"What dreams are made of" - England's Zoe Aldcroft and John Mitchell react to Rugby World Cup glory

After the match, England head coach John Mitchell was joined in the media centre by his captain Zoe Aldcroft, with the back row carrying the newly won World Cup trophy in her hands. The media centre erupted into a resounding ovation across the reporters from England and Canada, with the French and New Zealand journalists also showing their admiration after the Bronze Final a few hours earlier.

This England squad have now won 33 Test matches in a row, with the conversation beckoning around whether John Mitchell's team are the greatest women's rugby team of all time. New Zealand, the six-time world champions, will also have something to say in that debate, but tonight belongs to the Red Roses after a glorious crowning moment at the heart of English Rugby.

ZOE ALDCROFT: It definitely feels like that [being the greatest team in women's rugby]. We have had 32 wins in a row, we have finally put the cherry on top of the cake with winning the World Cup. It feels great at the minute.

JOHN MITCHELL: This is a phenomenal team. It has been good, very good but we needed to bring closure to what we set out to do three years ago today. 60-odd games, eight years, on the trot of 32 and we hadn't won a World Cup. It's our only reference to talk in isn't it? Imagine if you were writing the other way it would be quite different. Greatness is deserved because we know [there could be more].

England's journey, which began with the devastating heartbreak of the 2022 Women's Rugby World Cup Final, has come to a close. The three-year wait to lift the pinnacle trophy has been one of resounding success, as England won each and every one of their 33 subsequent matches now including this final.

ZOE ALDCROFT: "Honestly it is unbelievable. It is literally what dreams are made of. We have so much belief in this group, we have built something so special over the last three years and today was about sticking to our processes and believing in ourselves. everyone just had to do their own job and I think that is what everyone did today. I am just so proud of every single one of those girls.

"It was such an amazing occasion as well, playing in front of [almost] 82,000 people. That was next level and I think it was a chance to redefine women's rugby. We have been of this journey of 'for the girls', it wasn't just about the girls in that circle but also the girls we inspire and the girls who have come before us. Also for everyone who supports us and wants to be a part of us as the Red Roses. it was just amazing. A dream come true."

If England's history making victory was not enough to celebrate, women's rugby as a whole rejoiced with a packed house at the Allianz Stadium. The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup Final set a new attendance record for a women's rugby union match, which was previously held at 58,498 (also Twickenham Stadium) from England vs France in the 2023 Women's Six Nations.

ZOE ALDCROFT: "The most emotional part was stepping off of the bus and seeing the amount of people in the stands and I was like 'oh my goodness this is it'. Coming out to [almost] 82,000 people it was unbelievable. You could hear them supporting us throughout the whole game. Knowing probably about 80-odd thousand was for us was massive so I am so grateful and thankful to play in front of everyone today."

Another story of celebration within the evening's festivities, saw England head coach John Mitchell named as World Rugby Coach of the Year for 2025. This tremendous accolade follows a decorated career for Mitchell, who has previously had international coaching roles with Ireland, the All Blacks, Japan and the England Men's team, along with an assortment of the world's biggest clubs.

JOHN MITCHELL: "I am the old bugger who has been hanging around a while. You get some really big memories. There are lots of swings and roundabouts in this trade. I have endured most of them I think. I set the lead but I can't do it without Louis (Deacon), Sarah (Hunter), (Lou) Meadows, Catty (Nathan Catt), Ethan Kinney who has done a great job as S&C. We have a medical team and an S&C and support team, we had all 32 players available in the last week of a world cup, it's unbelievable."

The Rugby World Cup Final is always do-or-die time, with the weights of nations held upon the shoulders for 80 nail-biting minutes. Throughout the proceeding week, head coach Mitchell revealed how he went through the proverbial 'wringer', as the head coach invisioned every possible outcome in a fight to stay present in the moment.

JOHN MITCHELL: "I have tried to stay present, but the past and future jumped into my head and gave myself a few uppercuts and tried to stay present. It's weird this tournament, it does create emotions and feelings that are unusual, especially when you get to a point where the opportunity is presented for us to do the job but what if we didn't do the job? So you think of things like that.

"It's nice to see the girls realise their potential and the staff who have worked very, very hard. We are very well resourced, I am grateful for that. I have some really good staff and the way the girls treated them at the shirt presentation was really special."