England

Colours: White
Honours: World Champions (2003), Six Nations Grand Slam (2003), Five Nations Grand Slam (1913, 1914, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1928, 1957, 1980, 1991, 1992 & 1995), World Cup runners-up (1991).

Coach: Former Bath stalwart Andy Robinson was Sir Clive Woodward's right-hand man during England's long run-up to the Rugby World Cup 2003. Himself a former international, Robinson was the obvious choice to take on the job when Sir Clive left his well-oiled England rugby machine behind.

Captain: Leicester Tigers star Martin Corry took over by default in November 2005 after long-term injury had kept Jonny Wilkinson out of the international game for more than two years, and Jason Robinson retired from international rugby in October 2005. Corry, a rumbustious runner with a calm character has grown into the role seamlessly, and has led the team out of its post-World Cup trough.

Player to watch: In the Six Nations tournament of 2006, Much of England's hope rests on the pace and scoring rate of the prolific wing Mark Cueto, whose tries helped England to victory several times in 2005, and have helped his team, Sale Sharks, to the top of the domestic table.

Profile: Traditional under-achievers on the international scene despite vast playing resources, England underwent something of a revolution in the late 1980s and were the northern hemisphere side to break the south's rugby hegemony after winning the Rugby World Cup in 2003, having moved to No.1 in the world rankings in the course of 2002.

Up until that period, England's glories had been few and far between, with great successes often followed immediately by failure. But the tenure of Geoff Cooke as England manager between 1988 and 1994 saw a period of sustained success for England, with structures put in place to enable the national team to finally fight its weight on the world stage.

Not that it has been plain-sailing all the way in recent years with the fabled Grand Slam slipping through England's fingers during the Five/Six Nations championships in 1999, 2000 and 2001 and their Rugby World Cup campaign in 1999 coming off the rails in spectacular style at the quarter-final stage when they were roundly beaten by South Africa in Paris.

Since the 2003 World Cup triumph, many of the players who led England to the pinnacle of the game have retired, including inspirational captain Martin Johnson.

Currently under the guidance of RWC-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward's right-hand man Andy Robinson, England are in a transitional phase, but are still up with the best in the world, and there were signs in November 2005 that they are beginning to prosper again.