Six Nations 2026: English Women Win Against France for the 8th Consecutive Year and Achieve Grand Slam

In front of more than 35,000 people at the Atlantic Stadium in Bordeaux, the French team came close to ending England’s unbeaten streak (28-43) on Sunday.

The task was still a bit too tough. Despite a strong start, the French team was defeated by the English (28-43) on Sunday, May 17, on the final day of the Six Nations played at the Atlantic Stadium in Bordeaux in front of 35,062 spectators, a new record for women’s rugby in France.

With six conceded tries, including a double by star player Ellie Kildunne, the French team finished second in the 2026 edition, allowing the Red Roses to clinch a 39th consecutive victory in the Tournament and an 8th consecutive Grand Slam. “We built a new team with a new staff in seven weeks,” highlighted Pauline Bourdon Sansus after the match. “I am very proud of the girls, of their performance against a very good team from England.”

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The French players of François Ratier held their ground against the reigning world champions, like Toulouse demi, who also scored a double and remains the only French player who has tasted victory against England in 2018. “We hoped to win today, but they are the world numbers, reigning champions,” she reiterated confident for the future. “In the coming years, many great things will happen for us,” concluded Pauline Bourdon Sansus.

If the French players started strong, scoring the first points of the game, they struggled against less composed English opponents, but very pragmatic. With only seven entries in the Bleues’ 22 meters and 42% possession, the Red Roses scored six times throughout the match. “They score on our mistakes,” analyzed Madoussou Fall-Raclot, celebrated for her 50th cap in Blue. “In essence, we are strong in defense and attack, but we lose too many balls. Next year will be different,” she pledged to France Télévisions.

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Explosive, François Ratier didn’t say more. “Over the cycle, I promise we will beat them,” he proclaimed just before the English came in to receive their trophy. “We lost the match in the first half due to two fatal errors, and afterwards we got back into the game,” he added. Trailing 26 to 7, the French team fought back, closing the gap to just eight points by the 59th minute. But the entry of Marlie Packer, the 36-year-old flanker, the top scorer of the Tournament with seven tries, gave a boost to the English team and definitively sealed the outcome of the game.

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