John Mitchell: 'I think we are the standard bearers'

John Mitchell has stated that his England Red Roses side are the “standard bearers” of women’s rugby.

After he announced his 38-player squad for the upcoming 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, the Women’s Rugby World Cup-winning coach and reigning World Rugby Coach of the Year reflected on a landmark 2025 for women’s rugby and previewed a potentially record breaking 2026.

The 61-year-old described Saturday 27 September as a “beautiful day” in West London as his team beat Canada 33-13 to claim the Women’s Rugby World Cup at Allianz Stadium.

To start 2026 his team will play at the same venue against Ireland in Round 1 of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations. Already 67,000 tickets have been sold for that game. It will be a Championship record attendance.

With Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Edinburgh’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Bordeaux’s Stade Atlantique and Dublin’s Aviva Stadium all hosting games too, it seems set to be a tournament record attendance too.

Hot off the heels of the best-attended, and commercially successful, Women’s Rugby World Cup ever, there have been clear signs of growth in women’s rugby. Something England have been at the forefront of for the better part of a decade.

“As England, I think we are the standard bearers,” Mitchell said. “I don’t say that arrogantly. I just say that we are the movement that can generate equality and growth in the game. We are the forefront of it. We are the flagship.

“We’re grateful that we’ve got a programme that’s really well resourced – probably better than any of the other countries. We’ve got to take responsibility for that.

“Now we get the opportunity to start a Six Nations with a massive crowd. We need to continue the visibility. We need to continue to perform. That’s the responsibility of a Red Rose.

“I’d really love us to continue to create these audiences and this visibility because I think that’s the only way that we’re going to be able to get to where to want to quicker.”

In January it was confirmed that Mitchell had extended his contract as Red Roses boss until the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.

During his time at the helm the New Zealander has coached England to a world record 25 wins in a row, won two Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slams, two WXV 1 titles and a first Women’s Rugby World Cup title since 2014.

His decision to stay put as the figurehead of the top ranked team in the world was not a straightforward one. On Friday the 61-year-old discussed how he took his time to decide whether staying on was the correct decision coming off the high of coaching a team to a Women’s Rugby World Cup title.

“Naturally, after the high of the tournament and your mind is in it massively, you then go; do I have the passion to continue?” Mitchell said. “Am I doing it to make sure that I’m serving something bigger than myself.

“All those factors were considered. Once I generally feel something and I can see it, that makes it easier for me to commit. Now I’m ready because I can feel it and it’s something exciting. I want to see this team get better.”