England national rugby union team
691024
225753743
2008-07-15T06:41:40Z
Shudde
1069719
/* Record */ fixed links
{{Rugby team
|country = England
|image = RFU.svg
|union = Rugby Football Union
|nickname = The Red and Whites
|emblem = Red Rose
|ground = [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]]
|captain = [[Phil Vickery (rugby player)|Phil Vickery]]
|coach = {{flagicon|England}} [[Martin Johnson]]
|caps = [[Jason Leonard]] (114)<ref>Leonard's five caps for the [[British and Irish Lions]] are not included.</ref>
|top scorer = [[Jonny Wilkinson]] (1023)<ref>Points here exclude those Wilkinson has scored for the British and Irish Lions.</ref><ref name="WilkinsonProfile">{{cite web |url=http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=4198
|title=Jonny Wilkinson OBE England Profile |publisher=england-rugby.com |accessdate=2008-02-15 |date=[[2008-02-11]]}}</ref><!---Last updated 11 Feb 2008; please add date inside the arrows when you update this--->
|most tries = [[Rory Underwood]] (49)
|date=2004
|pattern_la1= |pattern_b1=_red_streak |pattern_ra1= |pattern_so1=
|leftarm1=FFFFFF |body1=FF0000 |rightarm1=FFFFFF
|shorts1=FFFFFF |socks1=FFFFFF
|pattern_la2= |pattern_b2=_white_streak |pattern_ra2= |pattern_so2=
|leftarm2=FFFFFF |body2=ED2025 |rightarm2=ED2025
|shorts2=ED2025 |socks2=ED2025
|first = (''also the world's first'')<br/>{{ru|SCO}} 4–1 {{ru-rt|ENG}}<BR/>([[27 March]], [[1871]])
|bigwin = {{ru|ENG}} 134–0 {{ru-rt|ROU}}<BR/> ([[17 November]], [[2001]])
|bigloss = {{ru|AUS}} 76–0 {{ru-rt|ENG}}<BR/>([[6 June]], [[1998]])
| World cup apps = 6
|year = 1987
|best = Champions, [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]]}}
The '''England national rugby union team''' represents [[England]] in [[rugby union]]. They compete in the annual [[Six Nations Championship]] with [[France national rugby union team|France]], [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]], [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]], [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]], and [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]. They have won this championship on 25 occasions, 12 times winning the [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slam]]. England also compete for the [[Calcutta Cup]] with Scotland as part of the Six Nations. England are [[IRB World Rankings|ranked fifth]] in the world by the [[International Rugby Board]] as at 9th June 2008. They won the [[Rugby World Cup]] in [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]] and finished runner-up in [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]] and [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]].
The history of the team extends back to 1871 when the English rugby team played their first official [[Test match (rugby union)|Test match]], losing to [[Scotland]] by one try. England dominated the early Home Nations Championship (now the Six Nations) which started in 1883. Following the [[History of rugby league#The schism in England|schism]] of rugby football in 1895, England did not win the Championship again until 1910. England first played against New Zealand (the ''[[All Blacks]]'') in 1905, [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] in 1906, and [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] in 1909. England was one of the teams invited to take part in the inaugural [[Rugby World Cup]] in [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]] and went on to appear in the final in the second cup in [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]] only to be defeated by Australia. Following their 2003 Six Nations Grand Slam, England won that year's [[2003 Rugby World Cup|World Cup]] — beating Australia 20–17 in extra time. They also contested the final in [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]] but finished as runners up, losing 15–6 to South Africa.
England players traditionally wear white shorts, navy socks (although they are now white and red) with white tops, and a white shirt with a red [[rose]] embroidered on it, and for the first time in the English rugby team's history, their away shirt is red (up until recently, navy blue has been the traditional colour). Their home ground is [[Twickenham Stadium]] where they first played in 1910. The team is administered by the [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU). Four former players have been inducted into the [[International Rugby Hall of Fame]].
==History==
{{main|History of the England national rugby union team}}
<!--This is only a SUMMARY of the history of the England team. If expanding please expand the History of the England national rugby union team article instead. Can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_England_national_rugby_union_team-->
[[Image:The-First-England-Team.jpg|right|frame|England before they played in the first international; versus [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] in [[Edinburgh]], 1871.]]
The expansion of rugby in the first half of the 19th century was driven by ex-pupils from many of England's [[Independent school (UK)|Public Schools]], especially [[Rugby school|Rugby]], who, upon finishing school, took the game with them to universities, to [[London]], and to the counties.<ref name="OriginsofRugby">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/originsofrugby.htm |title=Origins of Rugby |publisher=rugbyfootballhistory.com |accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> England's first international match was against Scotland on Monday [[27 March]] [[1871]].<ref name="ShortHist">{{cite web| url=http://www.rfu.com/microsites/museum/index.cfm?fuseaction=faqs.history |title=Short history of rugby |publisher=rfu.com |accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> Not only was this match England's first, but it also proved to be the first ever rugby union international.<ref name="ShortHist"/> Scotland won the match with two tries and a conversion to one try; a 4–1 victory in front of a crowd of 4,000 people at [[Raeburn Place]], [[Edinburgh]].<ref name="Rugby1870s">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/timeline1870s.htm |title=Historical Rugby Milestones - 1870s |publisher=rugbyfootballhistory.com |accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> A subsequent international took place at [[the Oval]] in London which saw England defeat Scotland 8–3.<ref name="First3Games">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbydata.com/england/scotland/gamesplayed/9 |title=England vs Scotland > Games Played |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2006-02-16}}</ref><ref name="5Feb1872">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbydata.com/england/scotland/game/1872/02/05 | title=5 February 1872 - The Oval, London, England |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref>
