England unwinds: Pamper night before WRWC semi-final vs France

England Plans Relaxing Night Before Semi-Final Against France

Rosie Galligan has revealed that the England selection plans to have a “pamper night” to strengthen team unity before the World Cup semi-final against France, which will be played on Saturday at Ashton Gate. The “Red Roses” arrive at “Le Crunch” as the undisputed favorites, but aware of the “war” ahead, they will disconnect from rugby during an evening of indulgence at their concentration hotel in Bristol.

“In fact, we’re going to have a pamper night on Wednesday, where we’ll all bring our own face masks and wear pajamas to go to our common room to watch a movie together,” Galligan commented.

Rosie Galligan

These moments of unity are crucial for forging strong bonds within the team, which translates into a united front on the playing field. England has won their last 18 matches against France, a streak that dates back to 2018. However, in their two most recent home encounters, they managed to withstand impressive comebacks from their Six Nations rivals. They won 38-33 in 2023 and 43-42 in 2025, although on both occasions they were close to losing after having built a considerable lead.

“Le Crunch is the best and probably similar for the French. When you play away, that’s when it really becomes special,” added Galligan.

Rosie Galligan

The Franco-English rivalry is something that is not taken for granted in the world of rugby.

England players celebrate during their quarter-final World Cup victory against Scotland.