England rugby team (Image: Getty)
The new-look England rugby side started their Six Nations campaign in 2025 with a 27-22 loss to Ireland and a spectacular 26-25 victory over Antoine Dupont’s France.
Since then, all teams have taken a break as there are no games scheduled this weekend as a part of the Six Nations’ fallow or rest week. England will face off against Scotland in next weekend’s clash on Saturday.
During the break, former Red Roses stars and current Leicester Tigers team-mates Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, who are also co-hosts of the popular rugby podcast “For the Love of Rugby” were asked by a fan about England’s biggest rival in rugby. Both Cole and Youngs unanimously agreed on Wales and Australia as the two teams.
A fan asked: “Everyone hates the English but which nations would you consider England’s biggest rugby rival?”
Cole, who was left out of England’ Six Nations squad, was quick to pick Wales as England’s biggest rival in rugby. He stated: “I would say Wales as number one, in our careers. I think England has been good for the last 10-15 years and Wales have also been very successful. Having played in the Principality or Millenium [stadium], you see the passion of the Welsh fans and their rivalry.”
Recalling the matches against Scotland and Ireland, the prop noted that the Scots weren’t a prominent rival back then but they turned the tables around during their 25-13 drubbing over England in 2018. On the other hand, he noted that the games against the Irish have been one-sided in recent years with the Men in Green having a 5-3 edge in meetings since 2020.
Cole added: “I think in our careers, Scotland wasn’t [a rival] in the early part of our careers. It wasn’t until 2018 when we lost and got hammered in Murrayfield. Since then, it has really ignited. Again Ireland, I think it has been a bit of one-sided rivalry in recent years.”
The Leicester prop further noted that Australia is another team that he would consider as the second-biggest game, in a rivalry that has continued from the iconic Ashes series in cricket. Cole said: “I would say Wales and then probably Australia in some regards. I don’t think we have had a rivalry with South Africa but they’ve been really good. I think New Zealand has been pretty good too but the England-Australia rivalry gets the juices flowing across sports, doesn’t it?
“Historically or at least from our careers, I would say Wales and Australia [rivalries] are sort of the most passionate and balanced games, so they’ve probably been up there intensity wise.”
His co-host, Youngs, who plays as a scrum-half for the Tigers in the English Premiership agreed with his team-mate, but also included France in his list of rivals. The rugby games involving the French and the English have been traditionally nicknamed as “Le-Crunch” where the former have a 3-2 advantage in the last five games.
Youngs said: “I agree, in terms of Wales, there was a huge rivalry – I loved that fixture. I loved the Le Crunch as well, against France.” He also noted that the rivalry against Australia spread across different sports, making it extra special. “Australian rivalry in all sports is mega but you always sensed that no matter who you were playing against, they didn’t like the English but we don’t have the level I guess, against every team.”
Cole highlighted the fact that England never have an easy way around in rugby as they are hated by every other team. “Think it is probably why when we look at the Championships and Grand Slams that England has won. They have to do it the hard way and go out and beat everybody – no one is rolling over for England.
“In the past, Celtic nations have kind of helped each other – they play awesome against England one week, and the next week, they are c***. One of the best things about being English is that everyone hates us and you have to be your best at all times or you get stuffed.”
England will have to wait until March 15 before they can face off against Wales, which will be the round 5 of the Six Nations games. The Welsh are currently enduring a torrid run of form with 14 consecutive defeats which led to the sacking of their manager Warren Gatland recently.