In 1875, England played their first game against [[Ireland national rugby union team|the Irish]] at the Oval, winning 7–0; the match was Ireland's first ever Test.<ref name="15feb1875">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbydata.com/england/ireland/game/1875/02/15 |title=15 February 1875 - The Oval, London, England |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref><ref name="IreFirstGames">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbydata.com/ireland/gamesplayed/37 |title=Ireland > Games Played |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> England defeated Scotland in 1880 to become the first winners of the [[Calcutta Cup]].<ref name="28Feb1880">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbydata.com/england/scotland/game/1880/02/28 |title=28th February 1880 Whalley Range, Manchester, England. |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2007-02-19}}</ref><ref name="Timelines1880s">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/timeline1880s.htm |title=Historical Rugby Milestones - 1880s |publisher=rugbyfootballhistory.com |accessdate=2007-02-19}}</ref> Their first match against [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] was played on [[February 19]], [[1881]] at Richardson's Field in [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]].<ref name="Timelines1880s"/><ref name="19Feb1881">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbydata.com/england/wales/game/1881/02/19 |title=19th February 1881 Richardsons Field, Blackheath, England. |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2007-02-19}}</ref> England recorded their largest victory, defeating the Welsh 30–0 and scoring 13 tries in the process.<ref name="19Feb1881"/> The subsequent meeting the following year at St Helens in [[Swansea]] was a closer contest; with England winning 10–0.<ref name="16Dec1882">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbydata.com/wales/england/game/1882/12/16 |title=16th December 1882 St Helens, Swansea, Wales. |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2007-02-19}}</ref> Two years later, the first [[Six Nations Championship|Home Nations championship]] was held and England emerged as the inaugural winners.<ref name="SixNationsWinners">{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/3422419.stm |title=Six Nations roll of honour |accessdate=2007-02-19 |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=[[2004-01-19]]}}</ref> In 1889, England played their first match against a non-home nations team when they defeated the ''[[1888-1889 New Zealand Native football team|New Zealand Natives]]'' 7–0 at Rectory Field in Blackheath.<ref name="NativeTour1888">{{cite web| url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/node/760 |title=Unsporting behaviour? - the New Zealand Natives' rugby tour of 1888/89 |accessdate=2007-02-16 |publisher=nzhistory.net.nz}}</ref><ref name="NZNativesMatches">{{cite web| url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/node/757 |title=Matches played - New Zealand Natives' rugby tour of 1888/89 |publisher=nzhistory.net.nz |accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> In 1890 England shared the Home Nations trophy with Scotland.<ref name="RugbyHist6N">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/6nations.htm |title=6 Nations History |publisher=rugbyfootballhistory.com |accessdate=2007-09-02}}</ref>
England first played New Zealand (the [[All Blacks]]) in 1905. The All Blacks scored five tries, worth three points at this time, to win 15–0.<ref name="ABGame79">{{cite web| url=http://stats.allblacks.com/teamsheet.asp?MT_ID=1079 |title=6th All Black Test : 79th All Black Game |publisher=allblacks.com |accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> The following year, they played France for the first time, and later that year they first faced [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] (known as the ''Springboks''); [[James Peters]] was withdrawn from the England squad after the South Africans objected to playing against a black player. The match was drawn 3–3.<ref name="Darkie Peters">{{cite web| url=
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/07/04/nosplit/urimperfect.xml | title=50 imperfect sporting moments | publisher=The Telegraph | accessdate=2007-07-04 |date=[[2007-07-04]]}}</ref> England first played France in 1907,<ref name="FraVEng">{{cite web| url=http://2rugby.com/game/4551/ |title=France vs England |publisher=2rugby.com |accessdate=2007-08-01}}</ref> and [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] (known as the ''Wallabies'') in 1909 when they were defeated 3–9.<ref name="1900s">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/timeline1900s.htm |title=Historical Rugby Milestones 1900s |publisher=rugbyfootballhistory.com |accessdate=2007-08-01}}</ref>
[[Image:England-v-New-Zealand-1905.jpg|right|frame|England versus New Zealand's [[The Original All Blacks|Original All Blacks]] in 1905; the All Blacks won 15–0.]] The year 1909 saw the opening of [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] as the RFU's new home, which heralded a golden era for English rugby union. England's first international at Twickenham brought them victory over Wales, and England went on to win the [[Six Nations Championship|International Championship]] (then known as the Five Nations) for the first time since the great schism of 1895. Although England did not retain the title in 1911, they did share it in 1912. A Five Nations [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slam]] was then achieved in 1913 and 1914 as well as in 1921 following the [[World War I|First World War]]. England subsequently won the Grand Slam in 1924 and as well as in 1925.<ref name="SNHiistory">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/6nations.htm#1999 |title=6 Nations History |publisher=rugbyfootballhistory.com |accessdate=2007-08-01}}</ref> This was despite having started 1925 with a loss to the [[The Invincibles (rugby union)|All Black ''Invincibles'']] in front of 60,000 fans at Twickenham.<ref name="Invincibles">{{cite web|url=http://stats.allblacks.com/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=1199 |title=30th All Black Test : 199th All Black Game |publisher=allblacks.com |accessdate=2007-08-01}}</ref>
After winning another Grand Slam in 1928, England played the Springboks in front of 70,000 spectators at Twickenham in 1931. Following the ejection of France due to professionalism in 1930, which thus reverted The Five Nations back to the Home Nations tournament,<ref name="SNHisBBC">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/1776391.stm |date=[[2002-01-28]]| title=Six Nations history |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-08-01}}</ref> England went on to win the 1934 and 1937 Home Nations with a ''Triple Crown'',<ref>A Triple Crown is when a Home Nation defeats the other three in one tournament.</ref> and in 1935 achieved their first victory over the All Blacks.<ref name="ABGame311">{{cite web| url=http://stats.allblacks.com/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=1311 |title=52nd All Black Test: 311th All Black Game |publisher=allblacks.com |accessdate=2007-02-19}}</ref><ref name="Polanski38-19">Polanski (2003), pg 38–39.</ref>
When the Five Nations resumed with the re-admission of France in 1947 after the [[World War II|Second World War]], England shared the championship with Wales. The early Five Nations competitions of the 1950s were unsuccessful for England, winning one match in the 1950 and 1951 championships.<ref name="SNHiistory"/> England toured South Africa for the first time in 1952 where they lost to the Springboks 8–3. England won the 1953 Five Nations, and followed this up with a Grand Slam in 1957, and win in 1958. England broke France's four-championship streak by winning the 1963 Championship.<ref name="SNHiistory"/> After this victory, England played three Tests in the Southern Hemisphere and lost all three: 21–11 and 9–6 against the All Blacks, and 18–9 against Australia.<ref name="RugbyData22">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbydata.com/england/gamesplayed/22 |title=International Teams > England > Games Played |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2007-08-02 }}</ref> England did not win a single match in 1966, and managed only a draw with Ireland. They did not win another Championship that decade.
[[Don White]] was appointed as England's first-ever coach in 1969. According to former Northampton player Bob Taylor, "Don was chosen because he was the most forward-thinking coach in England".<ref name="GuardianObit"/> His first match in charge was an 11–8 victory over South Africa at [[Twickenham]] in 1969. Of the eleven games England played with White in charge they won three, and drew one and lost seven. He resigned as England coach in 1971.
