Make it eight straight for the Red Roses, crowned again in Bordeaux after overcoming France in the pair’s latest Women’s Six Nations grand slam showdown. If one craves consistency in a competition, then this tournament is as reliable as any – the unbeaten duopoly that rule over this meeting progressing unbeaten until its final weekend and then English hands hoisting the trophy aloft.
So it has proved for each of the last six years as the world champions have grown into one the most dominant sports teams in history, but there was every reason for this year to be different. We have marvelled in the past at England’s remarkable depth yet in 2026 it was truly required, with an absentee list that would have left any other nation in rack and ruin. John Mitchell, their straight-talking head coach, has had to do some tough calculations to even work out just how many players he has been missing in this tournament, with four pregnancies adding to an unenviable injury list. The Red Roses have been forced to field two starting locks who had never previously played the position in their senior careers; a 19-year-old in Demelza Short with just eight appearances to Bristol for her name; handed the job of lineout calling to Delaney Burns, not originally named in the squad; and brought back Liz Crake, a dentist/loosehead who had not played for her country for more than three years.
It has not mattered – which speaks to England’s superiority, which is both cause for celebration and concern. This latest Women’s Six Nations success might be their finest yet; the World Cup win had a sense of deep fulfilment, but this was arguably just as impressive. The hard work, and hard cash, thrown into Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) is now paying dividends with a group of Test-ready players growing larger and larger. Their 43-28 win in Bordeaux was an excellent performance having been rocked by a fast French start, showcasing the all-court game that has developed and is required on the rare occasions they don’t have collision dominance.
But one might have anticipated England being tested slightly more regularly than now. It took until France, again, for Mitchell’s side to really be put under any kind of sustained pressure – Ireland will rue a rough first half when a clunky, clumsy Red Roses might have been there for the taking. Yet the other three sides just didn’t have enough to consistently challenge even a makeshift pack. There is mitigation in the fact that they, too, had injuries: top coaches have speculated privately and publicly that all players are feeling the impact of an extended season that began, for England, when they came into World Cup camp last June. There are still the latter stages of the PWR to complete, too, before there is finally a concerted period of rest and recuperation.
We must wait, though, to see the gaps close. The hope is that England have shown the way and will drag others along with them; record crowds across Europe show that one-sided fixtures are not necessarily an inhibitor to growth on that front. It is encouraging that PWR are open to expressions of interest from each of the other Home Nations, who have all indicated a willingness to explore entering a side – that could serve each well, building cohesion and connections in a competition that serves as the sport’s best talent incubator. Within that may be a chance for Mitchell to get what he wants, too – the New Zealander is on record in desiring that more English players are utilised across the league, which could occur if Welsh, Scottish or Irish players concentrate into one club.
Equally, a look down at the age groups paints an altogether different picture. It is, generally, France who are dominant at U18 level, with senior figures within the Red Roses set-up remarking how much further along they were physically to the budding England internationals. A 71-17 thrashing of England by France at U21 level last weekend was more evidence of the talent coming through, and overdue improvements to Elite 1 Feminine, the French top flight, will make a difference in the future.
For now, though, England reign supreme. “How many wins in a row are they on?” Francois Ratier, the France head coach, joked ahead of the decider. “40? 150? 2,000? I’ve lost count.” The answer is 37, Francois, and 99 of their last 103 matches – no wonder you are struggling.
