The Women's Six Nations is faster and smarter - but is it better?
The first 40 minutes of the Women's Six Nations was, at best, a half for the purists. Estelle Sartini, a PE teacher from Caen, kicked the only points as France, one of the favourites for the inaugural title, headed for the dressing rooms with a 3-0 lead over Spain, who contested the first five editions before being replaced by Italy in 2007.
The first 40 minutes of the Women's Six Nations was, at best, a half for the purists. Estelle Sartini, a PE teacher from Caen, kicked the only points as France, one of the favourites for the inaugural title, headed for the dressing rooms with a 3-0 lead over Spain, who contested the first five editions before being replaced by Italy in 2007. This year will be the 25th staging of the competition.
And the game has changed. But has it been for the better? Does increased athleticism and tactical nous risk losing the distinctive character of the women's game?
Simon Middleton, who was England's head coach for eight years before standing down after the 2023 Six Nations, saw the change firsthand. "The women's game doesn't want to be the men's game - and that's how it should be," he said. The 2025 Women's Six Nations was the highest scoring ever, with an average of 55.
9 points per game. It is part of trend, rather than an anomaly. The five highest-scoring tournaments have all taken place since 2019.