England had wins against Southern Hemisphere teams in the 1970s; with victories over South Africa in 1972, New Zealand in 1973 and Australia in 1976. The [[1972 Five Nations Championship]] was not completed due to [[the Troubles]] in [[Northern Ireland]] when Scotland and Wales refused to play their Five Nations away fixtures in Ireland. England played in Dublin in 1973 and were given a standing ovation lasting five minutes. After losing 18–9 at [[Lansdowne Road]], the England captain, John Pullin famously stated, "We might not be very good but at least we turned up."<ref name="TurnedUp">{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/11/12/srackf12.xml&site=2&page=0 |title= Breaking the losing streak |accessdate=2007-08-02 |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |date=[[2006-11-12]] |last=Ackford |first=Paul}}</ref>
England started the following decade with a Grand Slam victory in the 1980 Five Nations - their first for 23 years.<ref name="1980GS">{{cite web| url=http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=7798 |title= 1980 Grand Slam by James Owen. |publisher=directart.co.uk |accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref> However in the [[1983 Five Nations Championship]], England failed to win a game and picked up the [[Wooden spoon (award)|wooden spoon]].<ref name="WoodenSpoon">{{cite news| url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=196312007 |title=Vandal-hit youth club gets a fresh start in new premises |publisher=edinburghnews.scotsman.com |accessdate=2007-08-02 |date=[[2007-02-06]] |last=Mather |first=Adrian}}</ref> In the first [[1987 Rugby World Cup|Rugby World Cup]] in New Zealand and Australia, England were grouped in [[Group stage|pool]] A alongside Australia, [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] and the [[United States national rugby union team|United States]]. England lost their first game 19–6 against Australia. They went on to defeat Japan and the United States, and met Wales in their quarter-final, losing the match 16–3.<ref name="1987RWC">{{cite web| url=http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/1987.asp |title=1987 Rugby World Cup Results |publisher=worldcupweb.com |accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref>
In 1989, England won matches against [[Romania national rugby union team|Romania]] and [[Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]], followed by victories in their first three Five Nations games of 1990. They lost to Scotland in their last game however, giving Scotland a Grand Slam. England recovered in the following year by winning their first Grand Slam since 1980. England hosted the [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991 World Cup]] and were in pool A, along with the All Blacks, [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] and the United States. Although they lost to the All Blacks in pool play, they qualified for a quarter-final going on to defeat France 19–10. England then defeated Scotland 9–6 to secure a place in the final against Australia which they lost 12–6.<ref name="1991RWC">{{cite web| url=http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/1991.asp |title=1991 Rugby World Cup Results |publisher=worldcupweb.com |accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref>
The next year, England completed another Grand Slam and did not lose that year, including a victory over the Springboks. In the lead up to the [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995 World Cup]] in [[South Africa]], England completed another Grand Slam - their third in five years. In the World Cup, England defeated [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]], Italy and [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]] in pool play and then defeated Australia 25–22 in their quarter-final. England's semi-final was dominated by the All Blacks and featured four tries, now worth five points each, by [[Jonah Lomu]]; England lost 45–29.<ref name="ABGame992">{{cite web| url=http://stats.allblacks.com/teamsheet.asp?MT_ID=1992 |title=289th All Black Test : 992nd All Black Game |publisher=allblacks.com |accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> They then lost the third/fourth place play-off match against France.<ref name="1991RWC">{{cite web| url=http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/1995.asp |title=1995 Rugby World Cup Results |publisher=worldcupweb.com |accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref>
In 1997, [[Clive Woodward]] became England's coach. That year, England drew with New Zealand at Twickenham after being heavily defeated in Manchester the week before. England toured Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in 1998. Many of the England team made themselves unavailable for the tour nicknamed the "tour from hell" where England suffered a record 76–0 defeat to the Wallabies.<ref name="TourFromHell">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/6703425.stm |title=How do England bounce back? |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-08-02 |date=[[2007-06-30]] |last=Hodgetts |first=Rob}}</ref> In 1999 during the last ever Five Nations match, Scott Gibbs sliced through six English tackles to score in the last minute, and the last ever Five Nations title went to Scotland.
[[Image:England world cup.jpg|thumb|left|Celebrations at [[Trafalgar Square]] after England's [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003 World Cup]] victory.]]England commenced the new decade by winning the inaugural [[2000 Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] title.<ref name="2000SN">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/rugby_union/698769.stm |title=Brave Scots defeat England |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-03-17 |date=[[2000-04-02]]}}</ref> In [[2001 Six Nations Championship|2001]], Ireland defeated England 20–14 in a postponed match at Lansdowne Road to deny them a Grand Slam.<ref name="2001SN">{{cite news| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sixnationsrugby/story/0,,639954,00.html |title=The longest six nations ... with a sting in the tail |publisher=guardian.co.uk |accessdate=2007-03-17 |date=[[2002-01-27]] |last=Wilcox |first=Greg}}</ref> Although the [[2002 Six Nations Championship]] title was won by France, England had the consolation of winning the Triple Crown.<ref name="2002SN">{{cite news| url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/sixnations2002/story/0,,672991,00.html |title=Clive is reluctantly happy |publisher=guardian.co.uk |accessdate=2007-03-17 |date=[[2002-03-24]] |last=Aylwin |first=Michael}}</ref> In 2002, England defeated Argentina in Buenos Aires, and then the All Blacks, Australia, and South Africa at Twickenham.<ref name="Argentina2002">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/2060216.stm |title=Argentina beaten by England youngsters |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-03-17 |date=[[2002-05-22]]}}</ref><ref name="ABs2002">{{cite news| url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2002/11/11/rugby_ed3_.php |title=England make history as All Blacks plot future |publisher=iht.com |accessdate=2007-03-17| date=[[2002-11-11]] |last=berlin |first=peter}}</ref><ref name="Aust2002">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/2484021.stm |title=England stun Aussies |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-03-18 |date=[[2002-11-16]] |last=Majendie |first=Matt}}</ref><ref name="SA2002">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/2506421.stm |title=England rout sorry Springboks |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-03-18 |date=[[2002-11-23]] |last=Standley |first=James}}</ref> In [[2003 Six Nations Championship|2003]], England won the Grand Slam for the first time since 1995, followed by wins over Australia and the All Blacks in June.
Going into the [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003 World Cup]], England were one of the tournament favourites.<ref name="RWC03Favourites">{{cite news| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10459885 |title=RWC 2003: The All Blacks peak too early |publisher=nzherald.co.nz |accessdate=2007-09-02 |date=[[2007-08-26]] |last=Paul |first=Gregor}}</ref> They reached the final on [[22 November]] [[2003]] against Australia and became World champions after a match-winning [[Field goal (rugby)|drop goal]] by [[Jonny Wilkinson]] in extra time that made the final score 20–17. On [[December 8]], the English team greeted 750,000 supporters on their victory parade through [[London]] before meeting [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] at [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref name="bigcrowd">{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1102874,00.html |title=England 750,000, Australia nil |publisher=guardian.co.uk |accessdate=2007-09-02 |date=[[2003-12-09]] |last=Anthony |first=Andrew}}</ref>
[[Image:england rugby training at bath arp.jpg|thumb|right|The England national rugby union squad in a group hug, during training for the 2007 Rugby World Cup at the [[University of Bath]] training ground.]]
In the [[2004 Six Nations Championship]], England lost to both France and Ireland and finished third.<ref name="2004SN">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/3565059.stm |title=Six Nations: End of term report |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=[[2004-03-27]] |accessdate=2007-02-21 |last=Moore |first=Jonathon}}</ref> Sir Clive Woodward resigned on [[September 2]] and [[Andy Robinson]] was appointed England head coach.<ref name="WoodResign">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/3613610.stm |title=Woodward quits England |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=[[2004-09-03]] |accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref> Robinson's first Six Nations campaign in [[2005 Six Nations Championship|2005]] resulted in fourth place for England,<ref name="2005SNTables">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4366751.stm |title=Wonderful Wales exude joy of Six |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-02-21 |date=[[2005-03-21]] |last=Palmer |first=Bryn}}</ref> and although they then defeated Australia 26–16,<ref name="AustEng051112">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4420364.stm |title=England 26-16 Australia |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-02-21 |date=[[2005-11-12]]}}</ref> the year was completed with a 23–19 loss to the All Blacks.<ref name="ABEng051119">{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=3QTW31VVSRV1LQFIQMFSFF4AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/sport/2005/11/20/srengl20.xml |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |title=England's onslaught ends in gallant failure |last=Ackford |first=Paul |accessdate=2007-02-21 |date=[[2005-11-19]]}}</ref>
Following their loss to South Africa in the [[2006 Autumn internationals|2006 end of year Tests]],<ref name="">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6177734.stm |title=England 14-25 South Africa |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-02-22 |date=[[2006-11-25]] |last=Standley |first=James}}</ref> England had lost eight of their last nine Tests — their worst ever losing streak. Coach [[Andy Robinson]] resigned after this run, and attack coach [[Brian Ashton (rugby player)|Brian Ashton]] was appointed head coach in December 2006.<ref name="AshtonCoach">{{cite news| url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2006/12/21/2003341389 |title=Ashton confirmed as new England rugby head coach |publisher=taipeitimes.com |accessdate=2007-02-22 |date=[[2006-12-21]]}}</ref> England started the [[2007 Six Nations Championship]] with a Calcutta Cup victory over Scotland.<ref name="EngSco1-07">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6320339.stm |title=England 42-20 Scotland |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-02-22 |date=[[2007-02-03]] |last=Harlow |first=Phil}}</ref> The championship also included a historic match at [[Croke Park]] against Ireland which England lost 43–13, their heaviest ever defeat to Ireland.<ref name="RecordIreLoss">{{cite news| title=England suffer record defeat |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/02/24/urrup24.xml |accessdate=2007-09-06 |date=[[2007-02-24]]}}</ref>
In the [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 World Cup]] England played in Pool A with Samoa, [[Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]], South Africa and the United States. They qualified for the quarter finals where they defeated Australia 12–10, and then faced hosts France in their semi final. England won 14–9 to qualify for the final against South Africa, which they lost 15-6.
