Trailer for England documentary gets the World Cup pulses racing

A trailer for the two-part documentary on the England women’s rugby team has whetted the appetite ahead of the October 8 start of the World Cup in New Zealand. Wear the Rose: An England Rugby Dream, which airs next Monday on ITV with part two scheduled for the following night, showcases behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with players in Simon Middleton's trophy-chasing squad.

Co-funded by RFU and O2, the production featured an embedded camera crew following the Red Roses as they prepare to take on the world in New Zealand, a campaign that begins with their Eden Park opener against Fiji on Saturday week.

England currently have the longest winning streak (25) of any international rugby union team - men or women - after beating Wales in Bristol earlier in September and they have flown down to New Zealand as favourites to win the 2021 World Cup, the tournament that was delayed a year by the pandemic.

“We are really proud to share our story in what is a huge year for women’s rugby,” explained England captain Sarah Hunter. “These documentaries are so important in today’s world and give real insight for fans and potential fans of the future.

“It has been great to work with the crew so far and we also can’t wait to see the final piece once complete. While this documentary focuses on the team’s journey to New Zealand, we hope it inspires people to support us and for youngsters and people of all ages to get involved in the game.”

Women’s rugby in England has enjoyed an increased appeal in recent times with last April’s home TikTok Six Nations match with Ireland in Leicester smashing the domestic attendance record with 15,836 fans watching. England Rugby marketing director Ewan Turney added: “This documentary will bring fans closer to the action than ever before and showcase the untold story of one of the world’s most successful sports teams leading into a major tournament, but it also focuses on the characters and their individual stories that make up the team.”

• Click here to view the trailer for Wear the Rose: An England Rugby Dream