The only northern hemisphere nation to lift the Webb Ellis Cup have the talent and ambition to challenge for a second title as Men’s Rugby World Cup returns to the country of their 2003 triumph.
England are the only northern hemisphere side to win Men’s Rugby World Cup, in 2003, and have been runners-up on three other occasions. They’re also the only host nation to have been knocked out of the game’s biggest tournament in the pool stage.
Despite a disappointing fifth-place finish in the 2026 Men’s Six Nations – they have yet to win a title under head coach Steve Borthwick – England are favourites to finish top of Pool F, which features qualifiers Zimbabwe, who they have never previously played in a test; Tonga, who they have never lost to; and Wales, who they have beaten in their last four meetings.
Players to watch
Ben Earl
Back-row energiser who passed 50 caps for England in the 2026 Men's Six Nations. With his low-slung style, Earl topped the championship standings for both carries and post-contact metres. He sets the bar when it comes to work-rate and is versatile enough to switch to centre if the need arises.
Henry Pollock
The most talked-about player in English rugby. All the attention on his try celebrations and hairstyle overlooks the impact the 21-year-old has on almost every game he plays, whether as a Northampton starter or an England finisher. A back-row breakdown menace with the pace of an outside back.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Injuries restricted the Exeter wing to 13 England caps by mid-2026 but he already has seven test tries and the tag of a match-winner. The definition of an X-factor player, the 23-year-old possesses the power to break the first tackle and the speed to make it count.
RWC icon
Jonny Wilkinson. The golden boy of English rugby, who dropped the goal that won Rugby World Cup 2003 against Australia in extra-time in Sydney.
The ultimate team player, he was never comfortable with the individual adulation that followed that triumph. Wilkinson ended up playing in four Rugby World Cups and becoming the highest points scorer in the tournament’s history.
Now a specialist kicking coach to the current England side and mentor to the likes of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith.
RWC cult hero
Sale loose-head prop Andrew Sheridan loved country music – he wrote his own songs – and fine wine (post-rugby he became a wine merchant) but he loved set-piece rugby even more.
Billed as the strongest man in rugby, Sheridan was central to the 'Miracle of Marseille' at RWC 2007 as unfancied England, who had lost 36-0 to South Africa in the pool stage, raised themselves to knock Australia out in the quarter-finals thanks to a dominant, Sheridan-inspired scrum.
Head coach
Steve Borthwick coached England to third place at RWC 2023, having only been in the post for 10 months.
An assistant to Eddie Jones with England at RWC 2019 and Japan at RWC 2015, Borthwick – who was also one of Warren Gatland's assistants on the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand – took on the England head coach’s role after guiding Leicester Tigers to an English Premiership title in 2022.
As a player, he won 57 caps as a second-row, representing England at RWC 2007.
Most memorable match
They may have lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003 but arguably England’s finest Men's Rugby World Cup performance came in Yokohama 16 years later, when they derailed New Zealand’s bid for a third straight crown in the semi-final of RWC 2019.
England blitzed Steve Hansen’s side with a ferocious start which saw Manu Tuilagi score after two minutes and they kept up their remorseless intensity to record a stunning 19-7 win.
Pool journey
2 October, 2027 v Tonga (Brisbane | Meeanjin)
8 October v Zimbabwe (Adelaide | Tarntanya)
16 October v Wales (Sydney | Wangal)
Did you know?
The West Yorkshire market town of Otley was the unlikely setting for a pool match at Rugby World Cup 1991.
While eventual finalists England – who were in the same pool – played their matches at Twickenham, Italy faced USA at Cross Green, where the grass was so long that the Azzurri complained. The Americans wanted it left as it was, so it remained uncut.
That was as good as it got for the USA, as Italy won 30-9 in front of a crowd of 7,500.
RWC history
Champions (1) – 2003
Finalists (3) – 1991, 2007, 2019
Third place (1) – 2023
Fourth place (1) – 1995
Quarter-finalists (3) – 1987, 1999, 2011
Pool stage (1) – 2015
Key stats
England have scored 26 drop goals at Men’s Rugby World Cups, 10 more than the nation with the next highest tally (South Africa, 16). Individually, Jonny Wilkinson (14) has scored more than twice as many drop goals as any other player, eight of them coming at RWC 2003.
England generally kick more often than any other nation. They made 251 kicks in play at RWC 2023, the most of any side in a single edition, and have made the most overall in tournament history (1,701).
RWC Fast facts
- RWC debut: 1987
- RWC best finish: Champions (2003)
- Most RWC appearances: Jason Leonard (22)
- Top RWC try scorer: Rory Underwood (11)
- Top RWC points scorer: Jonny Wilkinson (277)