<!--This is only a SUMMARY of the history of the England team. If expanding please expand the History of the England national rugby union team article instead. Can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_England_national_rugby_union_team-->
==Twickenham==
{{main|Twickenham Stadium}}
[[Image:Twickenham Stadium, view from North Stand.jpg|thumb|right|View from the North Stand of Twickenham, circa 2003.]]
Up until 1910, the English rugby team used various stadia in a number of venues around England before settling at [[Twickenham Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web| url=
http://2rugby.com/game/4658/ |title=England vs Ireland |publisher=2rugby.com |accessdate=2007-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=
http://2rugby.com/game/4623/ |title=England vs Scotland |publisher=2rugby.com |accessdate=2007-08-15}}</ref> After sell-out matches at [[Crystal Palace National Sports Centre|Crystal Palace]] in 1905 and 1906 against New Zealand and South Africa respectively, the [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU) decided to invest in their own ground. In 1906, the RFU arranged for William Williams to find a home ground for English Rugby. The land for the ground was purchased the following year for [[Pound sterling|£]]5,572 12[[Shilling|s]] and 6[[Old penny sterling|d]], and construction began the following year.<ref name="Twickenhamhist">{{cite web| url=http://www.rfu.com/microsites/museum/index.cfm?fuseaction=faqs.twickenham |title=A History of Twickenham Stadium |publisher=rfu.com |accessdate=2007-07-27}}</ref>
The first England match was held on [[October 9]], [[1910]] between England and Wales. England ran out winners, 11–6, beating Wales for the first time since 1898.<ref name="FirstTest">{{cite web| url=http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.asp?ContentID=225 |publisher=twickenham-museum.org.uk |accessdate=2007-07-31 |title=The Rugby ground}}</ref> The stadium was expanded in 1927 and again in 1932. Further upgrades did not happen until the 1990s when new North, East and West stands were built.<ref name="Twickenhamhist"/> A new South stand was built in 2005 and 2006 to make the stadium into a complete bowl. The first match to be played at the redeveloped Twickenham was on Sunday [[November 5]], [[2006]] against the All Blacks.<ref name="CeleMatch">{{cite news| url=http://www2.rugbynetwork.net/main/s245/st106836.htm |title=England v New Zealand Celebration Match Twickenham |publisher=rugbynetwork.net |date=[[2006-10-29]] |last=Price |first=Sally |accessdate=2007-07-31}}</ref> England lost the match 20–41 in front of a record crowd of 82,076.<ref name="RuthlessABs">{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2006/11/06/nosplit/srengl06.xml |title= Ruthless All Blacks make England pay |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |last=Cleary |first=Mick |date=[[2006-11-07]] |accessdate=2007-07-31}}</ref>
Although England have played home matches almost exclusively at Twickenham since 1910, they have played at Huddersfield's [[Galpharm Stadium]] twice in 1998, and at [[Old Trafford]] against New Zealand in 1997 and at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] against Canada in 1992.<ref name="Trafford">{{cite news| title=Eeh-bah-scrum, Woody;Rugby Union |publisher=The Sun |date=[[1997-12-09]] |page=29}}</ref><ref name="Huddersfield">{{cite news| title=England not good enough |publisher=The Sunday Times |last=Jones |first=Stephen |date=[[1998-11-22]]}}</ref>
===Swing Low, Sweet Chariot===
{{main|Swing Low, Sweet Chariot}}
''Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'' is very commonly sung at England fixtures — especially at Twickenham. The song was first sung during the final Five Nations match of 1988, against Ireland. England were losing 3–0 at half time, but in the second half scored six tries to win 35–3. Three of the tries were scored by [[Chris Oti]], a black player winning his second England cap but making his Twickenham debut. A group from [[Douai School]] began singing the gospel hymn ''Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'' – as they did for their first XV – in honour of Oti and the whole crowd joined in. From then on, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot became synonymous with Twickenham and the England team.<ref name="SwingLow">{{cite web| url=http://www.rfu.com/microsites/museum/index.cfm?fuseaction=faqs.slsc |title=Swing Low, Sweet Chariot |publisher=rfu.com |accessdate=2007-08-01}}</ref><ref>Oliver Price [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1699545,00.html Blood, mud and aftershave] in [[The Observer]] Sunday [[February 5]], 2006, Section ''O is for Oti''</ref><ref>Staff, [http://www.everyhit.com/stories/swing_low_sweet_chariot.html The story behind ... "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and how it became a rugby anthem], [http://www.everyhit.com/about.html everyHit.com]</ref>
==Strip==
[[Image:Argentina England rugby.jpg|thumb|left|England (white) playing [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] (blue) at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]].]]
England plays in white shirts, white shorts and navy socks with white tops. The emblem on the shirts is a red [[rose]], rather than the [[Plantagenet]] [[Three Lions]] displayed on the shirts of the [[England national football team|England]] football and [[English cricket team|England]] cricket teams. The strip is manufactured by [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] and [[Telefónica O2|O<sub>2</sub>]] is the shirt sponsor.<ref name="ShirtStore">{{cite web| url=http://www.rfu.com/therugbystore/browse.asp?groupguid=4 |publisher=rfu.com/therugbystore/ |title=The Rugby Store |accessdate=2007-09-06}}</ref> Red is the change strip, although prior to the introduction of the red strip, navy blue was used.
The [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU) had created the national side's emblem prior to an English team being sent to [[Edinburgh]] to play a Scottish side. A red rose was chosen to be the side’s emblem.<ref name="rose">{{cite web | url=http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s245/st74325.htm | title=England's Rose - The Official History | author=By the Museum of Rugby, Twickenham |date=June 3, 2005 | publisher=Unofficial England Rugby Union | accessdate=2007-02-15}}</ref> The white kit worn by the national team was taken from the kit used at [[Rugby School]].<ref name="rose"/> Alfred Wright, an employee of the Rugby Football Union, is credited with the standardisation and new design of the rose, which up until 1920 had undergone many variations in its depiction.<ref name="rose"/> The Wright design is thought to have been used without minor alteration until the late 1990s.<ref name="rose"/> It was not until 1997 that the rose was modernised when Nike became the official strip supplier.
