Before the start of the Women’s Six Nations, many wondered if anyone could finally challenge England’s iron grip on international rugby. Two matches in, the Red Roses have shown that they are still very much in control, despite a wave of injuries and a number of players stepping away for pregnancy – a level of transition not seen in the squad for ten years. The depth of talent available to the English side appears virtually limitless. Captain Zoe Stratford (formerly Aldcroft), a World Cup winner, was among a long list of absentees for the opening round.
Even with her missing, England looked a little rusty in their first game against Ireland, yet the bench was deep enough to see them through the challenge. In the second round, the champions travelled to Murrayfield without ten regulars and still produced a spectacular display, scoring twelve tries in an 84-7 rout of Scotland, marking a record 35th consecutive test victory. The third fixture sees England host Wales at Ashton Gate in Bristol. Ahead of that clash, two very different voices from the squad shared their thoughts: seasoned prop Sarah Bern, 28, with 81 caps and a World Cup medal, and teenage back‑rower Demelza Short, 19, who earned her first cap in Edinburgh just a week earlier.
Bern described the squad as a "real mix". She noted that several players are currently on maternity leave – Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward, Rosie Galligan and Lark Atkin‑Davies – which has opened doors for younger talent like Short.
At the same time, injuries to key figures such as Hannah Botterman, Morwenna Talling, Natasha Hunt, May Campbell, Tatyana Heard and Ales Matthews have forced the coaching staff to reshuffle the line‑up on a regular basis. "We give the players a licence to attack, to be brave and to express themselves," Bern explained. "Whether you are a youngster just breaking through or a veteran who has been around the block, the standards are incredibly high." The team is constantly asked whether they ever get bored with winning.
Bern answered that no performance has yet left them feeling completely satisfied. Each week the goal is to improve: to develop the game, to grow the sport, and to push for the best possible attack and defence.
This ambition, she says, is embedded in the Red Roses' DNA – a relentless drive to stretch the limits of what they can achieve on the field. A recurring theme in the interview was the notion that "rugby doesn’t care what you did last week". The sport judges you solely on how you perform on the day, regardless of past accolades such as a World Cup triumph. This perspective is especially important for integrating new players like Short, who must adapt quickly to the intensity and expectations of senior international rugby.
The sheer volume of unavailable players has forced England to deepen its talent pool even further, and the experiment has so far paid off handsomely. Bern summed up the squad's mindset: "We are ambitious, we are brave, and we want to push those barriers. Yes, we won a World Cup, but there is always room for improvement in our attack, and now we have the chance to make those improvements." She also highlighted how injuries have accelerated the development of younger players. "When senior players are out, the next group steps up.
Everyone understands they have to perform, and that requires hard work off the pitch as well as on it," Bern said. Team cohesion is reinforced through constant communication.
Leaders ensure every player knows the details of the game plan, because on the training pitch, ignorance of the strategy can be a significant disadvantage. "Every player helps each other," Bern added, emphasizing the collaborative culture within the squad.
Beyond performance, the Red Roses are keen to make the sport entertaining for fans. They want spectators to fill the stadiums and enjoy a fresh, dynamic style of rugby each week, rather than watching the same patterns repeatedly. "We want to showcase the incredible skills of all our players – carrying, tackling, and playing an exciting brand of rugby – to the world," Bern explained.
The team also wants to highlight that women's rugby offers a distinct yet equally thrilling experience compared to the men's game. Both have unique selling points, and both deserve recognition as top‑level entertainment.
Demelza Short's rapid rise illustrates the opportunities that arise from the squad's turnover. In just twelve months, she progressed from playing for England's U18 side at the Six Nations festival at Wellington College to earning a full senior cap alongside recent World Cup winners. Short admitted the experience feels surreal: "I still can’t fully take in what’s happened.
It feels like a whirlwind, and it hasn’t fully sunk in yet." She reflected on her journey, noting that after playing U18s last year, she was selected for U20 camps and thought there might be a future, but she never imagined debuting for the Red Roses so quickly. "Getting the call‑up and then actually playing in this campaign is crazy," she said.
In summary, England’s women’s team demonstrates that even with a significant turnover of players due to pregnancy and injury, the depth and resilience of the squad allow them to maintain dominance. The combination of experienced veterans like Sarah Bern and emerging talents like Demelza Short creates a dynamic environment where high standards are upheld, continual improvement is pursued, and the sport is presented as an exciting spectacle for fans worldwide.