The undercard acts of the men’s senior and under-20 tournaments are over, and it’s time for the main show — the Women’s Six Nations, which kicks off on April 11th. Here’s where and how you can catch it if you can’t make the matches themselves.
Two-thirds of the 2026 Six Nations rugby season is complete. It’s old news, but France — Les Bleus — won the senior men’s tournament, while France’s Under-20s men’s squad — Les Bleuets — completed their second-ever Grand Slam in the Under-20s version of the competition.
Now, it’s the turn of France’s women’s squad — Les Bleues — to pick up the Championship mantle, and set out on a mission impossible (or is it?) to try to dethrone World Champions England.
Jon Mitchell’s Red Roses are one of the most dominant teams in sporting history, whose unbeaten run in the tournament extends back to 2018. In rugby today, only France’s age-grade women’s sides — Les Bleuettes — have better winning records.
The under-18 women’s side kicked off the Under-18 Six Nations Festival at Wellington College this week with a 59-0 demolition of Ireland. The Six Nations Women’s Under-21 Series kicks off April 18th.
The under-18s men’s side, meanwhile, were due to start their Men’s Under-18 Six Nations Festival campaign in Vichy on April 3rd.
But back to the senior women’s tournament. New France coach François Ratier — with one eye on the next Women’s World Cup in Australia in 2029 — has selected a squad long on potential and short on experience for his first Six Nations.
Two more good things about the Women’s Six Nations; matches are spread around France, making it less Paris-centric, and tickets are still available for the home games, starting at €15.
But if you can’t get there, there is always the TV.
France Télévisions hold exclusive rights for the tournament, and will broadcast all France’s games on its main channels, which are free to air.
The other matches will be streamed on france.tv — which is free to access in France, although you will need to create a (free) account first.
Les Bleues kick off their challenge against Italy at Grenoble’s Stade des Alpes on Saturday, April 11th. The match, which kicks off at 1.15pm will be broadcast on France 2 and france.tv
Their three home games this year are against Ireland at Stade Marcel Michelin in Clermont, and England at Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole.
The rest of the schedule is:
April 11th
England v Ireland (3.25pm — france.tv)
Wales v Scotland (5.40pm — france.tv)
April 18th
Scotland v England (2.30 pm — france.tv)
Wales v France (4.20pm — Cardiff Arms Park, France 2 and france.tv)
Ireland v Italy (6.40pm — france.tv)
April 25th
England v Wales (3.15pm — france.tv)
Italy v Scotland (5.30pm — france.tv)
France v Ireland (9.10pm — Stade Marcel Michelin, Clermont, France 2 and france.tv)
May 9th
Italy v England (3pm — france.tv)
Scotland v France (5pm — Hive Stadium, Edinburgh, France 2 and france.tv)
Ireland v Wales (5.30pm — france.tv)
May 17th
Wales v Italy (1.15pm — france.tv)
Ireland v Scotland (3.30pm — france.tv)
France v England (5.30pm — Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole, France 2 and france.tv)
