Mitchell: “This team has a winning mentality, but it’s been 10 years since we won a World Cup. I really like that challenge and I’m going to take it.” [Abbie Ward’s return to rugby] What a great achievement. It’s clear she’s a competitor.”
5:52, UK, Wednesday, February 7, 2024
John Mitchell, the Red Roses’ new head coach, said: sky sports While he accepted the role of winning the Rugby World Cup, he also spoke of the “amazing achievement” of Abbey Ward’s return to professional rugby after giving birth.
Mitchell, a New Zealander, was England men’s defense coach under Eddie Jones from 2018 to 2021 and forwards coach under Clive Woodward from 1997 to 2000.
The 59-year-old was also head coach of the All Blacks from 2001 to 2003, and most recently served as Japan national team’s defense coach from 2022 to 2023 before taking charge of the England women’s team.
Mitchell replaces Simon Middleton in the position, with the latter leading England to six Six Nations titles during his spell between 2015 and 2023, and leading England to the World Cup in 2017 and 2022. They led them to the finals, but lost to New Zealand in both finals. .
What appealed to Mitchell most about taking on the role, he says, was the fact and the challenge – the Red Roses had gone 10 years without winning a World Cup.
“It’s really fun. It’s refreshing and I feel energized every day. When you’ve been in the game for a while, you also have to experiment and find ways to learn and evolve,” Mitchell exclusively told sky sports At Twickenham.
New England women’s head coach Mitchell talks about his role with the Red Roses
“Being a senior assistant coach for a period of time was really beneficial, but I always told myself that I would have a chance to lead the program again, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is a great opportunity.’ ”
“This team has a winning mentality, but it’s been 10 years since we won a World Cup. I really like the challenge and I’m going to take it.”
“We definitely have power and depth. We’re probably a bit one-dimensional and sometimes success can put a focus on results and results, but I don’t think that necessarily improves performance. ”
Mitchell has named a 38-player training squad for the Red Roses’ first camp in 2024, which also includes Abbey Ward for the first time since her maternity leave.
Ward will return to England’s camp less than a year after giving birth to her daughter, and the team will begin preparations for the Women’s Six Nations, which begins in late March.
“It’s a great performance. You know she’s a competitor, big deal,” Mitchell said of Ward.
“We are obviously also trying to take care of her physically as the demands of the international game are completely different from the club game.
“She’s really clear about it and is serious about it. So I think she’ll be in a really, really good position by the time the tournament starts.”
“Home World Cup is coming” | “Women’s Lions Tour is an exciting aspiration”
The Red Roses will compete in the 2024 Women’s Six Nations aiming for a sixth consecutive Championship title, with the home World Cup to be held from August 22, 2025 to September 27, 2025.
“The Six Nations is a great tournament and has been our bread and butter for a long time and should never be taken lightly.
“First we play Italy away at Parma, then we have a short turn around to Wales, then we head to Scotland and then we play Twickenham again.” [vs Ireland, Round 4]it’s really exciting.
“Then we also have France, a great team who beat New Zealand in WXV, so it’s a really exciting challenge to play them away in the Six Nations.
“But we also know that we will soon have a World Cup at home and, like every other tournament, we have to earn the right to win another Test match.”
The British and Irish Lions have also confirmed plans for their first women’s tour, with plans to send the team to New Zealand for a three-Test series in 2027.
The current world champions are New Zealand, but England are at the top of the world rankings, with the Black Ferns in second place.
Mitchell said: “It’s really exciting. This is another stepping stone for all home countries to aspire to and I think that’s what you all have to have. That enthusiasm.”
“The game is growing rapidly and some might say it’s not the right time, but for me, we have to start somewhere and that’s exciting.
“It’s really, really, really exciting.”