Zoe Aldcroft insists she is ready for 'hugely exciting' 2025 World Cup on home soil - as the England lock prepares to kickstart the road to the tournament with a clash with France
England star Zoe Aldcroft is looking ahead to the 2025 World Cup on home soil27-year-old has not lost with England since the 2022 final against New ZealandJohn Mitchell's Red Roses take on France at Kingsholm Stadium on Saturday
As a six-time Six Nations champion, back-to-back English league winner and former World Rugby women’s player of the year, Zoe Aldcroft is used to success.Now, after the ‘best day’ of her life this summer, the Red Roses lock is set for what she hopes will be her most historic season yet in 2024/25.Aldcroft married her partner Luke Stratford – who coaches at Leicester Tigers – in her hometown of Scarborough in June before the pair honeymooned in Corfu. But now the 27-year-old’s focus is back on rugby. On Saturday Aldcroft starts England’s campaign opener with France at her home club ground of Kingsholm.It is the first game of a season which will end with England hosting the Women’s World Cup this time next year – a tournament for which John Mitchell’s side are firm favourites. Zoe Aldcroft insisted England are ready to get started as they look towards next year's Rugby World Cup The 27-year-old lock will start for the Red Roses as they play host to France on Saturday‘It definitely feels real now,’ Aldcroft said of England’s huge 12 months to come.
‘We know everything is building to the 2025 World Cup. This is the first reality that it’s coming. It’s hugely exciting. We can’t wait for it. We want to ensure that as an England team, we try and get as many fans into stadiums as possible for that tournament.‘We’ve upped the speed of our rugby in general. Hopefully, no-one can live with us. We want to excite the fans and get them off their seats.’Aldcroft hasn’t lost in an England shirt since the heartbreaking World Cup final defeat by New Zealand in 2022.The two sides will go head-to-head once again next Saturday for the first game at the newly-named Allianz Stadium, formerly Twickenham.First up, though, is France. England have been in phenomenal form of late, and enter the tournament as firm favourites John Mitchell will look to overcome the heartbreak of the 2022 final at Twickenham next summerEngland’s first two games of the season couldn’t get much tougher as they are against the only two sides who can realistically trouble them for the 2025 global crown.‘We’re normally used to building into a new season, but this year we’re hitting the ground running with a big game against France,’ said Aldcroft.Maddie Feaunati makes her first Test start on the flank in a fearsome England XV.‘We normally play France at the end of each Six Nations which means we usually have some analysis of them,’ said Aldcroft.‘This time we’re playing them right at the start which makes things interesting. It definitely couldn’t get much tougher as a start to the season with France and New Zealand, but that’s exactly what we want. I think it will create a lot of excitement for the fans ahead of what’s to come next year. It’s the same for us.‘As a team we want to be stretched as much as possible.’ England went right to the wire against New Zealand but ultimately were defeated by the Black FernsAldcroft only lost one game with Gloucester-Hartpury last season as they stormed to a second straight Allianz Premiership title. She is part of England’s leadership group alongside captain Marlie Packer and another Gloucester-Hartpury player in Natasha Hunt.‘The World Cup final loss to New Zealand was the sort of loss you never want to go through, especially in as big a game as it was and when you’ve worked so hard to get there,’ Aldcroft said. ‘We want to get to the top and be world champions. When you don’t, it’s something that stays in your head as motivation. It’s a big factor for the team.’
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Zoe Aldcroft insists she is ready for 'hugely exciting' 2025 World Cup on home soil - as the England lock prepares to kickstart the road to the tournament with a clash with France
