{"id":208288,"date":"2025-12-30T11:48:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/208288\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T11:48:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T11:48:10","slug":"former-all-blacks-coach-named-in-uk-honours-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/208288\/","title":{"rendered":"Former All Blacks coach named in UK honours"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"England's<\/p>\n

\nEngland’s Head Coach John Mitchell celebrates after the women’s Rugby World Cup final victory, 2025.
\nPhoto: \u00a9INPHO\/Billy Stickland \/ PHOTOSPORT\n<\/p>\n

Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell has been recognised in the British New Years Honours<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mitchell has been appointed an OBE for services to rugby after guiding England to the women’s Rugby World Cup title<\/a> this year.<\/p>\n

He coached the All Blacks between 2001 and 2003 and has been England women’s coach since 2023.<\/p>\n

Mitchell said: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this recognition, but I want to be clear that it reflects the work of the Red Roses World Cup-winning squad and the outstanding staff around them.<\/p>\n

“That campaign was built on collective effort – starting from the leaders making it real with players who set the standards every day, coaches and performance staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and a wider RFU support team whose contribution often goes unseen but is absolutely vital. It was a privilege to be part of such a committed, driven and united group.<\/p>\n

“I am grateful to the players for their trust and professionalism, and to the staff for their expertise, honesty and relentless work ethic throughout the path to victory.<\/p>\n

“I would also like to thank my family, especially my wife, Jules, as well as my friends for their support during an intense period that demanded a great deal from everyone involved. I accept this honour on behalf of the entire Red Roses World Cup squad and staff, and with sincere thanks to all who played a part.”<\/p>\n

Captain Zoe Stratford (formerly Aldcroft), was also appointed an OBE, while vice-captains Marlie Packer and Megan Jones are appointed an OBE and MBE respectively, with Sadia Kabeya and Ellie Kildunne both becoming MBEs.<\/p>\n

Ice skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who won gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics, have received a damehood and knighthood respectively.<\/p>\n

England women’s football manager Sarina Wiegman has been made an honorary dame as she is Dutch.<\/p>\n

She led England to successive European Championship titles in 2022 and 2025.<\/p>\n

Several members of the Lionesses squad are also recognised, including captain Leah Williamson who is appointed a CBE.<\/p>\n

Welsh rugby great Jonathon Davies was awarded a CBE for his charity work.<\/p>\n

Former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe becomes an OBE for services to sport.<\/p>\n

Other honorees included actor Idris Elba and others<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"England’s Head Coach John Mitchell celebrates after the women’s Rugby World Cup final victory, 2025. Photo: \u00a9INPHO\/Billy Stickland…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":208289,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[48,47,42,43,49,46,44,45,40,38,41,39],"class_list":{"0":"post-208288","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-audio","9":"tag-current-affairs","10":"tag-headlines","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-podcasts","13":"tag-public-radio","14":"tag-radio-new-zealand","15":"tag-rnz","16":"tag-top-news","17":"tag-top-stories","18":"tag-topnews","19":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=208288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208288\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/208289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=208288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=208288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=208288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}