The Rugby Paper Podcast · The Rugby Paper

70,000 FANS FOR RED ROSES OPENER! | Meg Jones Captaincy + Women’s Six Nations Launch | ft Victoria Rush | The Rugby Paper Roundup

·33 min·3 clips

Over 70,000 fans have already bought tickets for England's Women's Six Nations opener against Ireland.

The episode begins by highlighting the significant momentum for the Women's Six Nations, specifically noting the record 70,000 tickets sold for England's opening match at Twickenham. Guest Victoria Rush, a content creator and director, joins to share her firsthand experience from the Six Nations media launch event. She describes the positive energy and community feel among the women's rugby industry. The discussion immediately focuses on the Red Roses, England's women's team, and their unprecedented success, including selling out stadiums like the Allianz for the World Cup final and again for the upcoming Six Nations match. The conversation shifts to leadership, analyzing the captaincy change from the pregnant Zoe Stratford to Meg Jones. Rush contrasts Stratford's calm, respected introverted style with Jones's more extroverted, media-savvy, and prepared leadership, noting Jones's experience as GB Sevens captain. The hosts then probe whether the tournament will be competitive, given England's dominant streak of nearly 70 wins in recent years. Rush suggests the real battle is for positions second through fifth, with France being the closest challenger, but highlights that England's experience playing in front of massive, sold-out crowds is a unique advantage that intimidates opponents. Tactical analysis follows, exploring whether England will play a conservative forward game or unleash their star-studded backline under coach John Mitchell; Rush believes they have the depth to do both. A specific discussion on the fly-half position debates the merits of Zoe Harrison, Holly Aitchison, and Helena Rowland. The episode then examines the new ITV documentary 'England meets England', which Rush praises for its player access and storytelling, contrasting it with the men's game's failed Netflix series. She argues that personal stories and adversity, not just winning, drive fan connection. Rush discusses her work in content creation, emphasizing the importance of showcasing player personalities to grow the sport. Finally, the state of the Premier Women's Rugby (PWR) league is assessed, noting it's the world's best club league attracting international stars, though funding and sponsorship still lag behind football's WSL.

As heard by us

A timely Six Nations preview with crowd momentum, captaincy chatter, and clear pre-kickoff context.

The Rugby Paper roundup gives the Women's Six Nations a useful early pulse, with more than 70,000 tickets already sold for England's opener against Ireland and a fresh angle on Meg Jones' captaincy.

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Why you'd press play

You want the Red Roses temperature check before the Women's Six Nations kicks off.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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