Independent England sport Est. 2026 · England, every angle

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Hosted by New Zealand (played 2022)

2021
Women's Rugby World Cup⁠

England: Runners-up

How England performed

The 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup was played in New Zealand in 2022, and the Red Roses, led by head coach Simon Middleton and captain Sarah Hunter, reached the final for the second tournament running. In the pool stage they beat Fiji 84–19 at Eden Park in Auckland, France 13–7 at Okara Park in Whangārei and South Africa 75–0 at The Trusts Arena in Auckland.

England then beat Australia 41–5 at The Trusts Arena and Canada 26–19 in the semi-final at Eden Park. The final, also at Eden Park, on 12 November, was won 34–31 by the hosts, New Zealand, leaving England as runners-up, as they had been in 2017. Their record was five wins and one defeat from six matches, with 270 points scored and 84 conceded.

Head coach
Simon Middleton
Captain
Sarah Hunter
Record
P6 W5 D0 L1
Points
270 for, 84 against

England fixtures

England: 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup

6 matches

01 8 Oct 2022
Women's Rugby World Cup Eden Park, Auckland

Fiji 19–84 England England won

England tries: Claudia Moloney Macdonald 4', Amy Cokayne 17', Abbie Ward 26', Helena Rowland 37', Amy Cokayne 41', Zoe Stratford 44', Lydia Thompson 49', Lydia Thompson 52', Claudia Moloney Macdonald 55', Abby Dow 58', Leanne Infante 64', Claudia Moloney Macdonald 69', Connie Powell 73', Claudia Moloney Macdonald 76'

Fiji tries: Alowesi Nakoci 30', Sesenieli Donu 40', Lavena Cavuru 80'

Match page: Fiji v England, 8 October 2022

03 22 Oct 2022
Women's Rugby World Cup The Trusts Arena, Auckland

South Africa 0–75 England England won

England tries: Rosie Galligan 5', Poppy Cleall 23', Rosie Galligan 28', Shaunagh Brown 31', Connie Powell 35', Connie Powell 40', Marlie Packer 50', Rosie Galligan 52', Poppy Cleall 58', Sadia Kabeya 61', Abby Dow 63', Connie Powell 68', Sadia Kabeya 77'

South Africa tries: None

Match page: South Africa v England, 22 October 2022

04 30 Oct 2022
Women's Rugby World Cup The Trusts Arena, Auckland

Australia 5–41 England England won

England tries: Sarah Hunter 7', Marlie Packer 29', Marlie Packer 37', Abbie Ward 42', Amy Cokayne 52', Alex Matthews 64', Marlie Packer 79'

Australia tries: Emily Chancellor 39'

Match page: Australia v England, 30 October 2022

05 5 Nov 2022
Women's Rugby World Cup Eden Park, Auckland

Canada 19–26 England England won

England tries: Marlie Packer 8', Abby Dow 14', Abby Dow 49'

Canada tries: Karen Paquin 14', Alysha Corrigan 34', Tyson Beukeboom 67'

Match page: Canada v England, 5 November 2022

06 12 Nov 2022
Women's Rugby World Cup Eden Park, Auckland

New Zealand 34–31 England England lost

England tries: Ellie Kildunne 2', Amy Cokayne 12', Marlie Packer 20', Amy Cokayne 31', Amy Cokayne 53'

New Zealand tries: Georgia Ponsonby 17', Ayesha Leti-Iiga 24', Amy Rule 39', Stacey Waaka 40', Krystal Murray 48', Ayesha Leti-Iiga 71'

Match page: New Zealand v England, 12 November 2022

England statistics

Scorers

Amy Cokayne6
Marlie Packer6
Claudia Moloney Macdonald4
Abby Dow4
Connie Powell4
Rosie Galligan3
Abbie Ward2
Lydia Thompson2

Full England squad

Squad

33 players

PlayerPos Club Tries
Zoe Aldcroft Lock Gloucester-Hartpury –
Sarah Bern Prop Bristol Bears –
Hannah Botterman Prop Saracens –
Shaunagh Brown Prop Harlequins 1
Poppy Cleall Back row Saracens 2
Amy Cokayne Hooker Harlequins 6
Vickii Cornborough Prop Harlequins –
Lark Davies Hooker Bristol Bears –
Rosie Galligan Lock Harlequins 3
Detysha Harper Prop Loughborough Lightning –
Sarah Hunter C Back row Loughborough Lightning 1
Sadia Kabeya Back row Loughborough Lightning 2
Laura Keates Prop University of Worcester Warriors –
Alex Matthews Back row Gloucester-Hartpury 1
Maud Muir Prop Gloucester-Hartpury –
Cath O'Donnell Lock Loughborough Lightning –
Marlie Packer Back row Saracens 6
Connie Powell Hooker Gloucester-Hartpury 4
Morwenna Talling Lock Loughborough Lightning –
Abbie Ward Lock Bristol Bears 2
Holly Aitchison Fly-half Saracens –
Jess Breach Wing Saracens –
Abby Dow Wing Wasps 4
Zoe Harrison Fly-half Saracens –
Tatyana Heard Centre Gloucester-Hartpury –
Leanne Infante Scrum-half Saracens 1
Ellie Kildunne Wing Harlequins 1
Claudia MacDonald Scrum-half Exeter Chiefs 4
Sarah McKenna Fullback Saracens –
Lucy Packer Scrum-half Harlequins –
Helena Rowland Fly-half Loughborough Lightning 1
Emily Scarratt Centre Loughborough Lightning 1
Lydia Thompson Wing University of Worcester Warriors 2

Previous tournament

2017 · Runners-up

Next tournament

2025 · Winners

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