England Rugby's 2019 year in review
As 2019 comes to a close here’s our look at how a number of the England Rugby teams have done over the past year.
JANUARY
![SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 3: Harry Glover of England runs the ball in the Men's Bronze Medal Match played between Fiji and England during the 2019 Sydney HSBC Sevens at Spotless Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/da4bd38f-1a4a-48f4-855f-b2f5310a81e3/web/rugby-match-action.png)
The start of 2019 saw England’s men, women and men’s U20s sides begin their preparations for their respective Six Nations campaigns, with Eddie Jones taking his squad to Portugal for some warm weather training.
England Men Sevens continued their season in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Hamilton and Sydney, finishing third in Australia and they would achieve three bronze finishes over the course of the rest of the season, with the women's sevens side beaten in the Challenge Trophy final in Sydney.
February
![DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 02 Henry Slade of England dives over for his first try during the Guinness Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on February 02, 2019 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Imagesges)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/80f6d93b-33aa-46cb-9091-d6dd54439aae/web/england_vs_ireland_thrilling_try.png)
The Guinness Six Nations kicked off with one of England’s most memorable victories of recent years as they secured a bonus-point 32-20 win over Ireland in Dublin, as Henry Slade grabbed two tries.
The Red Roses also opened with a bonus-point win in Ireland and continued their impressive month by taking maximum points in their wins over France and Wales, but the England Men U20 team were beaten in their tie with Ireland.
MARCH
In the rain at Twickenham Stadium, the Red Roses ran in 12 tries in an 80-0 win over Scotland to secure the Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam achieving bonus-point wins in each of their games.
Earlier that day at the same venue England’s men drew 38-38 with Scotland as they finished second while England Men U20s finished third as Ireland took the title in their competition.
APRIL
In the second-ever Tyrrells Premier 15s final, Red Roses pair Zoe Harrison and Poppy Cleall both scored twice as Saracens Women beat Harlequins Women 33-17 at Franklin’s Gardens.
England Women Sevens secured their best result of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Kitakyushu, Japan, as they earned silver after a narrow defeat to Canada in the final.
MAY
![LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Phil Burgess of England runs out for his 50th cap against Ireland during the HSBC London Sevens at Twickenham Stadium on May 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Henry Browne - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Imagesges)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/57a4d316-2ad9-4131-aec5-81f09ec67ca4/web/england_rugby_player_field_entry.png)
The HSBC London Sevens returned in May with two glorious days of sunshine in Twickenham, as Phil Burgess won his 50th cap for England but Fiji would claim the overall title.
At St James’ Park in Newcastle, Saracens were again crowned the best team in Europe as they beat Leinster 20-10 with Owen Farrell contributing 10 points with the boot.
June
![LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 02: Poppy Cleall of England dives over for their second try during the England Women v Barbarians Women match at Twickenham Stadium on June 02, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/20cba1f0-5969-4afa-b242-093a9bad5d40/web/womens_rugby_try.png)
There was a historic first-ever double header at Twickenham as the Red Roses beat the Barbarians 40-14 with Lark Davies scoring a hat-trick in their first ever meeting, before an England XV beat the Barbarians 51-43 under the guidance of Jim Mallinder.
At the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Argentina, despite two wins in their group England missed out on a place in the semi-finals but did beat Wales 45-26 to secure fifth place.
The Red Roses travelled to San Diego to play the best five teams in the world in the Women’s Rugby Super Series, where only a defeat to New Zealand prevented them from winning the title. Saracens beat Exeter 37-34 at the Home of England Rugby to complete a double, with England’s Jamie George crossing twice.
JULY
![KITAKYUSHU, JAPAN - APRIL 21: PLayers of England celebrate after the Cup semifinal match between England and France on day two of the HSBC Women's Rugby Sevens Kitakyushu at Mikuni World Stadium on April 21, 2019 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/78c3875e-81b4-482f-be8b-06ddd748175a/web/37345d4d-b3df-4758-a133-19371fd04ba8.jpg)
In the sevens qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, England were the nominated nation from Great Britain and both teams progressed as the men beat France 31-7 in Colomiers, while the women beat Russia 19-0 in Kazan.
AUGUST
![LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Manu Tuilagi of England celebrates with his team mates Joe Cokanasiga and Tom Curry after scoring his team's third try during the 2019 Quilter International between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on August 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/49d0a8fc-dac1-4288-a15d-34142d310313/web/bf5568e4-6594-4832-b141-562903a1399e.jpg)
England’s preparations for the Rugby World Cup in Japan continued with Quilter International wins against Wales and Ireland at Twickenham, and a narrow loss to the Welsh in Cardiff.
SEPTEMBER
![NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: General view inside the stadium as players and officials line up prior to the 2019 Quilter International match between England and Italy at St James' Park on September 06, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/f958cfd4-bcaf-40fc-87ee-b9c76a401179/web/england_vs_italy_rugby_match_newcastle_united.png)
England took a home Test match away from Twickenham as they faced Italy in their final Quilter International to St James’ Park in Newcastle where on a Friday night they put in an impressive performance to win 37-0.
Eddie Jones’ squad flew out to Japan begin their Rugby World Cup where they began the competition with wins against Tonga (35-3) and USA (45-7).
OCTOBER
![YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 26: England players look on while New Zealand players perform a haka during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Semi-Final match between England and New Zealand at International Stadium Yokohama on October 26, 2019 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/ce069275-a2eb-4593-9815-b0c177bfae18/web/rugby_teams_faceoff.jpg)
In their final Pool C games in Japan, England beat Argentina 39-10 aided by a red card for the Pumas before their final group match against France was cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis, but they still topped the group.
In Oita, two Jonny May tries helped England overcome Australia 40-16 before one of the most memorable ever performances saw Owen Farrell’s side knock out the world champions and number one ranked side in the world New Zealand with a 19-7 win.
NOVEMBER
In the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Yokohama, England could not live with South Africa on the day as the Springboks claimed their third world title with a 32-12 victory.
In the Red Roses autumn Quilter Internationals they made it three wins from three with back-to-back wins over France away and at home, before a resounding victory over Italy.
DECEMBER
![CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 14: Will Muir and Dan Norton of England during day 2 of the 2019 HSBC Cape Town Sevens men's match 12, Pool C England and Spain at Cape Town Stadium on December 14, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)](https://rfu.widen.net/content/f59654a6-7cdc-4c1e-a3f0-cf54249154bf/web/eb0d0a52-e9a4-4071-a181-a7269933544d.jpg)
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series saw the first double header of the season and England’s men and women competed in Dubai, where the men’s side secured bronze, before a historic first double header in Cape Town where women competed for the first time.