England retain Women's Six Nations title with dramatic victory over France

England have secured their eighth successive Women's Six Nations title and fourth consecutive Grand Slam with a nail-biting 43-42 victory over France in the tournament final. The match, played in May 2026, concluded with England clinching the championship through bonus points, maintaining their status as the dominant force in the competition. This triumph marks the first time the Red Roses have completed an unbeaten campaign since 2018, extending their winning run to 36 matches.

The tournament, which concluded in May, was characterised by record-breaking attendances across all venues. A notable highlight occurred on 11 April when England defeated Ireland 33-12 at Allianz Stadium, drawing a crowd of 77,120 to set a new record for the event. Further crowds of 30,498 and 26,247 were recorded at Murrayfield and Ashton Gate respectively, underscoring the growing profile of women's rugby in the region.

England captain Zoe Stratford led the team while pregnant with her first child, a detail that drew significant attention throughout the competition. Centre Meg Jones stepped up to lead the side on the field during this period, ensuring continuity for the squad that had already secured the World Cup in September. The team's performance remained consistent, with England scoring 12 tries in a dominant 84-7 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield earlier in the campaign.

In the final standings, France finished second, having secured four wins but trailing England on points difference. Ireland claimed third place after a 26-19 loss to Scotland, earning a losing bonus point in the process. Italy finished fourth following a 41-14 victory over Scotland in their first home match, while Scotland completed the table with a fifth-place finish after a 24-19 win against Wales.

Wales concluded the tournament at the bottom of the table for the second consecutive year, losing all five of their matches for the first time in their history. The team, coached by Sean Lynn, suffered defeats to Scotland, France, England, and Italy, with their only narrow loss coming against Ireland. Despite the historic defeat, the team's efforts were noted by observers who praised their spirit against the world's best sides.

BBC Sport provided comprehensive free-to-air coverage of the championship across television, radio, and online platforms. The broadcaster featured live text coverage, clips, and pundit analysis, with England's World Cup captain Stratford joining their team of experts. This extensive coverage highlighted the tournament's structure, including the points system where teams earn four points for a win and two for a draw, alongside bonus points for high try counts or narrow defeats.