England Bleus at RWC 2011

England flattered to decive in New Zealand and paid the price going out in the quarter-finals to France. Neither team had looked great in their pool games though England had the edge in winning all their games. France however took their chances in the match and England missed theirs, this gave them a mountain to climb as they trailed by 16 points at half time. They did win the second half 12-3 but it was too little to late. After their exit team Manager Martin Johnson said they will be a better outfit in 2015 with all the young guns. We wait to see!

England exceeded all expectations in France 2007, going all the way to the finals and competing against winners South Africa, a big turnaround after taking a drubbing from them in the pool stages. England played a limited game plan but still managed to squeeze wins against Australia quarter-finals and France in the semis, eventually going down 6-15 to South Africa. For 2011 they find themselves in one of the easier pools, Pool B with Argentina, Scotland, Georgia and Romania.

England have new shirts for this years Cup. The shirt has reverted to its roots as the home version along with the shorts and socks in all white. The alternate is the reverse all black, a first for England.The shirt is made by Nike and features further developments on the tight fit first seen at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. To place your order and view other England shirts visit the England Rugby World Cup Shirts page

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The dark horses Of Previous World Cups

In previous world cups, England lost on home soil to Australia in 1991, lost in the 1995 semi-finals to a Jonah Lomu inspired New Zealand and failed in Wales in 1999, due in no small part to the boot of South African, J De Beers and his record five drop goals. However this all change in Australia in 2003 when they took the crown and then in 2007 when they made the finals.

Pool B The Easier route in 2011

England have stuttered since winning the world cup 2003 and come into the competition without great confidence or expectations as they continue to seek a new style in a lowly 6th place world ranking. Expect them to progress from pool B with Argentina.

England News

Scotland conjure a loss - Scotland 6-13 England - Stuart Lancaster's England opened their Six Nations with a win at Murrayfield

Teams Scotland v England 2012 - England's interim coach Stuart Lancaster has made some brave calls in his first Six Nations selection for the match against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday 4 February with Kick-off at 17:00 and live on BBC One

Bill Beaumont for Chairman of the RFU - Bill Beaumont one of the greats of English rugby at the end of the amateur era, has put his name in the frame to be the next Rugby Football Union chairman

England Six Nations Squad - England 2012 Elite Squad shows quite a few new names as head coach Stuart Lancaster opts for some of the fringe players who excelled last season in the Saxons

RWC: France send English home empty-handed - The French broke their two-match losing streak in stunning style in Auckland tonight, eliminating England from the Rugby World Cup with a 19-12 victory that catapults the most unpredictable team in world rugby into a semi-final clash with the impressive Welsh