(Reuters) – England continued their preparations for the Women’s Rugby World Cup by thrashing Wales 73-7 on Wednesday to become the first international side to win 25 matches in a row.
England, led by captain Sarah Hunter, are unbeaten since July 2019 and head into the Oct. 8-Nov. 12 World Cup in New Zealand as favourites.
The ‘Red Roses’ scored six tries in the first half against Wales before centre Helena Rowland completed her hat-trick after the break.
The crowd observed a minute’s silence to honour Queen Elizabeth and there was applause after 70 minutes in recognition of the monarch’s 70-year reign. Players of both teams wore black armbands and their shirts included a tribute.
Head coach Simon Middleton is due to name the England squad for the World Cup on Tuesday.
England won the World Cup in 1994 and 2014 and finished runners-up on five occasions, including at the last tournament in 2017 where they lost to New Zealand in the final.
The upcoming edition of the World Cup was delayed by a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
