rugby

England squad: AJ Brimson, Joe Burgess, Daryl Clark, Herbie Farnworth, Tom Johnstone, Mikey Lewis, Harry Newman, Mikolaj Oledzi, George Williams (capt), Harry Smith, Mike McMeeken, Jez Litten, Matty Lees, Kai Pearce-Paul, Kallum Watkins, Morgan Knowles, Owen Trout, Alex Walmsley, Morgan Smithies.

Australia XIII: Reece Walsh, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary, Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Angus Crichton, Hudson Young, Isaah Yeo (captain).

Interchanges: Tom Dearden, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Keaon Koloamatangi.

Reserves: Bradman Best, Lindsay Smith, Mitchell Moses.

“I asked Brendon how he changed that in English cricket, which was really interesting. Then we got into the technicalities of coaching someone one-on-one, what that looks like, his role as head coach in that versus his assistants.

“We sat for a good period of time and took loads from it. They’re on to a good thing.”

After beginning the series against Australia, England will also face Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina this autumn.

Meanwhile, the cricket team will play five Test matches as they look to regain the Ashes for the first time since they won in Australia a decade ago.

“They’ll go out and give it a great dig – as English teams who are playing against Australia want to – and hopefully we stick one on the board on Saturday,” said Wigglesworth, who was part of the British and Irish Lions set-up as they posted a 2-1 series win against the Wallabies in the summer.

“It’s a great rivalry with Australia. Both sides really enjoy playing against each other because there’s something there. Bring on Saturday.”

England are favourites against Australia, who are ranked seventh in the world.

The Wallabies finished third in the Rugby Championship with two wins from six games and beat Japan 19-15 in Tokyo on Saturday with a much-changed team.

A BRAND new visitor attraction is coming to a UK city – and it is opening tomorrow.

Zip World – a UK outdoor adventure giant – is opening its first ever city-centre site in Wales.

The new destination will be located on top of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

The attraction will open tomorrow and will have three experiences.

The first experience is a Stadium Walk, where visitors can step across the rooftop of the Principality Stadium and gain panoramic views of the city.

At Stadium Drop, visitors can abseil down the side of the stadium.

Read more on travel inspo

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

SHOW BOAT 

I tried new Omaze-style draw for superyacht holidays & lived like a billionaire

Finally, at Stadium Flyer, visitors can head on a zip line across a 60 metre high canopy.

Unlike other Zip World attractions, the Cardiff site will sell tickets to each experience individually – so visitors can chose one experience, two or all three.

Tickets will start from £25 per person.

The opening of Zip World Cardiff at Principality Stadium will be Zip World’s second city-centric location, following the opening of Helix and ArcelorMittal Orbit 360 in London last year.

The attraction is opening in partnership with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

The attraction was previously branded under the name Scale and was operated by Wire & Sky.

Zip World will now be the new operator of the Principality Stadium roof top attraction after securing a deal with the WRU.

Andrew Hudson, CEO of Zip World, commented: “Bringing Zip World to Cardiff is a proud moment for us.

“It’s our first stadium location and our first city-centre location in Wales.

“It’s chance to bring something new to the capital, in a place that means a lot to our team and to the wider Welsh public.

“Taking on the rooftop operations at Principality Stadium marks the start of an exciting new chapter – one where Zip World will act as a strategic partner to help shape the stadium’s next phase.

“This is just the beginning.

“Our team is working hard behind the scenes, and we can’t wait to introduce even more adventures to the stadium and bring a bit of Zip World magic to Cardiff – watch this space!”

Sean Taylor, founder and president of Zip World added: “As a lifelong rugby fan, I’ve got fond memories of watching Wales play as a young lad.

“The atmosphere was electric and the Andy Haden dive in 1978 is something I’ll never forget.

“To now be taking on the rooftop adventures at Principality Stadium marks a significant step forward for Zip World.”

Zip World also recently announced a new adventure attraction in one of the UK’s best loved beauty spots – with a huge underground zip wire.

MY HORROR

I laughed off Ella-May’s funny faces as Halloween act… it was cardiac arrest at 5

RIDES FROM HELL

Are funfairs safe? As rides leave kids bloodied & revellers with split jaws

In other attraction news, the UK’s biggest indoor tropical waterpark to get massive new upgrade.

Plus, the new Guinness brewery attraction FINALLY announces opening date for the UK.

Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins is promoted to the starting line-up in the only personnel change to the team that started at Wembley, with Patrick Carrigan moving into the loose forward role vacated by Yeo.

Lindsay Smith, Yeo’s Penrith Panthers club-mate, steps up to the bench, with Jacob Preston named among the reserves.

“Harry and all of the senior players for that matter stepped up after Isaah’s unfortunate injury last week,” said former Kangaroo half-back Walters.

“While we’d love to have Isaah out there, he’ll still be contributing in many other ways around the group this week. He’s a natural leader, and so too is Harry so we’re in great hands this week.

“I’m really pleased with the way we’ve started the series, but we’re into a new week now and our focus is on preparing well and being at our very best this Saturday.”

Brisbane Broncos superstar Reece Walsh will again play at full-back, having scored two tries and won the man-of-the-match award on his international debut at Wembley.

Saturday’s second Test, and the third at AMT Headingley on 8 November, both kick off at 14:30 GMT and are live on BBC One.

Australia: Reece Walsh, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Collins, Harry Grant (captain), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Angus Crichton, Hudson Young, Patrick Carrigan.

Interchanges: Tom Dearden, Lindsay Smith, Reuben Cotter, Keaon Koloamatangi.

Reserves: Bradman Best, Jacob Preston, Mitchell Moses.

Nathan Collins scored 22 points as England came through a testing final warm-up for the Wheelchair Rugby League Ashes to beat Queensland 72-60 on the Sunshine Coast.

Leeds Rhinos pivot Collins scored two tries and landed seven goals as Tom Coyd’s side had to come back from an early 12-6 deficit against competitive hosts.

Wheels of Steel winner Joe Coyd scored three of England’s 13 tries, and added a goal, as they followed up their 86-10 win over New South Wales in last Friday’s tour opener.

Mason Billington and Luis Domingos both scored twice, with one try each for Rob Hawkins, tour captain Lewis King, Seb Bechara and Finlay O’Neill. Wayne Boardman added a goal to the tally.

For Halifax Panthers youngster O’Neill it was a first international try, and he was watched by his father and grandmother, who have travelled from Yorkshire for the tour’s early stages.

Queensland included several players who are set to feature for Australia against England later this week, including Zac Schumacher, who scored five of their tries, and Bayley McKenna, who converted all nine of his goal attempts.

Dan Anstey and Adam Tannock scored twice for the hosts and Pete Arbuckle once, with their other goal coming from Jack Kruger.

England face a two-Test series against Australia on the Gold Coast, with the first match on Thursday and the second on Sunday.

Twenty-two years later, same story. Australia picked up where they left off in their domination of the rugby league Ashes.

After a tense opening 20 minutes of the first series since 2003, the Kangaroos opened the scoring against England with their first flowing move of the contest.

Debutant Mark Nawaqanitawase shifted the ball left for rampaging full-back Reece Walsh to go over in style.

England were unhappy as scrum-half Mikey Lewis appeared to be tripped in the build-up, and there looked to be a forward pass too – but the try was given following a review by video referee Jack Smith.

Smith partly redeemed himself to the Wembley crowd by disallowing a second Australia try before the break as Dom Young was taken out by Josh Addo-Carr as he jumped to catch a high kick.

Shaun Wane’s side initially responded well to conceding and defence-splitting grubber kicks from George Williams and Tom Johnstone had the green and gold defence on their heels.

But Cleary added a penalty with the last action of the first half to put Australia 8-0 up – and they extended the lead straight after the interval.

After putting the hosts under constant pressure from the restart, Angus Crichton strode through to score with full-back Jack Welsby too deep and allowing him to go through far too easily.

Australia kept England at arm’s length thereafter, easing their way to victory in the first meeting between the sides since the 2017 World Cup final.

That success was secured with 15 minutes remaining as second row Crichton scythed through the defence again, and more gloss was added when a superb field-length move down the left was finished by the impressive Walsh.

Daryl Clark barged over in the final minutes for England, but it was no more than a consolation.

A downside for the visitors was that captain Issah Yeo was forced off in the first half after failing a head injury assessment following a clash with Young. He will also miss the second test next week at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.

More to follow.

Today’s announcement will do little to calm the often seething cauldron of Welsh rugby, particularly in west Wales.

The WRU said only one of the three future teams in Wales will be based in the west where both Ospreys (Swansea) and Scarlets (Llanelli) are based.

Scarlets and Ospreys are on a previous funding agreement until 2027 – worth just £4.5m a year – after refusing to sign the new participation agreement earlier this year.

