Women's Six Nations 2026: England target eighth straight title
With the Women’s Six Nations just around the corner, England have begun their preparations by announcing their new leadership team for the tournament.
www.therugbypaper.co.ukHere’s the latest on the 2026 Women’s Six Nations.
- Format and schedule: The 2026 edition introduced a revamped, “Super Saturday” style schedule, with back-to-back matches on a single day in each round to boost the fan experience. England begin defense of the title on Super Saturday, with a round-one clash against Ireland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (Kick-off details varied by venue) [Itv News Wales coverage indicates the new format and opening fixture; Sky Sports roundup confirms the poster-format and early rounds].[1][2]
- Key contenders: England and France are the favorites to lift the title in 2026, with England aiming to extend their recent unbeaten run in the Six Nations and defend their world-title momentum from 2025; France remain strong challengers with a history of success in the competition.[2][4]
- Early results and standings: The tournament was underway in April 2026, with France defeating Italy 40-7, England beating Ireland 33-12, and Wales overcoming Scotland 24-19 in Round 1; subsequent rounds featured high-scoring fixtures and notable disparities as teams adjusted to the new triple-header/Super Saturday format.[5][2]
- Notable developments: Standout players and leadership updates emerged as teams adjusted to changes in squad leadership and pregnancy-related absences among visiting World Cup-winning squads; eg, Meg Jones taking captaincy for England as part of evolving leadership ahead of the tournament.[7][9]
- Where to watch: UK broadcasting coverage is centralized via BBC match reports and official outlets, with extended round-by-round results and fixtures available from major sports outlets.[5][7]
Illustration
- Example: England 33-12 Ireland in Round 1 and France 40-7 Italy in Round 1 illustrate England’s strong start and France’s high-scoring beginning, underscoring the title race dynamic this year.[2][5]
If you’d like, I can compile a concise table of all Round-by-Round results and remaining fixtures for 2026, or pull out team-by-team previews and TV viewing options for your region.