England rugby stars wildly celebrate dramatic Euro 2024 victory over the Netherlands... as Steve Borthwick reveals players have been singing Gareth Southgate's song on the bus to training!

England's rugby players sang 'football's coming home again' on their bus journey to training on Thursday after gathering early to watch Gareth Southgate's side earn a place in the Euros final.

The match against the Netherlands kicked off at 7am New Zealand time and there were raucous scenes of celebration in the Red Rose hotel when Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins scored the last-minute winner. England captain and Villa fan Jamie George said: 'We went nuts in the team room, nuts, it was unbelievable – I am a very proud Villain.

'Apparently, they were all watching our game on Saturday. Gareth Southgate texted Steve (Borthwick) to say they were watching us, which is quite cool; a great cross-over.' Borthwick's squad will be flying out of Auckland just as the final kicks off on Sunday night in Germany. 'We will be relying on the (plane) Wifi,' added George.

Borthwick revealed that his players had been singing football anthems on the bus journey to training and George said: 'Marcus (Smith) was in charge of the play list and he was putting on the classic football chants. 'Southgate you're the one' (football's coming home again), that was a popular one.

'That is the power of sport. How good is that? There is the joy the England football team are bringing us and hopefully we will be able to do that for a lot of people back home too. This month has been absolutely amazing with the Euros, Wimbledon and the cricket with Jimmy Anderson's last Test. There is so much to be excited about and we just hope we can keep that positive curve of English sport going.'

Head coach Borthwick was asked whether the success of the footballers has a tangible impact on his own team's preparations to face the All Blacks on Saturday and he said: 'It absolutely does. We've got so many football fans in the room, cricket fans seeing Jimmy Anderson's last Test for England this week as well. Guys are following that.

'Seeing the boys jumping and cheering when we scored this morning, it was brilliant to see. Seeing them sing the songs on the bus to training… they enjoyed it.'

Southgate has been a regular visitor to England's Surrey HQ over recent years and Borthwick confirmed that they are often in close contact. He offered an emphatic tribute, saying: 'I have enormous respect for him. He's been incredibly helpful and supportive to me, personally.

'With a group of coaches, we are on a WhatsApp group together, and he's very generous with his thoughts. He came and spoke to the team before the Rugby World Cup, and I went and met with him earlier on this year to pick his brain on a few things.

'I'm just delighted watching his team progress. There's always pressure on the England team – whether it's football, rugby, cricket. The way he clearly handles that, leads that group and gets the players to trust the process… now they're competing in the final this weekend.'