2023 Women's Six Nations Championship
| 2023 Women's Six Nations Championship | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 25 March – 29 April 2023 | ||
| Countries |  England France Ireland Italy Scotland Wales | ||
| Tournament statistics | |||
| Champions | England (19th title) | ||
| Grand Slam | England (17th title) | ||
| Triple Crown | England (23rd title) | ||
| Matches played | 15 | ||
| Tries scored | 122 (8.13 per match) | ||
| Top point scorer(s) | Marlie Packer (35) | ||
| Top try scorer(s) | Marlie Packer (7) | ||
| Player of the tournament | Gabrielle Vernier | ||
| Official website | Official website | ||
| |||
The 2023 Women's Six Nations Championship, known as the TikTok Women's Six Nations for marketing purposes, was the 22nd series of the Women's Six Nations Championship, an annual women's rugby union competition between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It began on 25 March and concluded on 29 April 2023.[1]
England entered the tournament as defending champions, having completed a Grand Slam in 2022 and retained their title with a 38–33 victory over France in the final game.
Participants
| Nation | Stadiums | Head coach | Captain | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home stadium | Capacity | Location | |||
| England
|
Kingston Park[2] | 10,200 | Newcastle | Simon Middleton
|
Sarah Hunter Marlie Packer[a] |
| Franklin's Gardens | 15,200 | Northampton | |||
| Twickenham Stadium | 82,000 | London | |||
| France
|
Stade de la Rabine[4] | 11,303 | Vannes | Gaëlle Mignot David Ortiz[5]
|
Audrey Forlani |
| Stade des Alpes | 20,068 | Grenoble | |||
| Ireland
|
Musgrave Park | 8,008 | Cork | Greg McWilliams
|
Nichola Fryday |
| Italy
|
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi | 5,000 | Parma | Giovanni Raineri[6]
|
Elisa Giordano |
| Scotland
|
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium[7] | 7,800 | Edinburgh | Bryan Easson
|
Rachel Malcolm |
| Wales
|
Cardiff Arms Park
|
12,125 | Cardiff | Ioan Cunningham
|
Hannah Jones |
Squads
Table
| Position | Nation | Matches | Points | Tries | Bonus points |
Table points | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | For | Against | T BP | L BP | GS BP | |||
| 1 | England
|
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 271 | 48 | +223 | 45 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 28 |
| 2 | France
|
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 202 | 67 | +135 | 32 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 3 | Wales
|
5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 118 | 135 | –17 | 17 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 4 | Scotland
|
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 94 | 178 | –84 | 15 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 5 | Italy
|
5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 72 | 162 | –90 | 10 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Ireland
|
5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 192 | –167 | 3 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Table ranking rules
- Four points are awarded for a win.
- Two points are awarded for a draw.
- A bonus point is awarded to a team that scores four or more tries, or loses by seven points or fewer.
- Three bonus points are awarded to a team that wins all five of their matches (a Grand Slam). This ensures that a Grand Slam winning team would top the table with at least 23 points, as another team could lose one match while winning two bonus points and win the other four matches while winning four bonus points for a maximum of 22 points.
- Tiebreakers
- If two or more teams are tied on table points, the team with the better points difference (points scored against points conceded) is ranked higher.
- If the above tiebreaker fails to separate tied teams, the team that scores the higher number of total tries (including penalty tries) in their matches is ranked higher.
- If two or more teams remain tied after applying the above tiebreakers then those teams will be placed at equal rank; if the tournament has concluded and more than one team is placed first then the title will be shared between them.
