Red Roses secure eighth successive Women's Six Nations title with 43-28 France win

England’s Red Roses wrapped up their eighth Guinness Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam in a row with a 43-28 win over France in Bordeaux.

For all of this year’s tournament, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 champions have been doubted. John Mitchell’s lengthy list of unavailable and injured players, and worst-ever defence at a Championship left plenty questioning their title credentials.

Instead, at the Grand Slam decider at the Stade Atlantique Stadium, England got the job done. They have won five Grand Slams in a row. France enjoyed their own bright moments. Enough to suggest that maybe François Ratier’s team are not so far behind the world champions.

The hosts saw Pauline Bourdon Sansus score a brace, young wing Anaïs Grando dotted down once and Rose Bernadou brought a close to proceedings with a close-range drive to the whitewash.

England, meanwhile, had both Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach score two tries apiece. There was even a try for Sarah Bern and a Zoe Harrison penalty as the Red Roses proved, yet again, that they are the team to beat. Beyond any doubt.

It was an ugly start to the contest for England. They seemed almost overwhelmed by the Gallic atmosphere built around the steep Stade Atlantique steps.

A flurry of penalties, which included several offsides, were compounded by a piece of French brilliance to start the scoring. And it was just about as joué as it gets.

As Mackenzie Carson was stripped off the ball in contact, Ambre Mwayembre flipped the ball on in her own five metre channel and France had their backs up. Léa Murie charged up the left wing, left Sadie Kabeya planted on the turf having missed a tackle. An inside pass landed in the hands of Léa Champon, another in those of Pauline Bourdon Sansus to sidle over the whitewash and get the home fans roaring.

England looked perplexed. It is not the kind of thing that has happened to the Red Roses in recent memory. Both teams got their hands on the ball, but it proved to be England’s disruption at the lineout that regularly provided the world champions with opportunity to respond.

When another Mathilde Lazarko dart missed its mark England went into the French 22m. It was the very first time that the visitors had made the hosts sweat. Soon enough the phases built short of the whitewash until Sarah Bern scored her fifth try of the Championship and Zoe Harrison’s ice-cool kicking drew the score level.

Both teams made their objectives clear with their actions. Possession changed hands regularly. Whether the ball was stripped in the tackle, mishandled in midfield or exchanged in the kicking game, there was certainly never a dull moment.

This was exactly the case as the usually slick passing of Carla Arbez did not find Madoussou Fall Raclot. The Red Roses pounced. Moloney-MacDonald hacked the ball forward once, Meg Jones a second time, and the ball bounced into the hands of Ellie Kildunne who streaked clear of three defenders to place the ball down behind the posts.

Just six minutes later England were over the whitewash again. Jess Breach was the scorer this time, the veteran wing recalled to the starting XV for her extensive experience, and a scrum in France’s 22m provided an opportunity on the right wing for the 28-year-old.

A superb kick from Harrison piled pressure onto France as half-time approached. When Arbez’s clearance kick failed to find real distance Jones took the lineout quickly and white shirts ploughed towards the try line. Hard carries continued to make inroads. French width began to shrink. When England pulled the trigger the ball was spread wide to help Kildunne to a second try of the afternoon.

England wanted to consolidate things after the break. At the first possible opportunity the Red Roses pointed to the posts for a tackle off the ball and Harrison scored England’s first penalty of this year’s Championship.

Some 12 minutes and four France replacements later Les Bleues had a response. It was a comprehensive one. The first came as Anaïs Grando latched onto a pass out wide and the second was a piece of Bourdon Sansus art when the 30-year-old went alone from a close-range scrum.

Just as English hearts began to flutter John Mitchell’s team were able to reassert dominance. Breach again came to the rescue just moments after Maddie Feaunati’s treatment for a leg injury provided a breather and a reset. When play resumed at an England scrum the ball flew wide and Kildunne provided the final pass for her wing teammate to score.

France’s desperation became almost too much. So desperate to end their Women’s Six Nations duck their defence became wild and Alexandra Chambon had a yellow card flashed her way by referee Clara Munarini for a high tackle on Moloney-MacDonald.

To put the contest beyond any doubt Amy Cokayne twisted her way across in the corner and celebrated enough to match her, and her team’s, achievement. It also meant that when Rose Bernadou dotted down with the clock in the red, no one in an England jersey was bothered. The job was done.