When is the Women’s Six Nations? Full fixtures and what to expect from each team
The Women’s Six Nations returns for its 23rd edition this weekend.
The Red Roses seek out their sixth consecutive title under new coach John Mitchell, while approaching their first Six Nations for a while without England’s most capped player and former captain Sarah Hunter.
i gives a rundown of the key talking points surrounding each team as France vie to knock England off their throne and Wales, Scotland and Ireland hope to climb the rankings.
England
The Red Roses have been the competition’s dominant force, winning five consecutive titles since claiming the Grand Slam in 2019, which they also did in 2022 and 2023. Last year included a 68-5 mauling of Italy and they enter this campaign as firm favourites.
Despite their exemplary track record, the title-defenders are navigating a few changes this time around. The retirement of Hunter during last year’s Six Nations freshens up the back row.
New Zealander Mitchell, formerly All Blacks coach and an assistant to Eddie Jones with the England men’s team, joined the squad during their victorious WXV 1 campaign last autumn and is said to be spearheading a “new England style” centred on quick play. If they can put this into practice under pressure England will be hard to beat. Captain and current World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year Marlie Packer also provides continuity for the pack, having led the team full-time since Hunter stepped away, and will win her 100th cap in England’s opening match against Italy tomorrow.
Ireland
Unlike their male counterparts, who have just lifted the 2024 men’s Six Nations trophy for the second successive year, Ireland’s women ended last year’s tournament bottom of the table.
Despite being Grand Slam winners in 2013 and Triple Crown winners in 2015, the current side are yet to prove they are worthy of higher finishes having “won” the wooden spoon last year with a points difference of -167.
The team will be under new leadership with Scott Bemand – the former Leicester and Bath scrum-half and Red Roses assistant coach – the new head coach for the Irish.
This could be a timely refresh as the team has shown reason for optimism, winning the 2024 Celtic Challenge against Scottish and Welsh opposition last month.
France
France were the last nation to take home the Six Nations trophy before it fell firmly into England’s grasp in 2018. They will be back with a vengeance after a poor first half performance during their clash with England last year left them trailing 33-0 at half-time – a points deficit too great to overcome despite pulling the deficit back to 38-33.
This comeback should fuel French ferocity this time out and the return of sevens player Caroline Drouin – the fast-footed fly-half and clinical kicker – will further bolster morale.
Currently ranked third in the world, Les Bleues will likely be England’s closest rivals for the title and kick off against Ireland in Le Mans today. The ultimate test will not be of their skill, but concentration for the full 80 minutes if they are to cause problems for the defending champions.
Wales
A respectable third place finish for Wales last year, a repeat of 2022, could be just the beginning for a side that now has 30 players on full-time contracts.
But will the Welsh Rugby Union reap the benefits of their investment at this year’s tournament?
With seasoned campaigners Sioned Harries and Elinor Snowsill recently retired, it could be a question of perfect timing for Wales as youngsters ready themselves to step up to the mark. The 24-year-old Lleucu George will step in at fly-half alongside 20-year-old prop Sisilia Tuipulotu.
A total of seven uncapped players feature in the squad of head coach Ioan Cunningham, who told BBC Sport Wales there is a “different feel in the group this year”.
While another third place finish would secure Wales a place in the top tier of WXV, closing the gap between front-runners England and France would be a significant marker of success.
Scotland
Scotland could be this year’s favourite underdogs.
They have been steadily climbing the ranks having finished fourth last year in their best Six Nations performance in six years before going on to claim the WXV2 title last autumn. The momentum and promising results have come at the right time.
One-upping their two wins from last year will be no small task, but experienced Premiership players in the form of Elliann Clarke, Lisa Cockburn and Christine Belisle offer important depth given star No 8 Jade Konkel-Roberts has been ruled out through injury.
Vice-captain Helen Nelson will also act as the ideal pivot point between the more experienced players and the seven uncapped players selected by head coach Bryan Easson.
Scotland kick off their campaign against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park. The clash of two sides on a slow but upwards trajectory promises to be a highlight of the first round.
Italy
With back-to-back fifth place finishes, Italy sit in a rugby no man’s land.
They finished well out of sixth-placed Ireland’s reach in 2023 but fell short of causing much concern for Scotland who sat in fourth. They have been lacking the flair they showed in 2019 to claim a shock win over France.
Despite this the number of players featuring in the women’s Premiership since then might nod to a talent pool that other nations would be wise not to underestimate.
Silvia Turani, Beatrice Rigoni, Sara Seye and Sara Tounesi have all been fine-tuning their skillset in the English Premiership Women’s Rugby and will likely be the ones to watch for Le Azzurre.
The return of captain Elisa Giordano – who missed the 2023 tournament through injury – should reignite hopes of an improved campaign for the Italians this time around.
2024 Women’s Six Nations fixtures
(All times GMT)
Round one
- Sat 23 March, France vs Ireland, 2.15pm
- Sat 23 March, Wales vs Scotland, 4.45pm
- Sun 24 March, Italy vs England, 3pm
Round two
- Sat 30 March, Scotland vs Wales, 2.15pm
- Sat 30 March, England vs Wales, 4.45pm
- Sun 31 March, Ireland vs Italy, 3pm
Round three
- Sat 13 April, Scotland vs England, 2.15pm
- Sat 13 April, Ireland vs Wales, 4.45pm
- Sun 14 April, France vs Italy, 12.30pm
Round four
- Sat 20 April, England vs Ireland, 2.15pm
- Sat 20 April, Italy vs Scotland, 4.45pm
- Sun 21 April, Wales vs France, 3.15pm
Round five – Super Saturday
- Sat 27 April, Wales vs Italy, 12.15pm
- Sat 27 April, Ireland vs Scotland, 2.30pm
- Sat 27 April, France vs England, 4.45pm
