The Rugby World Cup is right around the corner, kicking off on August 22 with the much anticipated England vs. USA clash in Sunderland.
The World Cup 2025 is being hosted by England, and the host country is a fan favourite to be the eventual winners of the competition, having hoisted the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations trophy in April.
England’s group stage includes matches against the USA, Australia, and Samoa - which all promise to be incredible shows with stars like USA’s Ilona Maher and Australia’s Maddison Levi, who won World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2024.
Who are the Red Roses?
The Red Roses is the nickname attached to the England Women’s rugby team, who were formed in 1986. They are internationally renowned as an incredibly strong side, currently ranked number one in the world, and have won the World Cup on two previous occasions in 1994 and 2014.
The Red Roses have been coached by John Mitchell since late 2023, and their powerful presence has pervaded the lead up to the World Cup thus far, as they pulverized Spain 97 - 7 in their friendly last weekend.
The World Cup 2025 Red Roses squad
The 32 strong World Cup squad about to begin their campaign includes eight players going to their first World Cup: Abi Burton, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, May Campbell, Lilli Ives Campion, Maddie Feaunati, Jade Shekells, and Emma Sing.
On the other side of the experience spectrum, centre Emily Scarratt has become the first English player to be selected for five World Cup campaigns.
It will be the third tournament campaign that captain Zoe Aldcroft has led, supported by vice-captains Marlie Packer, who was in the winning 2014 world cup squad, and Olympian Megan Jones.
The Red Roses golden girl however is Ellie Kildunne, the renowned fullback who won World Player of the Year in 2024 after scoring a staggering nine tries across England’s dominant campaign in the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, leading them to a grand slam. Kildunne has become one of the main faces of the tournament, despite not playing the either fixtures due to a residual hamstring injury from the 2025 Six Nations campaign.
Full England World Cup Squad
Forwards:
Zoe Aldcroft, Lark Atkin-Davies, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Abi Burton, May Campbell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Amy Cokayne, Maddie Feaunati, Rosie Galligan, Lilli Ives Campion, Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews, Maud Muir, Marlie Packer, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward
Backs:
Holly Aitchison, Jess Breach, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison, Tatyana Heard, Natasha Hunt, Megan Jones, Ellie Kildunne, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Lucy Packer, Helena Rowland, Emily Scarratt, Jade Shekells, Emma Sing
Where to watch the Red Roses?
The Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off with England playing the first match against the USA in Sunderland on August 22. It will be streamed live on BBC and on England Rugby’s YouTube.