There is still a hope within the governing body that the teams could merge but would open a tender process if they do not.

That process even opens the unlikely prospect that one of those clubs could apply for the licence based in Cardiff or east Wales.

The WRU, meanwhile, is a stakeholder in the URC – along with the four other national governing bodies – and would need support from the league to alter the number of regions competing.

Surveys have shown a majority of Welsh rugby fans would like the WRU to approach the English clubs to see if there could be an Anglo-Welsh league.

Reddin had stated that option was not on the table and the WRU remains committed to the URC.

So while the present now has greater clarity, the longer-term future of Welsh rugby will still remain uncertain.

Former Ireland star Conor Murray says the “shackles are off” as he launches a new BBC Sounds podcast – the Ireland Rugby Social.

Murray, who won international 125 caps, will join BBC Sport NI’s Gavin Andrews to give his unique insight into the mindset of a professional athlete as Ireland gear up for the autumn internationals and the 2026 Six Nations.

Each week, Murray will sit down with players, coaches and rugby insiders to dive into the sport’s biggest stories as Ireland face New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa this autumn, before the Six Nations kicks off next year.

With five Six Nations titles and two United Rugby Championships with Munster, the three-time British and Irish Lion is uniquely placed to go beyond the headlines – and he says: “I can say what I want.”

“As a player you are always worried about protecting the team or the coach, or saying something the coach might not agree with after,” said Murray.

“But now the shackles are off. Now you can speak your mind and say things how you see it.”

Every Tuesday there will be podcast with a special guest who will offer their own insight into their life in rugby, whether that is playing, coaching or a role you may not know about.

Additionally, throughout November and Six Nations there will be a second podcast reflecting on the game that’s just been played and a look ahead at what is to come.

“Rugby has been such a big part of my life for so long, so I think staying connected to it is probably a good idea,” Murray added.

“I can give some insight, get some guests with some interesting stories – stories that you maybe haven’t heard before.

“I know the guests we have will be able to relax and tell us their true thoughts and stories.”

You can catch a first teaser episode here, or search Ireland Rugby Social on BBC Sounds to listen to every episode and subscribe.

Domingos passed his healthcare course too – and over the next few years, spent time in Spain with second-tier Basketmi Ferrol and top-flight Servigest Burgos, then followed his friend and mentor Bartolo to Portugal to join BC Gaia, all the while racking up international appearances for the country of his birth.

“Spain’s the biggest league in the world,” Domingos said. “It’s the NBA of wheelchair basketball.

“I played alongside two of the best players: Mateusz Filipski – he’s known as wheelchair basketball’s Steph Curry. He can shoot from everywhere. He’s a good leader, an amazing human. And I played alongside Lee Fryer, one of England’s most exciting emerging players.”

But Domingos wanted to come back to England to study, starting a business management degree at the University of Huddersfield – he is set to graduate next summer.

He kept up his fitness playing wheelchair basketball for a team in Wakefield, who shared training facilities with Wheelchair Championship rugby league side Castleford. A friend urged him to sign up with Cas – and everything has snowballed from there.

In April, he scored the winning try as they beat North Wales Crusaders to win the Wheelchair Challenge Trophy, for second-tier clubs. In June, he was called into England’s 17-strong national performance squad.

And then in August, he made the final 10 to fly to Australia – qualifying for the call-up on residency grounds. His domestic season was capped last month when Castleford beat Rochdale in the Wheelchair Championship Grand Final.

“It feels amazing to be part of the Ashes,” he said. “England is a family. I feel privileged to be part of this.

“I think my experiences with Portugal will help me to deal with the pressure. I can take some of the things I’ve learned in professional settings to this.

“At the moment, I’m enjoying this. Everything happens for a reason and you know, if I try to understand the reason, it won’t be so. Whatever happens tomorrow, I’m not sure. I’m hoping it’s a good thing, but I’m living today.”

The three other options tabled by the WRU include two proposals suggesting a reduction in one side by keeping three teams. These choices are now seriously being considered by the WRU board.

Cardiff are owned by the WRU after the side temporarily went into administration in April.

With WRU chief executive Abi Tierney having already said she cannot see a situation where professional rugby would not be played in the Welsh capital, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets will be nervously watching what happens.

Reddin says he hopes a consensus could be reached if regions needed to be cut, with mergers an option.

Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley says he can not imagine any possible merger with west Wales rivals Scarlets – that prospect having previously come close in 2019.

“I credit myself as a rather imaginative person but even I can’t imagine that,” Bradley told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“I can’t see how it could work. It was proposed a few years ago but there would be so many barriers to it now, that I find it very hard to imagine.”

Bradley says he hopes to have some clarity by the end of October.

“We have been working closely with the WRU but at the end of the day it will be them who has to make the decision,” said Bradley.

“We have had a lot of conversations and they have been constructive.

“We felt that in a meeting we had with Dave Reddin that he genuinely listened to what we said and we hope that will be taken on board.”

However, Shore said R360, which organisers say has attracted investment from a variety of funds and individuals, is fundamentally different to PWR, which supports the rest of the game.

“Our league houses just over 500 players, and they go from 18-year-olds up to players in their 30s with 100 caps for their country,” Shore said.

“Our job is not just the athlete with 100 caps, though.

“Our clubs have invested millions in schools, in colleges, in university partnerships, in building out their pathway projects and work with the Rugby Football Union, who are doing the same.

“If R360 are a private, limited company they don’t have to do that. Their purpose is to do something that’s innovative and exciting at the top of the game.

“The one thing that you do read consistently is that they plan to break even in year two. So the goal is to make money for the people who invest in it.”

The unions said in their joint statement that R360 was “designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, potentially hollowing out the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development and participation pathways”.

Yann Roubert, the head of the French club game, said, external on Wednesday that “you don’t build a sport by bypassing those who build it”.

R360 said it will put “players first” and offer the highest standards of support, and that the investment and attention it will attract can help the sport as a whole.

Rugby star Ilona Maher is a two-time Olympian, a “Dancing With the Stars” alum, a social media favorite and now a Barbie doll.

Mattel announced Monday that it had assembled a team of four international rugby athletes to help encourage girls to embrace their confidence and stay in sports. The new “Team Barbie” campaign is to celebrate International Day of the Girl, which is Oct. 11.

“We all doubt ourselves at times, myself included,” Maher said in a statement. “If sharing my story can inspire other young girls to believe in themselves the way I have, then I’ll have truly made an impact. Being part of Team Barbie is about showing girls that confidence isn’t something to shy away from, but something to own.”

Also part of Team Barbie are Ellie Kildunne from the U.K., New Zealand’s Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Nassira Konde from France.

A breakout star at the 2024 Paris Olympics even before the rugby sevens team’s historic bronze medal, Maher became known for her social media videos that offered a humorous glimpse into the day-to-day life of an Olympic athlete. She has also used her platform to empower women, champion body positivity and help raise the profile of rugby in the U.S.

The Barbie doll versions of international rugby stars Ellie Kildunne, left, Ilona Maher, Nassira Konde and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.

(Mattel)

“As women, a lot of times our body has been this object to be looked at and to be objectified, and I hate that there’s girls out there that feel like they don’t have a purpose for their body, and so they want to change it constantly,” Maher told The Times last year. “To get into sports and a sport like rugby, a sport like canoe, and track and field gives your body a purpose, shows what it can do and what it’s capable of. It’s not just something that is for others to judge.”

As part of its campaign, Mattel conducted a study to try to better understand why girls tend to stop participating in sports. The research found that only 53% of girls ages 6 to 14 feel confident while playing sports and that 1 in 3 girls stops playing sports by age 14 “primarily due to body confidence concerns, self-doubt, and a lack of visible female role models.”

“At Barbie … [w]e’re committed to breaking down the barriers — from gender stereotypes to self-doubt — that hold girls back from realizing their limitless potential,” Krista Berger, the senior vice president of Barbie, said in a news release for the new campaign. “By showcasing the stories of incredible role models whose confidence has fueled groundbreaking success, we’re showing girls that the future of sports — or wherever their passion takes them — is theirs to claim, with Team Barbie cheering them on.”

The Team Barbie campaign is not the first time the company has put the spotlight on athletes. Last year, Barbie teamed up with WNBA icon Sue Bird as part of its 65th anniversary celebration. Barbie has also teamed with the Chicago Sky for Barbie-themed game days in the last two WNBA seasons.

Other female athletes Barbie highlighted last year included tennis player Venus Williams, soccer stars Christine Sinclair and Mary Fowler, boxer Estelle Mossely, gymnasts Alexa Moreno and Rebeca Andrade, paratriathlete Susana Rodriguez, swimmer Federica Pellegrini and track and field sprinter Ewa Swoboda.

