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‘We got it done’ – England coach Mitchell reflects on tense Grand Slam victory
England women’s head coach John Mitchell will remain in his role even if the Red Roses do not secure victory at this year’s home Rugby World Cup, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced.
The RFU confirmed that Mitchell, 61, and his coaching team have contracts running through 30 June 2026, independent of the World Cup outcome later this year.
England, who last claimed the World Cup crown in 2014, were runners-up to New Zealand in the previous two finals.
RFU director of rugby performance Conor O’Shea commented, “Results are important, but we don’t want staff preoccupied about future employment due to contract timing.”
“We’ll focus entirely on the World Cup and Six Nations before considering anything else.”
Mitchell, who was part of England’s coaching staff under Eddie Jones during the 2019 World Cup final defeat to South Africa, has O’Shea’s endorsement as he leads England into a home World Cup.
The Red Roses were beaten by New Zealand in the 2010 World Cup final at home, while England’s men exited in the pool stage of their own World Cup in 2015.
“Mitch [John Mitchell] will focus on helping the group manage pressure through an ongoing process in the coming months,” O’Shea said.
“With considerable international experience, Mitchell is well equipped to drown out distractions and harness pressure productively.”
England cruised through their first four Women’s Six Nations matches this year, before edging out France by a single point in a dramatic 43–42 contest at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
The triumph marked a fourth consecutive Grand Slam and a seventh straight Six Nations title, extending England’s winning streak in all competitions to 25 fixtures.
The Red Roses’ most recent defeat came at the hands of the Black Ferns in the 2022 World Cup final, with the encounter against France their nearest brush with loss since then.
“Anyone who believes England will dominate opponents solely due to home advantage is mistaken,” added O’Shea, former Harlequins director of rugby.
“This summer promises to be memorable for these players—the opportunity is significant, but in sport, the outcome is never certain.”
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Despite their on-field success, the England women’s team is not yet profitable, with the RFU investing £15 million annually into the programme.
Nevertheless, ticket sales have surged by 391% over the past four years compared to the previous four.
Although the women’s game overall operates at a loss, ticket revenues alone generated £2.4 million in the last season.
Alex Teasdale, RFU director of the women’s game, explained to the BBC, “It’s not solely about profit. The main aim is to grow the sport.”
Attendance at Allianz Stadium for last Saturday’s win over France was 37,573—a decrease from the 58,498 recorded for the same fixture in 2023.
Still, Teasdale remains unfazed, noting, “Rugby World Cup tickets are currently available for purchase.”
“An interesting figure from this season is that, across Premiership Women’s Rugby and the RFU, we’ve sold 250,000 tickets for women’s rugby in England,” she added.
“Including Rugby World Cup tickets (275,000), the total exceeds half a million tickets sold this year.”
A notable achievement from the Allianz Stadium game was the sale of 500 red cowboy hats at official outlets.
Inspired by a number of Red Roses players, including Ellie Kildunne and Megan Jones, the “cowboys” theme contributed to a unique sense of team identity.
The hats sold out nearly two hours before kickoff, with Teasdale acknowledging that much greater quantities will be needed for the World Cup.
“The cowboy hats are a significant step in fan engagement, resonating with the Red Roses’ country influences,” she added.
“Seeing supporters in these hats at the Rugby World Cup could be a highlight—if we can supply enough.”
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England raise the Women’s Six Nations trophy