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Red Roses Sharpen Skills and Compete for World Cup Spots
2 Aug
Summary
- Red Roses practicing new three-part drill: hop, step, strike
- Internal competition for starting spots as World Cup approaches
- Spain ranked 13th, lost last 3 games, expected to offer little resistance
As the 2025 Rugby World Cup approaches, the England women's rugby team, the Red Roses, are intensifying their preparations. In the past two months, the team has been training hard, including a trip to the heat of Treviso and pushing their stamina to the limit.
This weekend, the Red Roses will face Spain in a warm-up match, a fixture that will provide an opportunity for players on the fringe of the 32-strong squad to push for a spot in the starting lineup. The coaching staff has been working on a new three-part drill - a hop, a step, and a strike - which the players have been enthusiastically mimicking.
However, the match against Spain is not expected to be a significant challenge for the Red Roses. The Spanish team is ranked 13th in the world and has lost its last three games, including a 56-5 thrashing by England in the 2017 Rugby World Cup. While Spain has some talented players, such as prop Cristina Blanco and fly-half Amalia Argudo, the depth and quality of the Red Roses squad is expected to overwhelm their opponents.
The real competition for the Red Roses will be internal, as players vie for starting positions. Positions such as number eight, fly-half, and fullback are up for grabs, with experienced veterans like Marlie Packer and Ellie Kildunne facing challenges from younger talents. This internal competition will be crucial in shaping the Red Roses' lineup for the upcoming World Cup, where they will be aiming to reclaim the title they last won in 2014.