RED Roses England rugby ace Ellie Kildunne is getting her own Barbie. 

The Sun can reveal that this week bosses at Mattel will announce the doll which is the first time they have ever released a rugby Barbie. 

2

It comes after the brand released a Barbie careers range which included a string of sporty dolls including a football Barbie, a gymnast Barbie and a Tennis player Barbie. 

The new doll will feature a brand new Barbie body with a more athletic torso, visibly defined arms, and legs and back muscles. 

A source said: “This is a massive moment for women’s sport.  

“The Red Roses are such powerful and positive role models and the new Barbies reflect this with their athletic builds and muscle definition – a far cry from the ridiculous hourglass figures of Barbies gone by.” 

Ellie said: “We are showing the next generation of girls that you can do anything, that being strong and fast is powerful, and that you can break boundaries. 

“I thought nothing could come close to the feeling of lifting that trophy but having my own one-of-a-kind Barbie doll is a very close second! 

“She looks just like me, down to her curls, her custom boots and her Red Roses Barbie ball.  

“Now I just need to teach her how to lasso and see if she can score a few tries!” 

The Red Roses turned their World Cup dream into reality as they blew away Canada 33-10.

In front of a world record crowd of nearly 82,000, John Mitchell’s side showed why they have now won 33 straight games since their heartbreak in Auckland four years ago.

2

South Africa were voted the men’s team of the year at the World Rugby awards last year.

Having picked up back-to-back Rugby Championships, the world’s number one-ranked team could be picking up the prize again.

But what makes the achievement more remarkable is the amount of players head coach Rassie Erasmus has used.

“I think we used close to 47 players and I’d love to have given more chances,” he said.

Defeats by Australia and New Zealand over the first three games put pressure on Erasmus – but subsequent results made clear the “risk” to develop talent was worth it.

Three wins from three games followed to secure the title, with 23-year-old Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starting all of them.

A Springbok record 37 points against Argentina in Durban was the highlight as Feinberg-Mngomezulu developed as a potential frontrunner to start at fly-half in November.

Ethan Hooker, 22, began the final three games on the left wing and produced a standout performance against New Zealand, while Canan Moodie, also 23, started at outside centre in the final three games.

With the title on the line, Erasmus trusted his young stars and they delivered.

Selection will now heat up for the autumn as the Springboks’ World Cup winners will hope to return to the side, especially for games against France and Ireland.

Erasmus once said he would “rather win the World Cup than sit at an 85% win rate”.

Well, he has now built a squad that looks like it can do both.

“I think one of our goals is to stay in the present, do well, and not just focus on the World Cup,” he added.

“But I think definitely trying to build squad depth played a role in the lack of continuity.”

GIRLS are aloud and making us proud!

OK, no more nostalgia about 1990s ‘Girl Power,’ but the times they are a-changing and then some.

3

3

The Red Roses blossomed last weekend as the England women’s rugby team won the World Cup in front of a record 82,000 Twickenham full-house.

That came hot on the heels of our Lionesses’ back-to-back European Championships successes and proves that women’s sport is here to stay.

Rewind two or three decades and women, when mentioned in the same breath as football, was something approaching a dirty word. Just look at the history books.

In 1921 there were over 150 women’s football clubs playing games in front of 40,000-plus gates.

So what did the FA do? They banned it, saying it was “unsuitable for females.”

It only took nearly five decades for the FA to change their minds and growth in the women’s game in the 70s and 80s was slow.

In fact, the national team had to wait until 1998 to have its first full time coach, Hope Powell.

The 2012 London Olympics handed the women’s game a massive boost. TeamGB were watched by over 70,000 at Wembley against Brazil and footie for females was finally freed.

SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN

Last year, an FA study revealed a 56 percent rise in the number of women and girls playing football in the previous four years.

The number of registered female football clubs has more than doubled in the last seven years and just look at crowds in the WSL.

Seven seasons ago the highest gate at any game was 2,648 for Chelsea against Manchester City. Last season it was nearly 57,000 for the North London derby.

A new sponsorship deal with Barclays is worth £15million a year and WSL clubs’ revenues soared 34 percent in 2023-24 alone. So from the grassroots all the way up, women’s football is on the up.

Thankfully, that kind of progress is being repeated in other sports and not just rugby, where there has been significant growth in recent years to the tune of a 60 percent rise in registered players since 2017.