Fixtures
Round 1
| 25 March 2023 14:15 UTC+0) |
| (1 BP) Wales | 31–5 | Ireland |
| Try: Callender 4' m Bevan 13' c Harries 23' c H. Jones 33' c Tuipulotu 46' m Con: Bevan (3/5) 14', 24', 34' | Report | Try: Fryday 67' m |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 4,962 Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia) |
Player of the Match:
Sisilia Tuipulotu (Wales)
Assistant referees:
Doriane Domenjo (France)
Maria Latos (Germany)
Television match official:
Ian Tempest (England)
Notes:
- Kate Williams (Wales), Natasja Behan, Méabh Deely, Sadhbh McGrath and Niamh O'Dowd (all Ireland) made their international debuts.[8]
| 25 March 2023 16:45 UTC+0) |
| (1 BP) England | 58–7 | Scotland |
| Try: MacDonald (2) 9' c, 24' m Cokayne (2) 18' m, 31' c Heard 27' c P. Cleall 42' m Kabeya 50' c M. Packer (3) 58' m, 63' m, 67' m Con: Reed (1/1) 9' Tuima (3/9) 28', 32', 51' | Report | Try: Rollie 75' c Con: Nelson (1/1) 77' c |
| Kingston Park, Newcastle Attendance: 10,053 Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) |
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Player of the Match:
Marlie Packer (England)
Assistant referees:
Precious Pazani (Zimbabwe)
Adele Roberts (Belgium)
Television match official:
Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Notes:
- Kelsey Clifford, Liz Crake and Ella Wyrwas (all England), and Francesca McGhie and Beth Blacklock (both Scotland) made their international debuts.[9][10][11]
- Mackenzie Carson made her debut for England, having previously earned three caps for Canada.[12]
- This was the 141st and final test match for Sarah Hunter (England) who announced her retirement in the week before kick-off.[13]
- By playing against England, Caity Mattinson became the first woman to play both for and against England and Scotland in an Anglo-Scottish match.
- No replacement was issued for Poppy Cleall when she came off in the 65th minute.
- This was England 20th consecutive Women's Six Nations win, surpassing the records of 19 wins they made between 2005 and 2009, and 2009 and 2013.
| 26 March 2023 16:00 Bourdon (1/2) 8' |
| Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
Gabrielle Vernier (France)
Assistant referees:
Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Katherine Ritchie (England)
Television match official:
Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Notes:
- Audrey Forlani captained France for the first time.
Round 2
| 1 April 2023 15:15 |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Attendance: 5,214 Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland) |
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Player of the Match:
Pauline Bourdon
(France)
Assistant referees:
Sara Cox (England
)
Maria Heitor (Portugal)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Notes:
- Kathryn Buggy and Emma Swords (both Ireland) and Elisa Riffonneau (France) made their international debuts.
- Clara Nielson made her debut for Ireland, having previously earned one cap for England.
- Nicole Cronin was originally named on the bench for Ireland, but withdrew due to injury. She was replaced by Emma Swords.
| 1 April 2023 17:30 UTC+1) |
| Scotland | 22–34 | Wales |
| Try: Skeldon 34' c Grant 48' c Rollie 66' m Con: Nelson (2/3) 35', 49' Pen: Nelson (1/1) 28' | Report | Try: Tuipulotu (2) 3' m, 52' m Pyrs (2) 29' c, 42' c F. Lewis 79' c Con: Bevan (2/4) 30', 44' Snowsill (1/1) 80' Pen: Snowsill (1/1) 74' |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 3,031 Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
Sisilia Tuipulotu (Wales)
Assistant referees:
Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Mario Pacifico (Italy)
Television match official:
Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Notes:
- Keira Bevan (Wales) earned her 50th test cap.
- Lleucu George was originally named on the bench for Wales, but withdrew due to injury. She was replaced by Robyn Wilkins.
| 2 April 2023 15:00 | Report | Try: Tounesi 4' m |
| Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Attendance: 12,947 Referee: Kat Roche (United States) |
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Player of the Match:
Sarah Bern (England)
Assistant referees:
Doirane Domenjo (France)
Mary Pringle (Scotland)
Television match official:
Scotland
)
Notes:
- Delaney Burns and Emily Robinson (both England) made their international debuts.[14]
Round 3
| 15 April 2023 14:15 |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 8,862 Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland) |
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Player of the Match:
Tatyana Heard (England)
Assistant referees:
Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Maria Pacifico (Italy)
Television match official:
Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Notes:
- * Bryonie King (Wales) and May Campbell (England) made their international debuts.[15][16]
| 15 April 2023 16:45 UTC+2) |
| Italy | 24–7 | Ireland |
| Try: Stefan 29' c D'Incà (2) 42' c, 78' c Con: Sillari (3/3) 30', 43', 79' Pen: Sillari (1/1) 64' | Report | Try: Penalty try 68' |
| Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) |
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Player of the Match:
Alyssa D'Incà (Italy)
Assistant referees:
Maria Latos (German)
Mary Pringle (Scotland)
Television match official:
Ian Tempest (England)
| 16 April 2023 15:15 Bourdon 12' m Llorens 23' m Boulard (3) 37' c, 45' m, 56' c Hermet 50' c Vernier 54' c R. Ménager 62' m Filopon 73' m Con: Trémoulière (4/8) 38', 51', 55', 57' Arbez (1/1) 74' | Report |
| Stade de la Rabine, Vannes Attendance: 10,044[17] Referee: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
Mélissande Llorens (France)
Assistant referees:
Clara Munarini (Italy)
Katherine Ritchie (England)
Television match official:
Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Notes:
- No replacement was issued for Emma Orr when she came off in the 77th minute.
