Red Roses Hold Their Nerve as England Beat France to Complete Grand Slam Glory in Women’s Six Nations

In a dramatic and nerve-shredding finale at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, England beat France by a single point to secure another stunning Grand Slam in the Women’s Six Nations. On a day when history and high drama went hand in hand, the Red Roses were pushed all the way by a spirited French side, but clung on for their fourth consecutive clean sweep and an incredible seventh straight title.

England Beat France in a Thrilling Finish to Claim Grand Slam in Women’s Six Nations

Before a raucous crowd of 37,573, England came storming out of the blocks, looking every inch the champions they are. Abby Dow – so often the Red Roses’ match-winner – lit the fuse early with a well-worked opening try after a clever grubber kick from Zoe Harrison.

Yet, France, unbeaten until this point in the championship, were never going to roll over. They struck back almost immediately, with Carla Arbez darting through some slack English defence to dot down and momentarily silence the home crowd.

Despite that early scare, John Mitchell’s England soon found their rhythm, blitzing France with a flurry of tries. Emma Sing, standing in for the injured Ellie Kildunne, crossed twice, while Lark Atkin-Davies and Claudia MacDonald also got their names on the scoresheet. At 10-0 and then 24-5 up, it looked like England were about to run away with it, repeating their dominance from previous campaigns.

But French teams are not built to quit, and as England took their foot off the pedal, Les Bleues fought back.

A loose ball from Harrison, who had otherwise been orchestrating things superbly from fly-half, gifted scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus a crucial try. Suddenly, France had a foothold. They capitalized on the momentum, working the ball beautifully through the hands for Marine Ménager to touch down and slash England’s lead to just 10 points at halftime.

Grand Slam Dream Almost Shattered as France Push England to the Brink

The tension inside Twickenham was palpable as the second half began. England, perhaps mindful of France’s second-half storm in 2023 – when they roared back from a huge deficit to almost snatch the Grand Slam – knew they needed to strike early.

And strike they did. Harrison, looking to atone for her first-half error, produced a stunning dummy and break to set up captain Zoe Aldcroft for a vital score. It was the kind of leadership moment that has defined Aldcroft’s tenure and one that England fans will hope to see again come the Rugby World Cup later this year.

Still, France refused to go quietly. Kelly Arbey produced a sensational fend and sprint down the wing to beat both Sing and Dow, reducing the gap once again and setting up a thrilling final quarter.

When Dow grabbed her second try after a superb floated pass from Harrison, England looked to have done enough. But unstructured rugby suits France, and in the blink of an eye, Morgane Bourgeois and Joanna Grisez combined to bring France to within a point.

The clock ticked into the red as France launched one final desperate attack. Twickenham held its breath as Les Bleues surged forward – only for a knock-on to end the contest and send the Red Roses and their fans into a frenzy of celebration.

England Beat France Again to Extend Six Nations Dominance

This triumph not only extended England’s unbeaten streak in the Women’s Six Nations to an eye-watering 34 games but also underlined the aura they have built around themselves. Their last defeat in this tournament came back in 2018 – ironically, against France.

Since then, the Red Roses have been a near-unstoppable force, and under John Mitchell, they look a team evolving nicely towards their ultimate goal: winning the Rugby World Cup on home soil later this year.

Mitchell’s second Grand Slam since taking over in late 2023 has not been without its challenges. Injuries to key players like Kildunne forced changes, and the squad depth was tested. Yet players like Emma Sing have stepped up magnificently, providing assurance that England’s player pool runs deep.

For Harrison, the final whistle will have been a moment of immense relief and pride. Despite that first-half fumble, her tactical kicking, running game, and creative distribution were crucial to England’s win. It was a reminder that the Red Roses have more than one way to beat you – and they often need all of them.

France Show Their Class, But England’s Grand Slam Pedigree Prevails

England survive mighty fright against France to claim Women’s Six Nations grand slam again |

Credit must go to France, who showed huge character and quality to push England so close. Their ability to exploit unstructured play and their lethal finishing out wide will make them a real threat come the World Cup.

If results go to form, these two sides are destined to clash again in the World Cup semi-finals. And on the evidence of this classic encounter, that would be a contest not to be missed.

England, meanwhile, can look ahead with confidence. Their record is intimidating, their squad is packed with winners, and in Twickenham – the venue for this year’s World Cup final – they have made a fortress.

This latest Grand Slam might have come by the finest of margins, but make no mistake: the Red Roses are still the team to beat.