In 2003 England first used a skin-tight strip. This was intended to make it more difficult for the opposition to grasp the shirt when tackling.<ref name="TightStrip">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/3190313.stm |title= England trial World Cup kit |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-09-06 |date=[[2003-08-29]]}}</ref> The home and away strips for 2007 were unveiled on [[15 May]] that year. The materials used are superior, offering improved performance to the 2003 kit. However, a sweeping red mark on the base-white front which forms [[St George's Cross]] on the top left, and a changed away-strip (dark blue to red), have received criticism because it is felt that emphasis has been placed on St George's Cross at the expense of the traditional red rose.<ref name="UnhappyStrip">{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/rugby.html?in_article_id=454438&in_page_id=1780 |title=Seeing red over England's new World Cup shirt |publisher=dailymail.co.uk |accessdate=2007-07-04 |date=[[2007-05-13]]}}</ref> The new strip was introduced in England's home game against Wales on [[4 August]], while the alternative strip was first used against France on [[18 August]].<ref name="NewStrip">{{cite web| url=http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.England_Detail/StoryID/16858 |title=New England Nike Rugby Kit Launched |publisher=rfu.com |accessdate=2007-07-04 |date=[[2007-05-15]]}}</ref>
==Record==
===Six Nations===
England's only annual tournament is the [[Six Nations Championship]], which is played against five other European nations: France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. The Six Nations started out as the Home Nations Championship in 1883 which England won with a [[Triple Crown (Rugby Union)|Triple Crown]]. England have won the title more times than any other nation by winning it outright 25 times, and sharing victory ten times. Their longest wait between championships was 18 years (1892–1910). During the Six Nations, England also contests the [[Calcutta Cup]] with Scotland (which England first won in 1880) and the [[Millennium Trophy]] with Ireland (which England first won in 1988). The matches between England and France are traditionally known as "[[Le Crunch]]."
{{Six Nations wins}}
===World Cup===
{{See also|England at the Rugby World Cup}}
England have contested every [[Rugby World Cup]] since it began in 1987, reaching the final three times and winning it once in [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]].
In the [[1987 Rugby World Cup|inaugural tournament]] they finished second in their pool before losing to Wales in the quarter-finals. They again finished pool runners-up in [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]] but recovered to beat France in their quarter-final, and then Scotland in their semi-final, en-route to 12–16 final defeat to Australia.
In [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995]] England topped their group and defeated Australia 25–22 at the quarter-final stage before being beaten by the All Blacks in the semi-final. Their third-fourth place play-off match against France was lost 19–9.
The [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999 competition]] saw England again finish second in the group stage. Though they proceeded to win a play-off game against Fiji they went out of the tournament in the quarter-finals, losing 44–21 to South Africa.
England exacted revenge over South Africa in the early stages of the [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003 tournament]], winning 25–6 to qualify for the knockout stages as winners of Pool C. They defeated Wales in their quarter-final, before a subsequent semi-final victory against the French earned them a place in the final in Sydney. After a tense match and a 20 minute period of [[extra time]] after Johnny Wilkinson kicked over the magic drop goal, England triumphed 20–17 over Australia to lift the [[Webb Ellis Cup]].
The [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 defence]] of the cup in France got off to a poor start, with a below par victory over the United States and a heavy 36–0 defeat to South Africa leaving the holders on the brink of elimination at the group stage. Improved performances against Samoa and Tonga saw England again reach the knockout stages as pool runners-up, before a surprise 12–10 defeat of Australia in [[Marseille]] and a narrow 14–9 victory over the host nation France carried England to a second successive final appearance. The final was played in Paris on [[20 October]] against South Africa, who won by 15 points to 6.
England's Jonny Wilkinson became the highest overall points scorer in World Cup history when he kicked all 12 points in England's quarter-final victory over Australia in 2007. He kicked a further 9 points (including a {{convert|40|yd|m|-1|sing=on}} drop goal) in the semi final and 6 in the final defeat to South Africa.<ref name="WilkinsonRWCRecord">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season=0/type=Points/team=0/player=0/statistics/index.html |title=Player Statistics |publisher=rugbyworldcup.com |accessdate=2007-07-09}}</ref> England have the fourth most points in World Cup history with 957, and the highest number of drop-goals (18).<ref name="TeamRWCRecord">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season=0/type=Points/team=0/statistics/index.html |title=Team Statistics |publisher=rugbyworldcup.com |accessdate=2007-07-09}}</ref>
===Overall===
{{See also|List of England national rugby union team tours and series|List of England national rugby union team matches (1930–present)}}
England have won 322 of their 606 Test matches, a winning record of 53.14%.<ref name="RugbyData">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbydata.com/england |title=International Rugby Union Statistics |publisher=rugbydata.com |accessdate=2007-09-29}}</ref> When the [[IRB World Rankings|World Rankings]] were introduced in October 2003, England were ranked first. They briefly fell to second in September that year before regaining first place. They fell to second, and then to third in June 2004. After the [[2005 Six Nations Championship|2005 Six Nations]] they fell to sixth where they remained until they moved into fifth in December that year. In 2006, their ranking again fell and they finished the year ranked seventh. They are ranked fifth, behind South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia as of [[11 April]] [[2008]].<ref name="IRBRankings">{{cite web| url=http://www.irb.com/rankings/index.html |title=World Rankings |publisher=International Rugby Board |accessdate=2008-02-26}}</ref>
Their Test record against all nations, updated [[2008-07-04]]:<ref name="RugbyData"/><ref>This table excludes matches played against the [[Barbarians FC|Barbarians]] and [[New Zealand Māori rugby union team|New Zealand Maori]] as they are not full representative teams.</ref>
<div style="text-align:center; float:right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em"> '''IRB World Ranking Leaders'''<br> {{IRB World Ranking leaders}}</div>
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Against
! Played
! Won
! Drawn
! Lost
! For
! Against
! % Won
|- bgcolor="#d0ffd0" align="center"