Round 4
| 22 April 2023 14:15 UTC+1) |
| Ireland | 0–48 | England (1 BP) |
| Report | Try: Beckett 2' c Heard 16' m Kildunne 21' m M. Packer 26' m Talling 36' c Reed 71' c Matthews (2) 78' c, 80' +3 c Con: Tuima (1/5) 37' Rowland (3/3) 72', 78', 80' +3 |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
Sarah Beckett (England)
Assistant referees:
Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Maria Pacifico (Italy)
Television match official:
Andre McMenemy (Scotland)
Notes:
- By playing against England, Jo Brown became the first woman to play both for and against England and Ireland in an Anglo-Irish match.
- Nicole Cronin was originally named on the bench for Ireland, but withdrew due to injury. She was replaced by Ailsa Hughes.
- England secured their 23rd Triple Crown, having won it all times previously since 2016.
| 22 April 2023 16:45 UTC+1) |
| (1 BP) Scotland | 29–21 | Italy |
| Try: McMillan 12' m Skeldon (2) 36' m, 68' m Bartlett (2) 47' c, 52' c Con: Nelson (2/5) 48', 54' | Report | Try: Franco 30' c Tounesi 58' c Vecchini 61' c Con: Sillari (3/3) 31', 59', 62' |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) |
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Player of the Match:
Jade Konkel-Roberts
(Scotland)
Assistant referees:
Joy Neville (Ireland)
Adele Roberts (Belgium)
Television match official:
Ian Tempest (England)
Notes:
- Lisa Thomson (Scotland) earned her 50th test cap.
- This was Scotland's first Women's Six Nations victory since defeating Wales 27–20 in 2021. It is also the first victory over Italy since defeating them 14–12 in the 2017 tournament.
| 23 April 2023 15:15 UTC+2) |
| (1 BP) France | 39–14 | Wales |
| Try: R. Ménager 1' c Hermet 10' c Llorens (2) 25' c, 40' +1 m Escudero 44' m Bernadou 78' m Con: Trémoulière (3/6) 3', 11', 26' Pen: Trémoulière (1/1) 6' | Report | Try: G. Evans 52' c Pyrs 57' c Con: Snowsill (2/2) 53', 58' |
| Stade des Alpes, Grenoble Attendance: 18,604 Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy) |
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Player of the Match:
Gaëlle Hermet (France)
Assistant referees:
Katherine Ritchie (England)
Mary Pringle (Scotland)
Television match official:
Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Notes:
- Abbey Constable (Wales) made her international debut.
- The attendance of 18,604 was a new Women's Six Nations record, surpassing the 15,683 spectators in attendance for the England v Ireland match the previous year.
Round 5
| 29 April 2023 13:00 Davies 60' m Con: Rowland (3/5) 26', 33', 40' +3 | Report | Try: Boulard 49' c Vernier 56' c Escudero 66' c Gros 76' m Banet 80' c Con: Trémoulière (3/4) 50', 57', 67' Arbez (1/1) 80' +1 |
| Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 58,498 Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa) |
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Player of the Match:
Sadia Kabeya (England)
Assistant referees:
Lauren Jenner (New Zealand)
Maria Heitor (Portugal)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Notes:
- This was the 78th and final test match for Jessy Trémoulière (France) who announced her retirement before the beginning of the tournament.[18]
- This was the 86th and final game for Simon Middleton as England head coach, who had been in charge since 2015.[18]
- As a result of this match, England won their 19th Women's Six Nations title (their 5th in succession) and their 17th Grand Slam.
