England Edge France By A Point To Claim Grand Slam

Women's Six Nations

England (31) 43

Tries: Dow 2, Sing 2, Atkin-Davies, MacDonald, Aldcroft Cons: Harrison 4

France (21) 42

Tries: Arbez, Bourdon, Menager, Arbey, Bourgeois, Grisez Cons: Bourgeois 6

England held disconnected a precocious France fightback to unafraid a 4th consecutive Women's Six Nations Grand Slam and a seventh consecutive title.

The triumph astatine Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, extends nan Red Roses' winning tally to 25 games arsenic they count down to nan location Rugby World Cup that starts successful August.

In beforehand of a crowd of 37,573, nan hosts came retired of nan blocks quickly to people nan opening effort done nan prolific Abby Dow.

Fly-half Carla Arbez quickly responded, earlier John Mitchell's broadside ruthlessly scored 4 tries to return control.

Full-back Emma Sing, successful for nan injured Ellie Kildunne, grabbed 2 tries, while hooker Lark Atkin-Davies and in-form helping Claudia MacDonald besides crossed.

However, a dropped shot by Zoe Harrison talented scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus a effort and France capitalised connected that momentum erstwhile centre Marine Menager scored to trim nan spread to 10 points astatine nan break.

Captain Zoe Aldcroft restored England's advantage but that was quickly cancelled retired by Kelly Arbey, who produced a sensational decorativeness down nan wing.

Dow and Morgane Bourgeois past traded tries earlier Joanna Grisez raced distant to group up a nervy decorativeness successful a highly entertaining and evenly balanced 2nd half.

England's past conclusion successful nan Six Nations came against France successful 2018 and their grounds tally of title wins has now moved to 34 games.

It is Mitchell's 2nd Grand Slam since taking complete broadside successful nan autumn of 2023, pinch nan Red Roses past tasting conclusion successful nan World Cup last by New Zealand successful 2022.

More to follow.

England: Sing; Dow, Jones, Heard, MacDonald; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Feaunati, Matthews.

Replacements: Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Burton, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland.

France: Bourgeois; Grisez, M Menager, Vernier, Arbwy; Arbez, Bourdon; Brosseau, Bigot, Khalfaoui, M Feleu (capt), Fall-Raclot, Escudero, Champon, T Feleu.

Replacements: Riffonneau, Mwayembe, Bernadou, Zago, Berthoumieu, Maka, Chambon, Queyroi.

Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (NZ)

TMO: Quinton Immelman (SA)