Year after year, the Red Roses continue to write British rugby history. Yesterday, England Women defeated France in Bordeaux (43-28) to secure an eighth consecutive Women’s 6 Nations title, while also completing a fifth straight Grand Slam. Driven by tries from Ellie Kildunne, Jess Breach and Sarah Bern, John Mitchell’s side once again confirmed their status as the benchmark of world women’s rugby, just eight months after lifting the Rugby World Cup on home soil.
A final perfectly controlled by England
This France-England clash had all the ingredients of a final. Both nations arrived unbeaten ahead of the final round and Bordeaux hosted a high-pressure encounter between the two best sides in Europe. But once again, England delivered on the biggest stage, recording an 18th consecutive victory over Les Bleues, who have not beaten the Red Roses since 2018.
And yet, the opening stages were far from comfortable for John Mitchell’s players. Under pressure inside a hostile Stade Atlantique atmosphere, England were quickly punished by a Pauline Bourdon Sansus try following a brilliant French transition move. But, as has so often been the case with this side, the response was immediate.
England gradually regained control through the qualities that have defined them for several years: immense physicality around the contact area, superior tactical management and ruthless efficiency whenever opportunities appeared. Sarah Bern finished off a long sequence close to the line before Ellie Kildunne capitalised on a French error to score England’s second try. Jess Breach and then Kildunne once again punished French defensive weaknesses shortly before half-time, allowing the visitors to head into the changing rooms with a commanding 26-7 advantage.
The second half nevertheless showed that this France side is continuing to improve. Anaïs Grando and then Pauline Bourdon Sansus brought Les Bleues back into contention, cutting the deficit to just eight points with twenty minutes remaining. But once again, the Red Roses demonstrated why they have dominated women’s rugby for so many years. At the exact moment the match threatened to swing, England accelerated once more through another Jess Breach try before Amy Cokayne crossed to extinguish French hopes for good and seal another championship victory.
With this eighth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title, England are continuing the greatest dynasty the competition has ever witnessed. The Red Roses now have 20 championship titles in their history, including 18 Grand Slams, figures that perfectly illustrate the gap they have opened up over the rest of Europe in recent years. This generation has also become the first rugby side, men’s or women’s, to win a Six Nations title immediately after lifting a Rugby World Cup the previous year. Even the 2003 world champion England men’s side failed to achieve such a feat.
And yet, this 2026 triumph is probably one of the most impressive achievements of the John Mitchell era. Behind the image of an untouchable powerhouse, England had to navigate an extremely difficult tournament both physically and emotionally. Several key figures from the 2025 Rugby World Cup-winning squad were absent before the competition had even begun. Captain Zoe Stratford, second rows Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan, as well as hooker Lark Atkin-Davies, all missed the tournament due to pregnancy or recent motherhood. Cath O’Donnell, Jade Shekells and Ella Wyrwas were also unavailable at the start of the campaign, in addition to several players who retired following the World Cup success.
The injury problems continued to weaken the squad throughout the tournament. Hannah Botterman, May Campbell and Tatyana Heard were all ruled out before Alex Matthews, Natasha Hunt and Morwenna Talling were also forced to withdraw after the opening round. It was a succession of absences that could easily have destabilised any international side, especially after the emotional intensity of winning a home Rugby World Cup only a few months earlier.
But this is precisely where this England team continues to impress the most. The Red Roses used the situation to accelerate the renewal of their squad without ever losing competitiveness. Seven uncapped players were included in John Mitchell’s original squad selection: Christiana Balogun, Millie David, Haineala Lutui, Annabel Meta, Sarah Parry, Demelza Short and Jodie Verghese. Several of them experienced international rugby for the first time during the tournament, including Millie David and Haineala Lutui, both integrated seamlessly into a side accustomed to immediate excellence.
Alongside those new faces, experienced leaders such as Megan Jones, Amy Cokayne, Marlie Packer, Zoe Harrison and Ellie Kildunne guided the squad with remarkable composure. Jones, appointed captain during Stratford’s absence, notably played every single minute of the tournament. Ellie Kildunne, named World Player of the Year in 2024, scored five tries across the championship, including a decisive double in Bordeaux.
Today, the Red Roses appear almost impossible to stop. Despite injuries, despite constant changes and despite the enormous pressure attached to their status as world champions, England completed the tournament unbeaten with five bonus-point victories and a winning streak now extended to 38 consecutive Test matches.
