So why do England Rugby use a rose?
In order to uncover the answer, we must delve into the past to 1871. This was the year when the first international game between Scotland and England was played, and it also marked the debut of the now-famous red rose.
Some people are curious as to why England Rugby didn’t choose the three lions, like other national sports teams.
Although it has undergone several design changes over the years, its distinctiveness has always remained intact. From 1920, the design was standardized, and this remained the case until 1998, when it was updated to its current form.
While there’s no definite explanation for the RFU using the flower, one possibility is that the rose was perceived as being more closely associated with the English monarchy, as opposed to the three lions.
The rose was first adopted as an English emblem during the War of the Roses in the 15th century.
The war was between the royal house of Lancaster (whose emblem was a red rose) and the royal house of York (whose emblem was a white rose).
The war ended in 1485 when Elizabeth of York (The white rose) married Henry VII (the red rose), and the two combined to create the Tudor Rose.
Get your tickets to the Rugby World Cup matches at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace. Find out how by clicking here.
Another possible reason behind the rugby teams decision to use a red rose rises from the fact that the official colour for Rugby School is red.
This is where the game of rugby is said to have originated, and the school are very proud of this fact. Elizabeth I, who as above used a red rose as her emblem, presented the school’s founder, Lawrence Shefford, with a coat of arms in which the red rose featured prominently.
DID YOU KNOW? According to English superstition, if the petals fall from a fresh-cut red rose, bad luck will soon follow
“Already sent home” – Three players released from England Rugby World Cup squad
England’s second Rugby World Cup preparation camp in Brighton sees Steve Borthwick name an increased 38-player training squad
The squad, which does not include players from Premiership finalists Sale Sharks and Saracens, gather today as preparations continue for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France which starts in September.
“After an excellent first week’s training, we are very much looking forward to being in Brighton,” said Borthwick. “We’re pleased to welcome players from Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers who can now start to integrate themselves into the group, and we look forward to players from Sale Sharks and Saracens joining us in a fortnight.
“The first phase of our preparation continues to focus on ensuring the players are physically equipped for what we need to do in a World Cup campaign. That means the training will be tough and purposeful. The players are rising to the challenge.
Get your tickets for the 2023 Rugby World Cup at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace.
“We’ll work hard again this week, and we’ll enjoy some time together off the field too – which is also an important part of our preparation.”
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby) and Jack Walker (Harlequins) re-join the squad for treatment having picked up knee and calf injuries respectively whilst training last week.
However, three players have already been released by Borthwick with their World Cup hopes already seemingly over.
#1. Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers)
Hassell-Collins came through the AASE programme to earn himself a Senior Academy contract with London Irish.
Representing England Under-18s in the summer of 2017, Hassell-Collins played in the 2017 Singha Premiership Rugby 7s.
Hassell-Collins has been proving himself in the senior squad ever since, scoring 13 tries in 32 appearances at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season, including an incredible four tries against Gloucester in February 2020.
His performances continued to improve and in the 2020/21 season Ollie went on to make 37 clean breaks throughout the campaign, the second most of any player in the Gallagher Premiership.
Ollie received recognition for his performances by being named in Eddie Jones’ training squad ahead of the 2021 summer internationals.
Due to his standout performances for Irish the following season, Hassell-Collins rekindled his work with the England international squad as part of several training squads throughout the year, including during the 2022 Guinness Six Nations.
The winger scored the joint second-most tries for Irish in the 2021/22 season, with 11 in 26 appearances in all competitions alongside Benhard Janse van Rensburg.
His 168 carries sitauted him in the top 20 Premiership players in that category, with his 1,761 metres made earning him fourth place in the respective category.
His 22 linebreaks was the most by any player in the regular 2021/22 season, only beaten by Harlequins’ Cadan Murley in the postseason with 23, with 63 tackle breaks putting him in the top 10 of any player in the Premiership that season.
Next season, he will be playing for Leicester Tigers.
