Three bold World Cup calls that paid off for England

England have won the Women’s Rugby World Cup for the first time since 2014 after a 33-13 win over Canada in the final.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE RUGBY CORRESPONDENT

Victory in front of a raucous capacity crowd at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, extended the Red Roses’ winning streak to 33 matches, with the side crowning their dominance with a prize that had proved elusive in final defeats to New Zealand at each of the last two tournaments.

What enabled England to take the next step? Here are three big calls that paid off:

Hiring John Mitchell

Eyebrows were raised when England turned to the veteran coach in 2023 after a long, considered search for a replacement for Simon Middleton. Mitchell had never worked within the women’s game and was, at the time, contracted to Japan through to the end of the men’s World Cup, delaying his start date until midway through the first edition of WXV. There were plenty within the sport who wondered whether Mitchell could adapt his coaching style to suit a squad, but his appointment ahead of a broad, impressive range of candidates has proved a shrewd decision.

The New Zealander’s communication style has provided clarity for the squad, while he has struck the right balance between demanding high standards on the pitch and affording the players freedom off it. He has fully bought into the Red Roses’ culture, too, appearing in TikToks and allowing some members of the squad to go home from camp if they need to recharge. His presence has helped ensure that the programme is properly resourced, too, with consultant kicking specialist Andy Holloway and scrum guru Nathan Catt both playing key roles alongside an expanded core coaching team.