriller at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in April to secure their fourth consecutive Six Nations Grand Jones has established herself as John Mitchell's starting outside centre, but Scarratt - despite missing out on England's matchday squad for the Grand Slam win over France - remains a valuable squad member in a position where competition for places is Red Roses are on a 25-game winning run as they count down to their home World Cup, which starts against the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of squad assembled on Monday for the first time and will be cut down to 32 players for the who were world champions in 2014, narrowly missed out in dramatic fashion at Eden Park in 2022 against New Zealand."We know how important and exciting 2025 is for women's rugby in England," Mitchell said. "Today is the start of little wins where we will work hard into the tournament." England Rugby World Cup training squad Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Georgia Brock, Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Amy Cokayne, Maddie Feaunati, Rosie Galligan, Lizzie Hanlon, Lilli Ives Campion, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews, Maud Muir, Cath O'Donnell, Marlie Packer, Simi Pam, Connie Powell, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Holly Aitchison, Jess Breach, Millie David, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison, Tatyana Heard, Natasha Hunt, Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne, Claudia MacDonald, Lucy Packer, Sarah Parry, Flo Robinson, Helena Rowland, Emily Scarratt, Jade Shekells, Emma Sing, Mia Venner, Ella Wyrwas. Gloucester-Hartpury forward Sarah Beckett is once again a notable omission from the 26-year-old, who can play at lock or in the back row, failed to make the Red Roses' World Cup squad in was included in Mitchell's Women's Six Nations squad earlier this year but failed to make an appearance, with the last of her 35 caps coming in last year's Six Lightning lock Cath O'Donnell is included and has returned to full training after missing the Six Nations and October's WXV1 campaigns with an ankle England Under-20 duo Millie David and Sarah Parry are named after featuring in Mitchell's March Six Nations training Bears' David, 19, was this season's Premiership Women's Rugby joint top try-scorer with an impressive tally of Mackenzie Carson (ankle), world player of the year Ellie Kildunne (hamstring), Exeter Chiefs wing Claudia MacDonald (knee) and Bristol Bears lock Abbie Ward (toe) will all continue their injury rehab in camp.
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Red Roses unveil World Cup training squad as young guns given chance to impress
Young guns Millie David and Sarah Parry have been given an opportunity to stake a claim for Rugby World Cup selection after earning inclusion in the Red Roses training squad ahead of the tournament. The pair, who have both featured for England's Under 20s this year, are part of a 42-player group that assembled this week as John Mitchell 's side begin their preparations for their tilt at triumph on home soil. Wing David was one of the stars of the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) season for Bristol Bears, impressing with her pace and serious finishing skill, while centre Parry has established herself in the Harlequins first team. There is no place in the squad for experienced forward Sarah Beckett, who did not add to her 35 caps in the Women's Six Nations, but lock Cath O'Donnell returns from a long-term injury lay-off to bolster Mitchell's back five options and could press for a first cap in nearly two years. Mackenzie Carson (ankle), Ellie Kildunne (hamstring), Claudia MacDonald (knee) and Abbie Ward (toe) will continue their rehabilitation from injuries in camp, with none thought to be doubts for the tournament, which begins on 22 August. "We know how important and exciting 2025 is for women's rugby in England,' Mitchell said. 'Today is the start of little wins where we will work hard into the tournament.' The 42-player squad will be cut to 32 ahead of the tournament, with head coach Mitchell intending to name 18 forwards and 14 backs. England will spend the next two weeks at London Irish's former training centre at Hazelwood, and will also spend time at the Lensbury in Teddington and the Pennyhill Park training base ahead of the World Cup. A warm-weather camp in Treviso will be followed by warm-up fixtures against Spain in Leicester and France in Mont de Marsan as preparations intensify before the opening fixture against the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. England, favourites for the tournament having lost in the final of the last two editions, also face Samoa and Australia in Group A. Red Roses World Cup training squad Forwards Zoe Aldcroft Lark Atkin-Davies Sarah Bern Hannah Botterman Georgia Brock Abi Burton May Campbell Mackenzie Carson Kelsey Clifford Amy Cokayne Maddie Feaunati Rosie Galligan Lizzie Hanlon Lilli Ives Campion Sadia Kabeya Alex Matthews Maud Muir Cath O'Donnell Marlie Packer Simi Pam Connie Powell Morwenna Talling Abbie Ward Backs Holly Aitchison Jess Breach Millie David Abby Dow Zoe Harrison Tatyana Heard Natasha Hunt Megan Jones Ellie Kildunne Claudia MacDonald Lucy Packer Sarah Parry Flo Robinson Helena Rowland Emily Scarratt Jade Shekells Emma Sing Mia Venner Ella Wyrwas
