It has been 196 days since the Red Roses won the Women’s Rugby World Cup for the third time, putting on a show in front of a record-breaking sold-out crowd in Twickenham.
Now, as the Women’s Six Nations commences on April 11, the Red Roses are ready to entertain under the lights again, with Swing Low carrying them through their tournament opener against Ireland at the Allianz Stadium.
Meg Jones will be captaining the side for the first time, with former captain Zoe Aldcroft amongst the four players who are out due to pregnancy, as over 75,000 fans are expected to welcome the Roses home.
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England rugby captain Megan Jones speaks about the Red Roses culture and John Mitchell’s impact on it ahead of the Six Nations
“How class is that, knowing we can keep those numbers going off the back of the World Cup? That’s just something as a nation that we’ve always led on,” said Jones.
“Our role is to be the entertainers and make sure that we provide a product that people want to come back and watch.
“We always say how amazing the fans are and how much they give us that energy and that boost.
“I think back to that World Cup final and just think how amazing the echo of Swing Low is going around the stadium and cheering us on.
“I have full faith in the fact that they’re going to be our extra 16th player in that game.”
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England’s Sadia Kabeya speaks about how she would like to see rugby made more accessible for all and how the Red Roses draw inspiration from the Lionesses
England and Ireland haven’t faced one another since the Six Nations last year where the Roses stormed to a 49-5 win in Cork, and they will be expecting to extend their record-breaking winning run of 33 tests.
With expectations that the Roses will win their eighth consecutive Six Nations title, and a Grand Slam, the pressure is on John Mitchell, who is unbeaten in two years as coach, to ensure his side performs.
He has selected a familiar 32-woman squad, with 25 World Cup winners returning and just one player earning her first cap on Saturday – Haineala Lutui, the daughter of former Tonga men’s captain Aleki Lutui.
But there will be a guaranteed first that the two sides will share, as hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald will mark her 50th Irish cap by also facing her wife for the first time, England wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald.
The hopeful Irish side will be captained by Erin King, after she missed out on the World Cup due to a knee injury, also anchoring a strong back row alongside last year’s Six Nations MVP Aoife Wafer.
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Marlie Packer and Megan Jones talk about the Red Roses’ incredible crowds ahead of their Six Nations opener against Ireland, where they’ll see another record attendance
Can France set up Grand Slam finale?
France once again assume the role of chief challengers to England’s throne.
Their run to the World Cup semi‑finals and their recent epic battles with England show they have the pedigree to go toe‑to‑toe with the Red Roses.
Converting those encouraging performances into a statement victory is their next challenge.
They enter the Six Nations under new management, with Francois Ratier taking charge in January. The new regime brings uncertainty and intrigue to a Les Bleus camp who have been stuck in a “best of the rest” loop.
If they can bring an end to years of stagnation and achieve their primary objective of setting up a round‑five Grand Slam decider against England in Bordeaux, who’s to say they can’t go one step further?
Not just a two-horse race
Scotland’s Rachel Malcolm (left), Ireland’s Erin King, France’s Manae Feleu, England’s Meg Jones, Wales’ Kate Williams and Italy’s Silvia Turani (right) pose with the trophy during the 2026 Women’s Six Nations Launch Event
Ireland, Scotland and Wales each enter the Six Nations with a sense of renewal and the potential to reshape the tournament’s familiar hierarchy.
Ireland, buoyed by a reset World Cup cycle and a newly extended head coach look increasingly like the side most capable of disrupting France’s long‑held status as England’s nearest challengers.
Their third‑place finish last year hinted at upward momentum, and the mood around the squad is notably optimistic.
However, Scotland and Wales also begin new eras under fresh coaching teams. Scotland carry genuine momentum and a growing confidence after steady progress, while Wales have spoken openly about the need to rebound from a disappointing World Cup and re‑establish their identity.
Wales also hopes to beat its crowd record of 21,186 set against England last year when it hosts Scotland at Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Kate Williams will captain the Welsh side as they look to take a win against Scotland in the opening weekend
The Welsh side was whitewashed in 2025 for the first time, but coach Sean Lynn has had time to bed in, introduced new coaches and nine new caps, and chosen one captain, flanker Kate Williams, one of 12 players from unbeaten Gloucester Hartpury in the English Championship.
Scotland beat Wales 38-8 en route to the World Cup quarter-finals but from that win, stars Fran McGhie (three tries), Evie Gallagher, Sarah Bonar and Lisa Thomson are injured and three others have retired.
Teenage flanker Emily Coubrough will debut under new coach Sione Fukofuka, who led the United States at the World Cup.
Together, the three home nations add depth, unpredictability and narrative weight to a championship too often framed as a two‑horse race.
England’s 2026 Women’s Six Nations fixtures
- v Ireland (Saturday April 11) – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (2.25pm)
- v Scotland (Saturday April 18) – Murrayfield, Edinburgh (1.30pm)
- v Wales (Saturday April 25) – Ashton Gate, Bristol (2.15pm)
- v Italy (Saturday May 9) – Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma (3pm)
- v France (Sunday May 17) – Stade Atlantique, Bordeaux (5.45pm)
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