- This was England's first standalone fixture to be played at Twickenham.[19]
- The attendance of 58,498 set a new world record for the highest attendance at a women's rugby union match, surpassing the attendance of 42,579 at the World Cup final the previous year.[20]
| 29 April 2023 15:30 UTC+2) |
| Italy | 10–36 | Wales (1 BP) |
| Try: Madia 26' c Con: Sillari (1/1) 27' Pen: Sillari (1/1) 33' | Report | Try: B. Lewis 24' c Tuipulotu 38' c Harries 50' c Callender 60' m Lake 70' c Con: Bevan (3/4) 25', 39', 51' Snowsill 71' Pen: Bevan (1/1) 7' |
| Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Attendance: 3,213 Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland) |
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Player of the Match:
Alex Callender (Wales)
Assistant referees:
Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Mary Pringle (Scotland)
Television match official:
Ben Blain (Scotland)
Notes:
- Amelia Tutt (Wales) made her international debut.
- This was the final test match for Sara Barattin (Italy) and Caryl Thomas (Wales), respectively with 116 and 65 caps, who announced their retirements before the beginning of the tournament.
| 29 April 2023 19:30 Sara Cox (England ) |
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Player of the Match:
Meryl Smith (Scotland)
Assistant referees:
Clara Munarini
Katherine Ritchie (England)
Television match official:
Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Notes:
- Ireland's defeat meant that they claimed the wooden spoon for the first time since 2004. As this was their fifth successive defeat and as the men had won the Grand Slam the same year, this was the first year in which one senior team for the same country won all five games and the other lost all five games.
Statistics
Top points scorers
|
Top try scorers
|
Broadcast
| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
 Australia
|
Stan Sport |
 United Kingdom
|
BBC Sport |
| France
|
France TV |
 Republic of Ireland
|
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| Italy
|
Sky Sport Italia |
Notes
- ^ Sarah Hunter and Marlie Packer were named as England co-captains for the opening round of the tournament, before Packer became the sole team captain following Hunter's retirement from rugby.[3]
References
- ^ "Extensive broadcast and digital coverage set to expand the reach of the 2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations". TikTok Women's Six Nations. 2022-08-24. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ "England to play first standalone Twickenham match". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- ^ "Sarah Hunter and Marlie Packer to co-captain England". BBC Sport. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ "Stadiums for the 2023 Six Nations Tournament". Fédération Française de Rugby (in French). Retrieved 2022-10-11.
- ^ "How Gaëlle Mignot became France co-coach in only a few months". World Rugby. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- ^ "Raineri new Italy head coach after Di Giandomenico steps down". TikTok Women’s Six Nations. 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ "2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations". Scottish Rugby. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- ^ "NZ naval officer Kate Williams set for Wales debut". BBC Sport. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Clifford honoured to share debut with Hunter farewell". TikTok Women's Six Nations. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Liz Crake on juggling dentistry with an England debut". BBC Sport. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Francesca McGhie backed to make her mark in Six Nations". Herald Scotland. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Former Canada prop Mackenzie Carson to make surprise start for England". The Telegraph. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "England captain Sarah Hunter to retire after Six Nations opener". The Guardian. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "England make three changes, including a debut for Delaney Burns". Rugby Pass. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Women's Six Nations 2023: Emma Sing to make first England start against Wales". BBC Sport. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "Wales make two changes for England Women's Six Nations clash as acid test approaches". Wales Online. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ "Six Nations féminin : record d'affluence et 4e victoire pour les Bleues". Le Point (in French). 23 April 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ a b Rendell, Sarah (28 April 2023). "Red Roses eye records and Six Nations title for Middleton's grand finale". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ "England to play first standalone Twickenham match". BBC Sport. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ Grey, Becky (29 April 2023). "England 38-33 France: Red Roses clinch Women's Six Nations Grand Slam at Twickenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2023.