The Red Roses have been shortlisted for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year award.
John Mitchell’s side changed the landscape of women’s rugby in England forever when they were crowned 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup champions in September, in front of a world record crowd of 81,885 at Allianz Stadium.
It was England’s first world title for 11 years and further cemented their dominance as the world’s number one team after claiming a seventh Guinness Women’s Six Nations title in a row earlier in the year.
Captained by Zoe Stratford (née Aldcroft), the Red Roses also broke their own world record for consecutive victories, stretching their sequence to 33 matches.
“To be recognised in this way is something very special for our team,” head coach Mitchell said.
“Winning a World Cup is an achievement that sits with you forever, and I’m incredibly proud of this group and how they earned it together. They are a phenomenal group of women: resilient, humble, and driven by something far bigger than themselves.
“Our strength comes from our connection. Every player - all 32 - and every member of staff made a selfless commitment: to adapt, to adjust, and to own their role in a way that made the collective stronger. That shared mindset, what we call “Culture Wins”, was a major contributor to our success.
“Rugby in this country means a huge amount to so many people. We hope 27 September 2025 will be remembered with pride and joy for years to come; not just as a moment we celebrated, but as a spark that inspires a movement for thousands of young girls and boys to dream big and begin their own rugby journey. If we’ve helped change what’s possible for the next generation, that is truly the greatest win of all.”
Stratford added: “It is truly an honour for the Red Roses to be nominated for Sports Personality Team of the Year.
“Winning the Rugby World Cup was what dreams are made of. It was a phenomenal experience none of us will ever forget. We have built an incredibly special environment and I’m so proud of every single player and staff member for the journey we have been on. We have helped take women’s rugby to a completely new level.
“It’s important to reflect on what it’s taken to get to this point in the women’s game. There has been a lot of sacrifice and dedication from so many people.
“When I, and many of the Red Roses, started playing rugby, we did it for the love of the sport and spending time with our friends with a ball in our hands. There wasn’t a vivid pathway to professionalism or spotlighted female rugby players in the media for us to aspire to be. The game has changed so much over the past decade; there are more eyes than ever on us. We are now the role models young girls and boys can look up to.
“We want that momentum to continue. We want to keep inspiring the next generation. We want young children to feel inspired to go to a Red Roses or PWR match, pick up a ball at their local rugby club and enjoy every moment on their own rugby journey.”
Red Roses full-back Ellie Kildunne has been nominated for Sports Personality of the Year – the first ever female rugby player to be shortlisted for the award, and the first English rugby player since Jason Robinson and Jonny Wilkinson in 2007.
Alongside voting for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025 award, for the first time in the show’s history, the Team of the Year award will be decided via a live public vote, handing fans across the UK the power to crown the team that inspired them most this year. It’s a new chapter that puts the audience at the heart of the biggest night in British sport.
Hosted by Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott, the star-studded show will broadcast live from the home of BBC Sport at MediaCity, Salford, on Thursday 18 December, from 7pm to 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
Team of the Year voting is now live (as of Monday 15 December) and will close 20 minutes into the live show. All voting is available online at bbc.co.uk/spoty.
With thanks to the RFU
