John Mitchell isn’t normally one for grand shows of emotion.
But as he sat alongside England captain Zoe Aldcroft as a World Cup winner at Twickenham late on Saturday afternoon, the Red Roses head coach allowed himself a rare moment to let out his feelings. The overriding verdict was one of relief.
After previous near misses with England’s men’s side and New Zealand – the country of his birth – Mitchell had at last tasted global glory.
‘I am only normal,’ he said. ‘Sometimes you look back and certain tournaments have eluded you. To be part of a winning World Cup side is huge.
‘I have now been part of bringing closure to a World Cup, which is very fulfilling.’
Mitchell was an England assistant to Eddie Jones in 2019 when they suffered World Cup final heartbreak at the hands of South Africa. He had previously been All Blacks boss, losing at the last-four stage in 2003 with a team who are always expected to win.
John Mitchell finally let out his emotions after his England side claimed the Rugby World Cup
England netted their 33rd consecutive victory as they triumphed over Canada at Twickenham
Mitchell has faced the same pressures with England’s women’s side and has delivered the ultimate success.
In front of a world record crowd for a women’s Test of 81,885, the Red Roses blew away Canada 33-13. It was their 33rd consecutive victory and their most important given England had lost their last two World Cup finals in 2017 and 2022.
‘This is a phenomenal team. It has been good, very good. But we needed to bring closure to what we set out to do three years ago,’ Mitchell said. ‘We’re on a trot of 33 and we’ve won the World Cup.’
Mitchell said his players had ‘accomplished greatness’ and added: ‘We can dominate the world for a long time, but the world is going to get better because people are starting to recognise how to resource their players. This is just the start.’
England’s players each earned £20,000 for their World Cup win and celebrated long into the night on Saturday evening.
The party continued at London’s Battersea Power Station on Sunday. ‘We’re probably no different to most explorers in the world,’ said Mitchell, who was named World Rugby’s women’s coach of the year after the final.
‘They always find another peak to climb and I think we will.’
Inspired by a first-half wonder try from star player Ellie Kildunne, England produced their best performance of the World Cup just when it mattered most. The win was based around forward power and a strong scrum. It was the cherry on top of the cake for English rugby who have hosted a sensational World Cup which is set to be a game-changing moment for the women’s game.
The party continued at Battersea Power Station on Sunday as England celebrated their victory with fans
This World Cup has seen record-breaking numbers tune in – and turn up for matches
The RFU’s impressive investment into women’s rugby first began in earnest in 2018 with the first professional contracts offered to England’s women’s players and they have now reaped their rewards.
Aside from the near 82,000 at Twickenham, a record-breaking peak television audience of 5.8 million viewers tuned in to watch England lift the World Cup. It marked not only the most-watched women’s rugby match ever on UK television but also the most-watched rugby match of any kind in 2025. For contrast, a peak of 5.2m people watched England’s men’s side take on Ireland in their first game of this year’s Six Nations.
Saturday’s women’s final was a remarkable rugby occasion.
As England arrived, supporters hung from every vantage point at Twickenham to grab a view of Mitchell’s players.
The Red Roses followed their English football compatriots the Lionesses in lifting major silverware this summer, bringing to an end what has been a glorious few months of women’s sport.
Players such as Kildunne are now set to see their profiles go to another level with it likely offers for brand deals and collaborations will explode on the back of this success.
Saturday’s victory is set to make individual stars out of the champions – with brand deals likely en route for star player Ellie Kildunne
Within minutes of the final win, the RFU released World Cup celebration merchandise and Mitchell’s players will undertake visits to grassroots clubs in the coming weeks as part of an RFU mission to capitalise on England’s latest success and inspire a new generation of women’s rugby stars. ‘I’m excited about what’s to come for women’s rugby,’ said Kildunne, whose try was a moment of pure brilliance.
‘I love the pressure. It just means people care.
‘I always believed we would do well in this tournament and we’re going to keep on building.
‘If we have the ambition to keep on getting better, there is no reason why we can’t win a World Cup again.’
