international women
Red Roses record goalscorer Sue Day is among the final five inductees into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
During a 10-year career with the Red Roses, Day scored 61 tries for England, including 19 in three Women’s Rugby World Cups. The score was only bettered by Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
She also captained the Red Roses in one of the three women’s teams Six Nations titles she has sought throughout her career. Since retiring, Day has been named the first female president Wasps FC and as a partner in her accounting firm.
Appointed as the RFU’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer in 2017, Day helped the union secure women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and establish a Women’s Rugby Premiership. In 2020, she was appointed an MBE for services to gender equality in sport. From 2024, Day is the Director of Women’s Football at the Football Association.
Day joins Joel Staransky and Zinzan Brooke as the latest inductees into the Hall of Fame. She was named next to Women’s Rugby World Cup the winner and USA Female Eagles legend Jen Crawford.
Crawford, who helped the USA win the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991, will be inducted alongside Day at WXV Global Series 2026 match between USA and England on Friday, October 30 in New York.
A day later, three-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Rochelle Martin will be inducted into the Hall of Fame ahead of the Black Ferns’ Test against France as part of the WXV Global Series.
Men’s internationals Abdelatif Benazzi (France) and Diego Dominguez (Italy) will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the coming months. Benazzi, who won 78 caps for France over 11 years, will be inducted at the World Rugby Council dinner on November 17. Dominguez, who represented both Argentina and Italy over 14 years of Test career, will be admitted to one of Italy’s Six Nations games against France or Wales.
World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson said: “On behalf of the global rugby family, I would like to congratulate Jen, Sue, Rochelle, Diego and Abdel on their well-deserved inductions into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, joining Joel and Zinzan in bringing our Class of 2026 to seven members.
“Each of them left their mark on our sport, not just on the field but off it. Jen was a pioneer of women’s rugby in the USA, Sue remains the Red Roses’ record holder and Rochelle won three Women’s Rugby World Cups.”
“I actually made my Test debut for Australia against the Italian side with Diego, who would later become a talisman for the Azzurri. Abdel continues to be a driving force in the game, just as he has been on the pitch, as a member of the World Rugby Council and stalwart chairman of the Men’s High Performance Committee.”
John Eales, Chairman of the Hall of Fame Panel and Hall of Famer, said: “This year’s inductees represent the best of our sport with outstanding talent accompanied by humility, leadership and an unwavering commitment to the values of rugby.
“From the World Cup-winning moments etched in history to the quiet, tireless work so many have done to grow and champion the game long after their playing days, each of them shaped rugby for the better. On behalf of the Hall of Fame, I warmly welcome them into the fold.”
