The Red Roses will play their two home matches in the 6 Nations at famous but unfamiliar grounds. They have used Gloucester’s Kingsholm just once before, Leicester’s Welford Road never.
The choice of Gloucester (9 April) and Leicester (24 April) marks a continuation of the move to take the Red Roses around the country, away from the capital. In this respect they follow the highly successful French policy, which sees les Bleues visit far spread corners of the hexagon.
Local clubs with local support mean large enthusiastic crowds, such as we saw in all four Black Ferns’ games on the recent tour.
Once more the fixture schedule requires some nations to play two successive games at home or away. In England’s case they play the first and second rounds away, to Scotland (26 March in Edinburgh), then Italy (3 April in Parma).
A new Record?
This will be their first chance to set a new 6N record: never before has a nation managed to claim full (bonus) points when playing three away matches.
Bonus points were introduced as recently as 2017; the following year they lost dramatically to France 17-18 in Grenoble. Last year the pandemic heavily affected the tournament. England were the only side to complete all five games, but they beat France away by six points (13-19), so failed to gain the extra bonus point.
For the sake of women’s rugby in general it would be excellent if they failed in this quest. It’s high time we saw a levelling up in standards.
England Women 2022 Six Nations fixtures
Saturday 26 March – Scotland v England – KO 12pm – DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh
Sunday 3 April – Italy v England – KO 3pm – Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Saturday 9 April – England v Wales – KO 4:45pm – Kingsholm, Gloucester
Tickets are available here.
Sunday 24 April – England v Ireland – KO 12pm – Welford Road, Leicester
Tickets are available here.
Saturday 30 April – France v England – KO 2:15pm – Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
