Advertisement
England became just the third nation on Saturday to reach 450 Test wins following their Argentina triumph.
The Red Rose joined New Zealand (500) and France (460) in the 450 club as no other men’s Tier 1 side, such as South Africa, Australia, Wales, Ireland, or Scotland, has achieved this level to date.
Since losing the first ever rugby international to Scotland in Edinburgh in front of a crowd of 4,000, the national team has evolved, most notably in World Cups, with their maiden triumph in 2003, as well as being three-time runners-up.
England picked up their first Test win at the Oval in London in February 1872 courtesy of a goal, a drop goal, and two tries to Scotland's solitary drop goal. You may be thinking, what on earth is a rugby goal, but the early matches did not use a structured points system until after 1890 and until 1875, international rugby matches were decided by the number of goals scored (conversions and dropped goals).
In 1880, England became winners of the Calcutta Cup for the first time, a trophy they've been serial winners of 83 times. While their first match against fierce rivals Wales was in February 1881 when England recorded their then record victory, winning by seven goals, six tries, and one drop goal to nil, and scoring 13 tries in the process.
First Test Win: 1872 vs Scotland
300th Test Win: 2003 vs South Africa
400th Test Win: 2017 vs Wales
450th Test Win: July 2025 vs Argentina
Notable achievements:
England's Five Nations amateur era between 1940-99 proved a tricky one in the Six Nations, picking up only five titles but since the tournament was increased to six in 2000, the Red Rose have won seven Championships, combined with a fine touring record in Australia, alongside stellar World Cup performances since the showpiece tournaments inception in 1987.
1991 Five Nations Grand Slam: A dominant season under captain Will Carling.
2003 World Cup: Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal proved the difference maker in extra time, securing England's and the Northern Hemisphere’s first and only World Cup.
2016 Grand Slam: Under Eddie Jones, England went unbeaten in the Six Nations to cap a formidable 18-match Test win streak.
Test series victories:
Australia - 2016, 2022
Argentina - 1981, 2002, 2013, 2017
Japan - 1971, 1979
Fiji – 1973, 1989, 1991
United States – 2001
Canada – 2001
Romania – 1989
Ceylon – 1971
However, England have never won a series against South Africa or New Zealand, with Steve Borthwick's side falling to a 2-0 defeat against the latter last year.
Key players:
Martin Johnson – An inspirational World Cup-conquering captain, who is regarded as one of the game’s greatest leaders. Johnson bowed out from Test rugby in 2003 having led his nation to the highest honour to fittingly mark a stellar 84 cap career.
Jonny Wilkinson – The iconic fly-half whose boot defined a generation with a monumental drop goal to win the 2003 World Cup. Wilkinson is the only England player to win the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2003 since the awards' inception in 2001.
Owen Farrell - Love him or hate him, what you can't deny England's Marmite player is the fact he's the nations all-time points scorer (1237). A 48-time inspirational captain, Farrell is of the game's most deadeye goal kickers, second in the all-time international charts.
Rory Underwood - England's top try scorer with 49 touchdowns, including five scores against Fiji in 1989 and a hat-trick against Argentina in 1990, which capped a potent spell in the Red Rose between 1984-96.
Ben Youngs - Won more caps than any other men's player (127) as part of a fine 13-year Test career in which he dominated the famous No.9 jersey.