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|ARG}} || [[England vs Argentina at rugby union|12]] || 8 || 1 || 3 || 286 || 184 || {{#expr:8/12*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|AUS}} || [[England vs Australia at rugby union|35]] || 14 || 1 || 20 || 505 || 746 || {{#expr:14/35*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|CAN}} || 6 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 273 || 73 || {{#expr:6/6*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|FIJ}} || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 156 || 71 || {{#expr:4/4*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|FRA}} || 91 || 49 || 7 || 35 || 1354 || 1084 || {{#expr:49/91*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|GEO}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 84 || 6 || {{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|IRE|4prov}} || 121 || 70 || 8 || 43 || 1393 || 946 || {{#expr:70/121*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|ITA}} || 14 || 14 || 0 || 0 || 594 || 176 || {{#expr:14/14*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|JPN}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 60 || 7 || {{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|NED}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 110 || 0 || {{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|NZL}} || [[History of rugby union matches between All Blacks and England|31]] || 6 || 1 || 24 || 396 || 733 || {{#expr:6/31*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|ROU}} || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 268 || 21 || {{#expr:3/3*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|SAM}} || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 190 || 78 || {{#expr:5/5*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|SCO}} || 125 || 66 || 17 || 42 || 1410 || 1066 || {{#expr:66/125*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|RSA}} || [[England vs South Africa at rugby union|30]] || 12 || 1 || 17 || 474 || 598 || {{#expr:12/30*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|TON}} || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 137 || 30 || {{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|USA}} || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 253 || 52 || {{#expr:5/5*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|URU}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 111 || 13 || {{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%
|-
| align="left" | {{ru|WAL}} || 117 || 53 || 12 || 52 || 1485 || 1286 || {{#expr:53/117*100 round 2}}%
|-
|-class="sortbottom"
! Total || 606 || 322 || 48 || 236 || 9572 || 7180 || {{#expr:322/606*100 round 2}}%
|}
==Players==
===Current squad===
The 32-man squad for the 2008 mid-year tour to New Zealand:<ref name="2008TourSquad">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/7396322.stm |title=Borthwick to lead England in NZ |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2008-05-13 |date=[[2008-05-13]]}}</ref>
<!--Please format squad list identically to that when the article passed the Featured Article Nomination. If different from current can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=England_national_rugby_union_team&oldid=159893284 -->
<tr>
<td valign="top">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Backs
|-
| bgcolor="white" style="width:150px"|<center>'''<font color="black">Player</center>'''</font>|| bgcolor="white" style="width:150px"|'''<font color="black">Position'''</font>|| bgcolor="white" style="width:150px"|'''<font color="black">Club'''</font>
|-
|[[Olly Barkley]]
|{{Inside centre|capital=yes}}
|[[Bath Rugby]]
|-
|[[Mike Brown (rugby player)|Mike Brown]]
|{{Fullback|capital=yes}}
|[[Harlequins]]
|-
|[[Danny Care]]
|{{Scrum-half|capital=yes}}
|[[Harlequins]]
|-
|[[Toby Flood]]
|{{Inside centre|capital=yes}}
|[[Leicester Tigers]]
|-
|[[Charlie Hodgson]]
|{{Fly-half|capital=yes}}
|[[Sale Sharks]]
|-
|[[Jamie Noon]]
|{{Rugbycentre|capital=yes}}
|[[Newcastle Falcons]]
|-
|[[Topsy Ojo]]
|{{Wing|capital=yes}}
|[[London Irish]]
|-
|[[Peter Richards (rugby player)|Peter Richards]]
|{{Scrum-half|capital=yes}}
|[[London Irish]]
|-
|-
|[[David Strettle]]
|{{Wing|capital=yes}}
|[[Harlequins]]
|-
|[[Mathew Tait]]
|{{Rugbycentre|capital=yes}}
|[[Newcastle Falcons]]
|-
|[[Mike Tindall]]
|{{Rugbycentre|capital=yes}}
|[[Gloucester Rugby]]
|-
|[[Richard Wigglesworth (rugby player)|Richard Wigglesworth]]
|{{Scrum-half|capital=yes}}
|[[Sale Sharks]]
|-
|[[Dominic Waldouck]]
|{{Rugbycentre|capital=yes}}
|[[London Wasps]]
|-
|[[Tom Varndell]]
|{{Wing|capital=yes}}
|[[Leicester Tigers]]
|}
</td>
<td valign="top">
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Forwards
|-
| bgcolor="white" style="width:150px"|<center>'''<font color="black">Player</center>'''</font>|| bgcolor="white" style="width:150px"|'''<font color="black">Position'''</font>|| bgcolor="white" style="width:150px"|'''<font color="black">Club'''</font>
|-
|[[Steve Borthwick]] (c)
|{{Lock|capital=yes}}
|[[Bath Rugby]]
|-
|[[Tom Croft]]
|{{Flanker|capital=yes}}
|[[Leicester Tigers]]
|-
|[[Nick Easter]]
|{{Number 8|capital=yes}}
|[[Harlequin F.C.|Harlequins]]
|-
|[[Dylan Hartley]]
|{{Hooker|capital=yes}}
|[[Northampton Saints]]
|-
|[[James Haskell]]
|{{Flanker|capital=yes}}
|[[London Wasps|Wasps]]
|-
|[[Jason Hobson]]
|{{Prop|capital=yes}}
|[[Bristol Rugby]]
|-
|[[Ben Kay]]
|{{Lock|capital=yes}}
|[[Leicester Tigers]]
|-
|[[Nick Kennedy]]
|{{Lock|capital=yes}}
|[[London Irish]]
|-
|[[Michael Lipman]]
|{{Flanker|capital=yes}}
|[[Bath Rugby]]
|-
|[[Lee Mears]]
|{{Hooker|capital=yes}}
|[[Bath Rugby]]
|-
|[[Luke Narraway]]
|{{Number 8|capital=yes}}
|[[Gloucester]]
|-
|[[David Paice]]
|{{Hooker|capital=yes}}
|[[London Irish]]
|-
|[[Tom Palmer (rugby player)|Tom Palmer]]
|{{Lock|capital=yes}}
|[[London Wasps]]
|-
|[[Tim Payne (rugby player)|Tim Payne]]
|{{Prop|capital=yes}}
|[[London Wasps]]
|-
|[[Tom Rees (rugby player)|Tom Rees]]
|{{Flanker|capital=yes}}
|[[London Wasps|Wasps]]
|-
|[[Andrew Sheridan]]
|{{Prop|capital=yes}}
|[[Sale Sharks]]
|-
|[[Matt Stevens (rugby player)|Matt Stevens]]
|{{Prop|capital=yes}}
|[[Bath Rugby]]
|-
|[[Joe Worsley]]
|{{Flanker|capital=yes}}
|[[London Wasps]]
|}
</td>
</tr>
</table>
===Notable players===
<!--This section is to include International Rugby Hall of Fame members only. This is consistent with national rugby union team articles that are Featured Articles.-->
Four former England representatives have been inducted into the [[International Rugby Hall of Fame]]: [[Bill Beaumont]], [[Martin Johnson]], [[Jason Leonard]], and [[Wavell Wakefield, 1st Baron Wakefield of Kendal|Wavell Wakefield]].<ref name="IRHFList">{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=KMEHLYV0OCGYBQFIQMGSFFOAVCBQWIV0?xml=/sport/2005/11/17/srgall17.xml&sSheet=/sport/2005/11/19/ixrugu.html#1 |title=Joining the legends an added bonus for Wood |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |date=[[2005-11-17]] |accessdate=2007-09-06 |last=Gallagher |first=Brendan}}</ref><ref name=IRHF2007>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/2007dinner.htm |title=Sixth Induction Dinner - 2007 |publisher=International Rugby Hall of Fame |accessdate=2007-10-03}}</ref>
Wavell Wakefield represented England in 31 Tests between 1920 and 1927, including 13 Tests as captain. He was involved in three Five Nations Grand Slams in 1921, 1923 and 1924. Playing as {{Flanker}}, Wakefield introduced new elements to back row tactics which beforehand concentrated on the set piece. He became a [[Member of Parliament#United Kingdom|Member of Parliament]] in 1935, and was knighted in 1944. He became the RFU President in 1950 and following his retirement from politics was awarded the title the first [[Peerage|Baron]] Wakefield of Kendal.<ref name="WakefieldIRHF">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/wakefield1999.htm |title=Wavell Wakefield |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |accessdate=2007-07-14}}</ref>
