**Helena Rowland Determined Red Roses Stay Grounded Ahead of Home Rugby World Cup**
England’s women’s rugby union team, widely referred to as the Red Roses, are preparing for the upcoming Rugby World Cup with both excitement and caution. Despite entering the tournament as favourites, courtesy of their impressive winning streak and dominant form in recent competitions, star player Helena Rowland has made it clear that the squad is refusing to get carried away with external expectations.
With the World Cup being staged on English soil for the first time in over a decade, the spotlight on John Mitchell’s team is brighter than ever. England last secured the trophy in 2014 and have since established themselves at the pinnacle of the sport with a remarkable 25-match winning run, complemented by consecutive Grand Slam titles in the Women’s Six Nations and a brace of WXV trophies.
However, in an interview conducted in the lead-up to this summer’s highly anticipated tournament, Rowland stressed that the team remains firmly focused on their own internal standards. “We try to concentrate on what we do best and not let the ‘favourites’ label cloud our preparation,” Rowland explained. “Every training session, we push ourselves harder, always looking to improve. The pressure from outside is there, but it’s what we demand from one another that matters most.”
She admitted there is a certain pride in hosting the tournament, but also cautioned against complacency. “Playing at home is special. There are expectations, but we remember that being favourites guaranteed nothing in the last World Cup, and it won’t this time either. We’re excited by the challenge and know there is plenty of hard work ahead.”
The memory Rowland refers to is the disappointment of the 2022 tournament in New Zealand, where England were tipped to lift the trophy but were narrowly defeated by the host nation, the Black Ferns, in a dramatic final. That painful experience has evidently shaped the current squad’s ethos as they look to make amends in front of what is expected to be record-breaking crowds, culminating in the final at the Allianz Stadium on 27 September.
Under head coach Mitchell, Rowland has developed into one of the team’s most versatile and important players. The 25-year-old, who plies her domestic trade with Loughborough Lightning, has flourished across several key positions, including fly-half, centre and full-back. This flexibility allows England to adapt their game plan mid-match, a quality that could prove invaluable during the high-pressure stages of the tournament.
Off the pitch, Rowland is aware of the responsibility she and her teammates bear as role models. She’s optimistic that hosting the World Cup will have a lasting influence: “It’s a privilege to inspire others. When many of us were growing up, female rugby players had little visibility. Now, we have the chance to be those figures for the next generation – to start something that goes beyond just this summer.”
She hopes that increased television coverage and initiatives such as those by LG, which recently hosted a training session for Turing House students with Red Roses players, will help spur interest amongst young girls and boys alike. “Our aim is to create a legacy, to ensure even greater participation in the sport over the years to come. Success at this tournament matters, but so does growing the game for future players.”
England’s preparations continue as they look to fine-tune their squad, sharpen up tactics, and maintain the laser-sharp focus that has brought them this far. Yet, Rowland sums up the mood of the camp with grounded realism and ambition. “It’s a huge opportunity, but by no means an easy one. The competition will be fierce, and we need to be at our best. But the atmosphere, the home crowds – that’s going to push us even more.”
In the build-up to kick-off, the Red Roses will continue to balance expectation with hard work, seeking not just victory, but a platform from which women’s rugby can soar to new heights. As England gears up to welcome the world, the eyes of the rugby community will be watching to see if this team can both deliver on home turf and inspire a new generation to follow in their footsteps.