Red Roses Documentary Captures Historic World Cup Victory

When England's Red Roses lifted the Rugby World Cup trophy in 2025, 82,000 fans packed Allianz Stadium in the largest crowd ever assembled for a women's rugby match. Now, everyone can experience the behind-the-scenes journey that made history possible.

"England, Meet England" premieres April 9 on ITVX and ITV4, offering unprecedented access to the team's path to becoming world champions. An embedded camera crew followed the Red Roses throughout the entire tournament, capturing moments from jubilant changing room celebrations to deeply personal struggles during preparation.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect for a home World Cup. England entered the tournament riding a 33-game winning streak, the longest in international rugby history regardless of gender. Over 12 million fans tuned in to watch on BBC during the six-week competition.

The documentary showcases individual player journeys as they navigated injuries, built mental strength, and leaned on each other through the pressure of maintaining their number one world ranking. The Princess of Wales appears in the film congratulating the team, alongside sporting legends Gabby Logan and footballer Chloe Kelly.

The Ripple Effect

The film's title came from O2's campaign to close a shocking awareness gap in women's rugby. Before the World Cup, 62% of rugby fans couldn't name a single Red Roses player despite the team's top ranking. The campaign and tournament's success flipped that number, with 54% of fans now able to name players and the gender awareness gap shrinking to just 1%.

Red Roses captain Zoe Stratford reflected on what made the victory special. "Winning a World Cup takes an extraordinary amount of hard work, but it's also built on a tight bond and a positive culture," she said. "That's exactly what we had in this group."

Alex Teasdale from the RFU called it a watershed moment for women's rugby. The partnership with O2, spanning over 30 years with England Rugby, helped accelerate visibility for the women's game. "This is only the beginning," Teasdale said. "We're determined to build on this momentum so that every young girl can see a future for herself in rugby."

Fans can catch the Red Roses in action again on April 11 when they face Ireland in the Guinness Women's Six Nations opener at Allianz Stadium, continuing the momentum from their historic championship run.