Between 1975 and 1982, [[Bill Beaumont]] represented England in 34 Tests. Playing at {{Lock}}, he was captain between 1978 and 1982 in 21 Tests including the 1980 Grand Slam — England's first since 1957. Later that year, he captained the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]] to [[1980 British Lions tour to South Africa|South Africa]] - the first time an Englishman had captained the Lions since 1930. Furthermore, Beaumont represented the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians FC]] on fifteen occasions.<ref name="BeaumontIRHF">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/beaumont2003.htm |title=Bill Beaumont |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |accessdate=2007-07-14}}</ref>
Described as arguably "the greatest forward" to play for England,<ref name="JohnsonIRHF">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/johnson2005.htm |title=Martin Johnson |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |accessdate=2007-07-14}}</ref> Martin Johnson played 84 Tests for England, and eight Tests for the British and Irish Lions.<ref name=JohnsonLions>{{cite web|url=http://www.lionsrugby.com/pp_martin_johnson.html |title=Lion Legends: Martin Johnson |publisher=British and Irish Lions |accessdate=2008-02-15}}</ref> He first represented England in 1993, and later that year the Lions. He captained the Lions to [[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa|South Africa]] in 1997, and in 1999 was appointed captain of England. He became England's most successful ever captain. He became the first player to captain two Lions tours when he captained them in [[2001 British Lions tour to Australia|Australia]] in 2001.<ref name="JohnsonAsylum">{{cite web| url=http://www.sportasylum.com/page/RugbyBio/0,,10301~791164,00.html |title=Martin Johnson - England's greatest-ever captain |publisher=sportasylum.com |accessdate=2007-07-14}}</ref> He retired from Test rugby after he led England to a Six Nations Grand Slam and [[2003 Rugby World Cup|World Cup]] victory in 2003.<ref name="JohnsonIRHF"/>
[[Jason Leonard]], also known as "The Fun Bus",<ref name="FunBus">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s245/st50222.htm |title=England's Jason Leonard OBE - Dossier |publisher=rugbynetwork.net |accessdate=2007-10-24 |date=[[2004-04-13]]}}</ref> appeared 114 times for England at prop, which was the world record for international appearances for a national team until 2005, when it was surpassed by [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia's]] scrum-half [[George Gregan]].<ref name="LeonardIRHF">{{cite web| url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/leonard2007.htm |title=Jason Leonard |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> He was on the England team that finished runners up to Australia in the [[1991 Rugby World Cup]] final, but avenged this twelve years later, coming on as a substitute for [[Trevor Woodman]] in England's victorious [[2003 Rugby World Cup]] final appearance. He also went on three British and Irish Lions tours where he was capped five times.<ref name="LeonardIRHF"/>
===Individual records===
The record for Test career points for England is held by [[Jonny Wilkinson]] with 1023 points.<ref name="WilkinsonProfile"/> The record for tries is held by [[Rory Underwood]] with 49 tries; Underwood is also England's most capped back with 85 caps. The most capped England player is former {{Prop}} [[Jason Leonard]] who made 114 appearances over his 14-year career.<ref name="SNStats">{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/rugby_union/sixnations/urheads06.xml |title=Six Nations head-to-head statistics |publisher=telegraph.co.uk |date=[[2006-02-08]] |accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref> England's youngest ever Test player was [[Henri Laird]] who was 18 years and 134 days old when he played against Wales in 1927.<ref name="YoungestCap">{{cite news|title=Wilkinson sidesteps age barrier - Rugby Union - Student European Championship - Preview. |publisher=The Times |date=[[1998-03-17]] |last=Hands |first=David}}</ref>
==Training==
===Club versus country===
[[Image:All Blacks England.jpg|thumb|England versus [[All Blacks|New Zealand]] in 2006.]]
Although the England team is governed by the [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU), players have been contracted to their clubs since the advent of professionalism in late 1995. Since then, players have often been caught in a "power struggle" between their clubs and the RFU; this is commonly referred to as a ''club versus country'' conflict.<ref name="Tuck195">Tuck (2003), pg 195.</ref> The first major conflict between England's top clubs (who play in the [[Guinness Premiership|English Premiership]]) and the RFU occurred in 1998, when some of the clubs refused to release players to tour Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.<ref name="NonRelease98">{{cite news| title=Woodward embroiled in club v country spat rears its face again |publisher=The Independent |last=Hewett |first=Chris |date=[[1998-03-03]] |page=27}}</ref> The tour became known as the "Tour from hell" after an England squad of second-string players were defeated in all four Tests, including a 76–0 defeat by Australia.<ref name="Burnt">{{cite news| title=Tour from Hell that left some players burnt |publisher=The Times |date=[[2002-11-02]] |page=40 |last=Baldwin |first=Mark}}</ref> The clubs also withdrew from the [[1998-99 Heineken Cup|1998–1999 European Cup]] (now called the [[Heineken Cup]]).<ref name="Morgan56">Morgan (2002), pg 56.</ref>
In 2001, the top clubs and the RFU formed ''England Rugby'' to help govern the club and international game. The parties agreed to restrict the number of matches at club and international level that elite players (a group of 50 or 60 players selected by the RFU) could play in order to prevent player burnout and injuries.<ref name="EnglandRugby2001">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/1454059.stm |title=New deal to protect England stars |date=[[2001-07-24]] |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-08-31}}</ref> In return for releasing players from club commitments, the clubs were to receive compensation from the RFU. This agreement was considered central to the England victory in the [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003 World Cup]]. [[Sir Clive Woodward]], England coach from November 1997, resigned in 2004 because he was unable to get the access to the players that he wanted; "I wanted more from the union - more training days with the players, more influence over the way they were treated - and ended up with less."<ref name="Woodwardquits">{{cite news| title="I wasn't ready to compromise. I wanted more and I got less..." |publisher=The Independent |last=Hewett |first=Chris |page=76 |date=[[2004-09-04]]}}</ref> [[Andy Robinson]], Woodward's successor, blamed the lack of control over players for his team's unsuccessful record.<ref name="AndyInterview">{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article2198977.ece |title=The Big Interview: Andy Robinson |publisher=timesonline.co.uk |accessdate=2007-08-31 |date=[[2007-08-05]]}}</ref> [[Brian Ashton (rugby player)|Brian Ashton]], who took over from Robinson, intentionally named his playing squad for Six Nations matches in 2007 at an early opportunity in the hope that their clubs would not play them in the weekend prior to a Test.<ref name="SquadsEarly">{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0213/england.html |publisher=rte.ie |title=Ashton set to name side for Croker |date=[[2007-02-14]] |accessdate=2007-08-31}}</ref> The RFU and the Premiership clubs are negotiating a similar deal to the one in 2001 that will enable international players to be released into the England squad prior to international matches.<ref name="NewDeal">{{cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article1977476.ece |title=Peace deal agreed in club v country row |publisher=timesonline.co.uk |accessdate=2007-08-31 |date=[[2007-06-24]] |last=Cain |first=Nick}}</ref>
