Inside a day with the Red Roses - the women’s rugby superstars taking the sport by storm

Inside the hallowed hallways of the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham lies a dressing room framed in red and white. To the untrained eye, it might seem like just another changing room, but don't be fooled. History is made here. 

Painted around the ceiling are words like "enjoyment," "discipline," and "sportsmanship," and I sit underneath those words with three women who embody those qualities to the fullest. They are Abi Burton, Maud Muir and Tatyana Heard - three of the Red Roses, England's national women's rugby team. 

Women's rugby is experiencing a meteoric rise in the UK, with the Red Roses at the helm. Their win at the final of the Women's Rugby World Cup against Canada in 2025 saw a staggering 81,885 people in attendance, the world record for any women's rugby union match, alongside a record-breaking UK television audience of 5.8 million. 

Both the team's official social channels and the individual players' accounts have grown exponentially. So what is it about this group of women that is taking the sport by storm? 

Excellent rugby plays a part, of course - the results speak for themselves there. But these women are as fierce off the pitch as they are on it. They are teachers, firefighters, mothers and more, and they're committed to breaking down the barriers that have long stood in the way of women in rugby. 

It's why they're here, in the overly warm away changing room at Twickenham, meeting starstruck young players from Sussex University who are supported by Clinique's GameFace campaign, the Official Beauty Partner of the Red Roses. The conversation moves through rugby and makeup with ease, everyone in the room united by a love of the sport and a commitment to changing attitudes. 

Abi Burton's Historic Comeback 

For Abi Burton, even being in this room is an incredible achievement. The 26-year-old gets visibly emotional as we talk over the last few years, something she later tells me is increasingly rare these days. A 2022 encephalitis diagnosis left Abi in an induced coma for three weeks, and when she woke she had to re-learn how to walk and talk. 

"I still thought that I was this big, strong professional rugby player when actually I wasn't anymore," Abi shares, adding that she simply "didn't know what my future was going to look like." 

© Will Cornelius Photography

But Abi worked hard to be back on the pitch, making her return less than a year later, and with a new perspective on life and her sport. "I'd come to the conclusion that it would be hard, but I'd be okay… I'm so much bigger than just a rugby player. I'm a daughter, I'm a sister, I'm someone's best friend. 

"But it's also, in turn, made me appreciate the milestones and the moments that I do get to do… There's something powerful in realising that you can have nothing anymore and then being able to come back from such adversity. 

"I feel unbreakable now." 

So, stepping out onto the field again, Abi isn't letting anything stand in her way, including the stereotypes and stigmas facing women's rugby players. In what has long been a male-dominated sport, she is letting her feminine side show. 

"I want to show my best self and that's what I'll do," Abi says. "If I'm going out, I'll put on a full face of makeup. If I'm going to play rugby, I'll put on a full face of makeup. And that's just me." 

Maud Muir: Grassroots to Glory 

When Maud Muir first picked up a rugby ball at the age of five, she was the only girl on her team at Oxford Harlequins. Growing up, she didn't even know women's professional rugby was a career option. Now, having won more than 50 caps for England, Maud admits that the increasing visibility of the Red Roses is "a lot of pressure", but adds that it's "amazing that people actually look up to you." 

© Will Cornelius Photography

She also feels that visibility is vital for breaking down barriers, with the players showing off intricate hairstyles and full faces of makeup while playing rugby on an international stage, even if she doesn't choose to wear makeup while playing herself: 

"I think that's a big thing, to show people you can put on a full face of makeup and play a game of rugby and no one's judging." 

Tatyana Heard: Doing It Scared

11-year-old Tatyana Heard just wanted to do whatever her brother was doing - and that included playing rugby. She never imagined she'd be playing in front of thousands of people, an experience she describes as "surreal", especially seeing young fans wearing Red Roses merchandise. 

The centre doesn't let that stop her, though, nor does she think fear or pressure should stop other female players. 

"I think that there's a real misconception that you have to be confident to be good or you have to be confident to enjoy yourself," she says. "Sometimes you just have to find people that make you feel like you're enough in those moments." 

© Will Cornelius Photography

It's clear Tatyana has found those people in her team. From having just one female teammate when she started playing to now being surrounded by a close-knit group of strong women, Tatyana is left with three telling words to describe her Red Roses experience: "courage, fun and authenticity." 

A Royal Seal of Approval 

Of course, we couldn't go without mentioning the Red Roses' most famous fan: The Princess of Wales. As the patron of the RFU, Princess Catherine visited the team following their thrilling victory over Australia last year, slipping effortlessly into the celebratory atmosphere. 

"She was so normal," Abi reveals, adding, "to have her as our patron, especially as a woman, it's amazing because she's a role model to the entire country." 

© Toby Shepheard / Kensington Palace

Tatyana was equally struck by the royal's relatable warmth. "She's very down to earth... She was speaking about her children and the sports that they do." 

One thing is clear from today: the Red Roses are only gaining momentum. They're doing it scared, doing it strong and, most importantly, doing it together.