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Women's Rugby World Cup trophy in Sunderland ahead of opener
Excitement is mounting ahead of the first game of the Women's Rugby World will play host to the opening match of the tournament on 22 August, with England's Red Roses taking on the USA at the Stadium of the build-up to the event, the trophy will be displayed at Sunderland's Keel Square on 6 June from 12:00 BST to 16:00."Having the opening match here is a brilliant opportunity to showcase our city on the international stage," said Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council. The authority said the 2025 tournament had already sold more than twice the number of tickets compared to the last event in New Zealand four years competition's managing director Sarah Massey said: "[It] promises to be a landmark tournament for the sport and the trophy tour provides a brilliant opportunity to ignite excitement across England." Sunderland is the last city to publicly display the trophy, which has already been on display at the other seven host cities. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Rugby coach delighted to see her side run out winners
Having represented the Red Roses during her playing days, McKenna knows a thing or two about elite level rugby and she expressed her delight at watching her side rise to the occasion at HQ. 'What a game to demonstrate the quality of this Championship,' she said. 'That's the thing that everyone involved can be most proud of. The way the game was played by both teams, the skill level and the ambition on the field is a brilliant advert for what the league is doing. 'It's an unbelievably special competition and we have got a whole multitude of people who are playing in this Championship and making it the best it can be. 'The opportunity to come and play here at Twickenham is a huge motivator for these players and getting to play out on that turf on a May afternoon with the sun shining and two big crowds behind those teams is what dreams are made of.' The Papa Johns Community Cup is a year-long festival of community rugby and was part of the season restructure in 2023, where player feedback indicated a preference to condense the league season and create a cup competition after the regular league season had ended. Through the Papa Johns Community Cup, many clubs were able to play different opposition and visit new places, while others reignited old local rivalries, all making plenty of memories along the way. McKenna added: 'We wanted to enjoy this moment and share it with the community. That's not just those with us who were there with us on the day but those who contributed to getting us here. 'The biggest thing that we enjoy the moment regardless of the result and I think they did. 'I like to use the phrase a rising tide lifts all ships and if the grassroots game grows, the top tier of English rugby grows, whether that's the Red Roses or the Premiership. It all starts at grassroots.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leitch ends playing career to take up Exeter coaching role
Exeter's former England forward Poppy Leitch is retiring from playing to take up a coaching role. The 27-year-old is to become the club's first women's Under-23s coach and will oversee young players coming into the became the first woman to play 100 times for Chiefs, who set up their women's side in is currently head coach at the University of Exeter and will also oversee the club's Women's Championship South 1 will be assisted by fellow Exeter players Emily and Flo Robinson, Alex Tessier and Abby Middlebrooke. "We are undertaking bold, wholesale changes to the coaching structure here at Exeter Chiefs and that includes those who oversee the care of our younger players," Exeter's chairman and chief executive Tony Rowe said."We want to produce more England-qualified players that have come through our pathway and Poppy has already had success in this area. I have no doubt she will flourish in this role."Her contribution to the club as a player, captain and Exeter University's head coach has been remarkable. "The number of players who have come through her programme to pull on a Chiefs jersey is testament to her success that we are looking to build on with her new role."Leitch joined the club from Bristol ahead of its debut season, having won her first England cap in 2016, and helped the Red Roses win a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2019. "I am excited to get stuck in with this new Under-23s infrastructure that we have put in place for the season ahead. Our aim is to invest in the person beyond the play," Leitch said."Each of the programmes within our pathway have shown the ability to produce excellent players with world-class potential. "The aim of the Under-23s programme is to develop the holistic skills these players require to have long, successful careers."We have already identified more than 30 players who will become part of the Under-23s programme, with a new cohort still due to join in September 2025. "While we aim to sow the seeds of the future, our ultimate aim is to make Exeter Chiefs and Sandy Park feel like home for all of our players."
