W6N 11.04.2026 – 17.05.2026
Source: https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/ and https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/w6n ; https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/w6n/fixtures/2025
2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations (W6N) based on the above fixture list. All times are listed in BST.
Round 1: Saturday, 11th April
Round 1 of the 2026 Women’s Six Nations kicked off on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
France and England both secured convincing victories to start their campaigns, while Scotland edged out Wales in a tight contest at the Principality Stadium.
Round 1 Results (April 11, 2026)
| Matchup | Score | Venue |
| France vs. Italy | 40 – 7 | Stade des Alpes, Grenoble |
| England vs. Ireland | 33 – 12 | Allianz Stadium, London |
| Wales vs. Scotland | 19 – 24 | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
Standings (After Round 1)
| Pos | Team | Played | Points | Diff |
| 1 | France | 1 | 5 | +33 |
| 2 | England | 1 | 5 | +21 |
| 3 | Scotland | 1 | 4 | +5 |
| 4 | Wales | 1 | 1 | -5 |
| 5 | Ireland | 1 | 0 | -21 |
| 6 | Italy | 1 | 0 | -33 |
Upcoming Fixtures Round 2: Saturday, 18th April
| Match | Time (BST) |
| Scotland (SCO) vs England (ENG) | 13:30 |
| Wales (WAL) vs France (FRA) | 15:35 |
| Ireland (IRE) vs Italy (ITA) | 17:40 |
Round 3: Saturday, 25th April
| Match | Time (BST) |
| England (ENG) vs Wales (WAL) | 14:15 |
| Italy (ITA) vs Scotland (SCO) | 16:30 |
| France (FRA) vs Ireland (IRE) | 20:10 |
Round 4: Saturday, 9th May
| Match | Time (BST) |
| Italy (ITA) vs England (ENG) | 14:00 |
| Scotland (SCO) vs France (FRA) | 16:15 |
| Ireland (IRE) vs Wales (WAL) | 18:30 |
Round 5: Sunday, 17th May
| Match | Time (BST) |
| Wales (WAL) vs Italy (ITA) | 12:15 |
| Ireland (IRE) vs Scotland (SCO) | 14:30 |
| France (FRA) vs England (ENG) | 16:45 |
The history of the Women’s Six Nations is a story of rapid evolution, moving from a self-organized four-team tournament to a fully professionalized centerpiece of the global rugby calendar.
While the men’s version dates back to 1883, the women’s competition began much later and went through several iterations before becoming the “Six Nations” we recognize today.
1. The Eras of Evolution
The tournament did not start with six teams. It grew alongside the rising profile of women’s rugby in Europe.
| Era | Name | Nations | Key Milestone |
| 1996–1998 | Home Nations | England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales | The first formal annual championship. |
| 1999–2001 | Five Nations | + France | France joins, significantly raising the level of competition. |
| 2002–2006 | Six Nations | + Spain | Spain joins (replacing Ireland briefly in 2000-01 before both played in 2002). |
| 2007–Present | Modern Six Nations | England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales | Italy replaces Spain to align the tournament with the men’s structure. |
2. Historical Dominance
The story of the Women’s Six Nations is largely one of English dominance, occasionally challenged by France and Ireland.
- England (The Red Roses): By far the most successful team, England has won 21 titles (as of 2025). They were the first to professionalize their squad, which led to a massive gap in performance that other nations are currently working to close.
- France (Les Bleues): The primary rivals to England, France has won 6 titles. Matches between England and France are often the “Grand Slam Deciders.”
- Ireland: They enjoyed a “Golden Era” between 2013 and 2015, winning two titles and a historic Grand Slam in 2013, famously ending years of Anglo-French dominance.
- Scotland: Won the tournament once in its early “Home Nations” format (1998).
3. Turning Points in the Modern Era
In recent years, the tournament has undergone structural changes to step out of the shadow of the men’s game:
- The Standalone Window (2021): Due to the pandemic, the tournament was moved from its traditional February/March slot to a dedicated window in April. This move was so successful for TV ratings and fan engagement that it became permanent.
- Sponsorship & Professionalism: In 2022, TikTok became the first-ever title sponsor of the tournament (followed by Guinness). In the last few years, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland have all introduced professional contracts for their players to help bridge the gap with England and France.
- The “Le Crunch” Record: The England vs. France rivalry reached a peak in 2023 when a world-record crowd of 58,498 attended the match at Twickenham, proving the commercial viability of the women’s game.
4. Summary of Winners (Six Nations Era)
- England: 2003, 2006–2012, 2017, 2019–2025
- France: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2018
- Ireland: 2013, 2015
The Grand Slam: In the women’s game, the Grand Slam (winning every match) is incredibly common for the champion. England has achieved this over 15 times, reflecting their high standard of play.