===Coaches===
The following is a list of all England coaches. The first appointed coach was [[Don White]] in 1969. The current coach is Martin Johnson who took over as coach in 2008, after Brian Ashton was sacked. <ref>All records were taken from [http://www.lassen.co.nz/pickandgo.php?fyear=q&teama=ENG#hrh lassen.co.nz/pickandgo.php].</ref><ref name="Farmer75">Farmer (2006), pg 75.</ref>
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Tenure
! Tests
! Won
! Drew
! Lost
! Win percentage
|-
| [[Don White (footballer)|Don White]]<ref name="GuardianObit">{{cite news| url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyunion/story/0,,2097134,00.html |title=Don White |publisher=The Guardian |accessdate=2007-07-04 |date=[[2007-06-07]] |last=Stephens |first=Paul}}</ref>
| [[20 December]] [[1969]] – [[17 April]] [[1971]]
| 11
| 3
| 1
| 7
| 27.3%
|-
| John Elders
| [[1972]] – [[16 March]] [[1974]]
| 16
| 6
| 1
| 9
| 37.5%
|-
| John Burgess
| [[18 January]] [[1975]] – [[31 May]] [[1975]]
| 6
| 1
| 0
| 5
| 16.7%
|-
| Peter Colston
| [[3 January]] [[1976]] – [[17 March]] [[1979]]
| 18
| 6
| 1
| 11
| 33.3%
|-
| Mike Davis
| [[24 November]] [[1979]] – [[6 March]] [[1982]]
| 16
| 10
| 2
| 4
| 62.5%
|-
| [[Dick Greenwood]]
| [[15 January]] [[1983]] – [[20 April]] [[1985]]
| 17
| 4
| 2
| 11
| 23.5%
|-
| Martin Green
| [[1 June]] [[1985]] – [[8 June]] [[1987]]
| 14
| 5
| 0
| 9
| 35.7%
|-
| [[Geoff Cooke]]
| [[16 January]] [[1988]] – [[19 March]] [[1994]]
| 35
| 13
| 1
| 21
| 37.1%
|-
| [[Jack Rowell]]
| [[4 June]] [[1994]] – [[12 July]] [[1997]]
| 29
| 21
| 0
| 8
| 72.4%
|-
| [[Clive Woodward|Sir Clive Woodward]]
| [[15 November]] [[1997]] – [[2 September]] [[2004]]<ref name="WoodwardTenure">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3613610.stm| title=Woodward quits England |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-07-04 |date=[[2004-09-03]]}}</ref>
| 83
| 59
| 2
| 22
| 71.1%
|-
| [[Andy Robinson]]
| [[15 October]] [[2004]] – [[29 November]] [[2006]]<ref name="RobinsonAppointed">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3746700.stm |title=Robinson named new England coach|publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-07-04 |date=[[2004-10-15]]}}</ref><ref name="RobinsonResigned">{{cite web| url=http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.News_Detail/StoryID/15345 |title=Press Statement from Andy Robinson OBE |publisher=rfu.com |accessdate=2007-07-04 |date=[[2006-11-29]]}}</ref>
| 22
| 9
| 0
| 13
| 40.9%
|-
| [[Brian Ashton (rugby player)|Brian Ashton]]
| [[20 December]] [[2006]] – [[1 June]] [[2008]]<ref name="Ashton Appointed">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6189565.stm |title=England appoint Ashton to the top job|publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-07-04 |date=[[2006-12-20]]}}</ref>
| 22
| 12
| 0
| 10
| 54.5%
|-
| [[Rob Andrew]]<ref>As Martin Johnson was absent from the [[2008 mid-year rugby test series|2008 mid-year Tests]] in New Zealand, Rob Andrew coached the team.</ref>
| [[1 June]] [[2008]] – [[1 July]] [[2008]]<ref name="Johnson Appointed">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7349845.stm |title=Johnson named as England supremo|pusblisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2008-04-18 |date=[[2008-04-16]]}}</ref>
| 2
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 00.0%<!--Commented out for now, as per [[WP:CRYSTAL]], when he actually takes over uncomment.
|-
| [[Martin Johnson]]
| [[1 July]] [[2008]]<ref name="Johnson Appointed">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7349845.stm |title=Johnson named as England supremo|pusblisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2008-04-18 |date=[[2008-04-16]]}}</ref> –
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 00.0%-->
|}
==See also==
*[[England national rugby union team (sevens)]]
*[[England Saxons]]
*[[England women's national rugby union team]]
*[[England vs Australia at rugby union|England vs Australia]]
*[[History of rugby union matches between All Blacks and England|England vs New Zealand]]
*[[England vs South Africa at rugby union|England vs South Africa]]
*[[England vs Argentina at rugby union|England vs Argentina]]
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book | last = Farmer | first = Stuart |date=2006 | title = The Official England Rugby Miscellany | publisher = Vision Sports Publishing Limited | id = ISBN 1-90532-612-2 }}
*{{cite journal
| last = Morgan
| first =Michael
| title =Optimizing the structure of elite competitions in professional sport – lessons from Rugby Union
| journal =Managing Leisure
| volume =7
| pages =41–60
|date=2002
| doi =10.1080/13606710110117023}}
* {{cite book | last = Palenski | first = Ron |date=2003 | title = Century in Black - 100 Years of All Black Test Rugby | publisher = Hodder Moa Beckett Publishers Limited | id = ISBN 1-86958-937-8 }}
* {{cite journal
| last =Tuck
| first = Jason
| title =The Men in White: Reflections on Rugby Union, the Media and Englishness
| journal =International Review for the Sociology of Sport
| volume =38
| issue =2
| pages =177–199
|date=2003
| doi =10.1177/1012690203038002003}}
==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{wikiquote|England national rugby union team|England}}
{{commonscat|England national rugby union team}}
*[http://www.rfu.com England Rugby Football Union website]
*[http://www.england-rugby.com England Rugby website]
*[http://www.unofficialenglandrugby.co.uk Unofficial England Rugby Fan site]
*[http://www.swinglow.net England Rugby Fan website]
*[http://www.twickenhamstadium.com/ Twickenham Stadium]
*[http://www.rfu.com/microsites/museum/index.cfm Museum of Rugby]
{{Rugby union in England}}
{{National rugby teams}}
{{Six nations new}}
{{featured article}}
<!--As featured article-->
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:England national rugby union team| ]]
[[Category:European national rugby union teams]]
[[Category:National sports teams of England|Rugby union]]
[[Category:Rugby union in England| National team]]
[[Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners]]
{{Link FA|fr}}
{{Link FA|it}}
<!--Other languages-->
[[af:Engeland se nasionale rugbyspan]]
[[cy:Tîm rygbi'r undeb cenedlaethol Lloegr]]
[[de:Englische Rugby-Union-Nationalmannschaft]]
[[es:Selección de rugby de Inglaterra]]
[[fr:Équipe d'Angleterre de rugby à XV]]
[[gd:Sgioba nàiseanta rugbaidh Shasainn]]
[[it:Nazionale di rugby XV dell'Inghilterra]]
[[ka:ინგლისის მორაგბეთა ეროვნული ნაკრები]]
[[nl:Engels rugbyteam]]
[[ja:ラグビーイングランド代表]]
[[pt:Seleção Inglesa de Râguebi]]
[[ro:Echipa naţională de rugby a Angliei]]
[[sv:Englands herrlandslag i rugby union]]