IFAF World Flag 2025 Nation Profile: Great Britain
If Europe is to produce an IFAF women’s world champion for the first time in twenty years, Great Britain is among the leading contenders to claim the crown this summer in Düsseldorf.
The back-to-back continental champions celebrated victories over Spain in 2023 and Austria in overtime in 2025 to climb to third place in the 2025 IFAF World Rankings. A seventh-place finish at the 2024 IFAF World Championships and fifth overall at The World Games last year might not have quite lived up to expectations, but this is a team that can challenge on the world stage.
Qualification for the LA28 Olympic Games is of course the ultimate target but Great Britain hope they have the talent and the momentum to push for a medal and become only the fifth European nation to claim a podium finish.
Head coach Jack Reed has a quarterback battle on his hands, with Brittany Botterill, who led the Lionesses to gold in 2023 returning from having had a baby to compete for the starting spot in Germany with Jess Allen, who was under center for the 2025 triumph.
Great Britain’s men rebounded from finishing tenth at the world championships two years ago to emerge as something of a surprise package at Euro Flag 2025 where they finished second in group play to eventual finalist Austria. Having beaten Denmark to reach the semifinals GB suffered a loss to Italy, who went on to win the championship, and finished fourth overall after close bronze medal game defeat to host France.
The men are among a large group of nations who look to displace five-time champion the United States, who have been champions since Austria, the last European winner, triumphed in 2012.
In Opposition in Düsseldorf
Great Britain’s women can point to the fact they beat all three of their Group C opponents in competition 2025, though those successes will no doubt cause Austria, France and China to seek revenge at the next possible opportunity.
Austria beat Great Britain at The World Games but was defeated in overtime at Euro Flag 2025. After a 27-27 regulation time tie, GB went ahead by seven points then Austria scored a touchdown in reply. Rather than level the contest, Austria went for two potential game-winning points but were denied by Marta Mathews.
China was beaten 34-13 as Great Britain took fifth place at The World Games, while France fell in the semifinals of Euro Flag 2025 to a Grace Conway touchdown with less than a minute remaining and Emily Kemp tagged on a two-point conversion to decide a close game 27-21.
The men have an opportunity to take revenge against the two teams that denied them a medal at Euro Flag 2025, France and Italy who beat them in the third-place game and semifinals respectively. France also knocked Great Britain out of the playoffs at the 2024 IFAF World Championships in Finland in an agonizing 37-36 defeat.
Panama, the fourth ranked team from the Americas complete the opposition for GB’s men who as the 12th ranked team in the world will look to upset Italy (4th) and France (5th) to advance to the knockout stages in Düsseldorf.
Players to Watch
Women: Jochebed Frimpong, rusher
Men: David McInally, defensive back
IFAF World Championships Pedigree
Great Britain will bid to compete for a medal for the first time on the world stage. Two years ago in Finland the women failed to build on their European title and finished seventh, while the men came in tenth overall. They were unable to enter the 2021 tournament due to concerns regarding the Covid pandemic.
The Coaches
Great Britain women’s head coach Jack Reed served as offensive coordinator at the 2023 IFAF continental championships as the team won the European crown, then lead his team to a repeat performance at Euro Flag 2025. He also guided the fortunes of GB at The World Games in 2025.
Reed is no stranger to the IFAF community having been IFAF Development Manager and USA Football’s Manager of International Programs between 2007 and 2013. His flag football successes range from founding a youth league in his native Leominster, Massachusetts, and guiding teams to multiple regional, national and NFL Flag championships, to coaching Panama’s women to a bronze medal at The World Games in 2022.
Great Britain men’s head coach Nick Keyse has been coaching American football (tackle and flag) in the UK for nearly 20 years. He was head coach of the Swansea University tackle team for five years, winning two national trophies, and has played and coached primarily for the Cardiff Hurricanes, winning two national championships. He became Great Britain’s offensive coordinator in 2022 and was appointed head coach in February of 2025, guiding the lions to medal contention at Euro Flag that year.
In Preparation
Both teams are holding monthly camps during the buildup to August’s championships and taking part in tournaments in Europe to sharpen their competitive edge.
The women wrapped up a camp this past weekend of March 28-29 with 27 players in attendance as coach Jack Reed aims to select his 12-player squad by the end of April.
This article first appeared on the IFAF website.
