Hannah's journey to 50 caps
Red Roses prop Hannah Botterman will make her 50th appearance for her country when she takes to the field against the Black Ferns in WXV 1 on Sunday, this is how she got there.
Hannah made her England debut at the age of just 18, coming on as a replacement in the first game of a three match series against Canada, helping to see out a convincing 79-5 win in 2017.
The following week, she once again came off the bench, but this time got herself on the scoresheet by latching on to the back of a rolling maul and powering over for her first international try.
In 2018, she played against the USA, Canada and Ireland as part of the autumn internationals, and made her first international start in the 27-19 win over Canada.
A few months later, Hannah started for the Red Roses in their Women’s Six Nations opener against Ireland, which they won 51-7. She followed that up with a try in the 41-26 victory over France, showing great strength to drive over the line.
England won every game of the tournament and Hannah played in every game as they reclaimed the Guinness Six Nations title.
During the 2019 Summer Internationals, she played in the 38-5 win over the USA and helped to launch a comeback from 12-0 down against Canada by contributing to a dominant scrum that forced a penalty try.
The power that epitomises Hannah’s style of play has led to her scoring tries in various Six Nations-winning campaigns: against Wales in 2020 and 2023, and Ireland in 2022.
In 2021 she played both of the record-beating games against the Black Ferns, starting in the 43-12 win and as a replacement in the 56-15 victory.
The following year she had an instant impact off the bench in the Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture against Wales. She received an offload 30 metres out and juggled the ball, before playing in Helena Rowland for her hattrick try. Hannah also then added a try of her own, again showing her strength to force her way over the line in the 73-7 victory.
At the World Cup in New Zealand, she played in every game until a knee injury put an end to her campaign after the quarter-final win against Australia.
She returned for the 2023 Six Nations and helped the Red Roses to another Grand Slam title, playing 50 minutes against France in the title decider.
At the inaugural WXV 1, Hannah started in England’s opening fixture against Australia and scored a trademark try, making her the Red Roses’ first WXV try scorer.
Over the course of the tournament, she came off the bench in the 45-12 win over Canada and the 33-12 win over Sunday’s opponents, New Zealand, as the Red Roses lifted the WXV 1 trophy.
Hannah started every game of the 2024 Women’s Six Nations and scored against Wales and Italy as the team again retained their crown.
Since making her debut, Hannah has gone on to win multiple Six Nations Grand Slams, a World Cup silver medal and WXV 1 by the age of 25. She will be looking to back up the WXV trophy by winning it again, before the Red Roses start their 2025 Six Nations campaign and turn their attention to the Rugby World Cup.