What about cricket? Our girls took a pasting against the Aussies, but the World Cup is upon us with England aiming for a fifth title.

3

In other sports, women do us proud. From netball’s Jade Clarke to tennis star Emma Raducanu, to athlete Keely Hodgkinson and world champion boxer Lauren Price… the list is long and shows just how women are flourishing.

Having said that, I was stunned to read that middle-distance runner Georgia Hunter Bell still worked full-time in tech sales just a few months before winning a bronze at last year’s Paris Olympics.

I cannot imagine a male elite athlete doing the same.

Georgia won silver at the World Championships last month and hopefully being a 24-7 athlete will help her go one better next time.

I’m obviously aware of the lack of female representation in the corridors of power within football and other sports, but I hope that is slowly changing.

Both the FA and PL chairs are women — Debbie Hewitt and Alison Brittain — and are doing a fine job.

Right now, though, I’d rather concentrate on the progress that has been made in a relatively short time.

The WSL is in rude health and will get bigger and better, underlining the fact that we, as a nation, are leading the way in the men’s and women’s game.

We should celebrate that because ‘girls just wanna have fun’.

ST HELENS star Matty Lees left in the middle of Saturday’s crunch play-off clash against Leeds Rhinos.

Rugby league fans were left gobsmacked when they saw Lees, 27, making his way out of the AMT Headingley Stadium during half-time.

3

3

3

The prop left in his tracksuit while Saints were trailing 12-6 to the home side.

However, it was quickly reported by Sky Sports that the England international had received news that his wife Beth was going into labour.

Fans quickly took to social media to wish the happy couple all the best.

One rugby league enthusiast tweeted: “Good luck Matty, see you next week.”

Another commented: “Fair play to him.”

A third wrote: “Good luck.”

This fan said: “All the best!”

And that one wished: “Wishing you and Beth absolute happiness.”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

St Helens managed to fight back in the second half and went on to turn things around with a 16-14 victory.

Lees has been a pivotal figure for Saints this season, missing only two Super League games.

St Helens coach Paul Wellens revealed the baby wasn’t due before Sunday but had an agreement with his player that if things changed he would be allowed to leave.

Wellens said after the game with the Rhinos: “His partner was due to be induced tomorrow but things transpired [differently].

“You can’t have a word with the baby inside and ask it just to hold off for a few hours, so things gathered pace quicker than thought.

“I spoke with Matty in the week and it was really important that he’s there for the birth of his child.

“It’s an important rugby game and yes we’d love him to be there, but he makes sacrifices to perform for us and the most important thing is he was there.

“We had a very clear plan during the week and we were comfortable that if he had to leave, he would leave. When that moment came, we made what I feel is the right decision.

“It’s difficult for him in that situation. You need to be there for your partner, but at the same time you think you’re letting the boys down.

“He needs to know he’s not letting the boys down, because he never does.”

Another member of England’s pack, Hannah Botterman, nearly took a very different path before professional rugby arrived.

“I was a painter and decorator, proper van life,” she told the Barely Rugby podcast. “I was an apprentice for one of my mum’s friends. I was working from 7am until 4pm, then I’d do a night shift at the Harvester.

“The plan with the painting and decorating was that I would take the business on while the woman I worked for would have a baby. But then I got a contract from England and sacked it off, just as I was good enough to do it myself.”

Even the young, modern stars of women’s rugby felt the pinch of a working life when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Several players were made redundant during covid – while the RFU kept the XVs squad on furlough, those on sevens contracts were not.

Meg Jones’ speed, strength, industry and ability to be in the right place at the right time have made her arguably the best player at this World Cup.

But during Covid lockdown, she was contemplating a future working for Amazon.

“Toilet breaks are not really a thing. You’re in at 5am and then you probably leave about 4pm without having to wee,” said Jones, who by then had already been to a Rugby World Cup final. She had started the 2017 defeat by New Zealand at outside centre.

“It was scary. I’d never had another job in my life and suddenly my livelihood had gone. I just thought I was going to be an Amazon delivery driver for the rest of my life.”

On Saturday, Jones and co delivered a first World Cup title on home soil for England.

They all know just how hard they had to work for that achievement, on and off the field.

Braxton Sorensen-McGee scores her second try of the game and her 11th of the tournament as New Zealand cruise to victory over France in the Rugby Union World Cup third place play-off, cheered on by team-mate Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.

FOLLOW LIVE: Rugby Union World Cup

Available to UK users only.