Mitchell Asks for Increase in the Size of the Templates for the Women’s World Cup
England women’s rugby team coach John Mitchell has requested World Rugby to increase the squad size to 33 players for the Women’s Rugby World Cup. In addition, Mitchell points out that all the pressure is on New Zealand ahead of this year’s tournament.
Mitchell made these statements after England’s victory, which secured their fourth consecutive Grand Slam in the Six Nations by defeating France 43-42 at Twickenham on Saturday.
England arrives at the World Cup, which will be played at home this year, as the favorite. Mitchell is in the final stages of selecting the 32 players who will make up his squad.
Mitchell wishes that the template sizes would be increased. In the men’s World Cup, teams are allowed to select 33 players, but in this year’s women’s World Cup, only 32 will be allowed to be chosen.
Mitchell is in the process of refining his squad, confirming that he will take 18 forwards and 14 backs. He believes that this disparity needs the attention of the sport’s governing body.
I think World Rugby will probably have to look at it in the future because otherwise you’re going to be waiting for players to travel from overseas. I think you’ve got to wait until the 24-hour flight rule or whatever it is, because overseas teams would have to wait to bring their players in. I think 33 seems to be the right number, as in the men’s game.
John Mitchell
England is the favorite to lift their first World Cup title since 2014. Currently, the team has an impressive streak of 25 consecutive wins and has won 55 of their last 56 matches. Their last defeat was in the 2022 World Cup final, where they lost to New Zealand.
The Black Ferns have won the last two World Cups, winning both finals against England. New Zealand’s chances have received a boost with the news that Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, the all-time top try scorer in the Rugby World Cup, has come out of retirement with the intention of being part of their team for this year’s tournament. Despite England’s incredible run, Mitchell says all the pressure is on New Zealand.
We are focusing on the United States, Samoa and Australia, England’s opponents in the group stage. Then, Wales, Scotland and France again in a semi-final. If everything goes according to plan, New Zealand will be on the other side. We’ll deal with that if we earn it, but I think New Zealand are going for a three-peat in the World Cups, so there’s probably more pressure on them to win a World Cup than on us.
John Mitchell
