Red Roses Set to Dazzle in Six Nations Opener

It has been 196 days since England's Red Roses made history by winning the Women's Rugby World Cup for the third time, thrilling a record-breaking sold-out crowd at Twickenham. Now, as the Women's Six Nations kicks off on April 11, the Red Roses are ready to put on another show under the lights, with their iconic anthem Swing Low ringing out as they face Ireland at the Allianz Stadium. Meg Jones will lead the team for the first time, while over 75,000 fans are expected to cheer on the Roses. "It's fantastic to know that we can maintain those impressive numbers following the World Cup. As a nation, we've always been at the forefront of this," Jones said. "Our role is to entertain and provide a product that people want to come back and watch. We always talk about how amazing our fans are and the energy they bring. "I think back to the World Cup final and the incredible atmosphere, with Swing Low echoing around the stadium and cheering us on. The Red Roses haven't faced Ireland since last year's Six Nations, where they secured a convincing 49-5 win in Cork. They're now looking to extend their record-breaking winning streak of 33 tests. With expectations high that the Roses will claim their eighth consecutive Six Nations title and a Grand Slam, coach John Mitchell is under pressure to deliver, having gone unbeaten for two years. He's selected a familiar 32-woman squad, with 25 World Cup winners returning and just one new player, Haineala Lutui, earning her first cap. However, there will be a notable first when the two teams meet, as Irish hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald marks her 50th cap by facing her wife, England wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, for the first time. Ireland will be captained by Erin King, who missed out on the World Cup due to a knee injury. They'll be looking to challenge England's dominance, along with France, who are once again seen as the main contenders to England's throne. France have shown they can go toe-to-toe with the Red Roses, having reached the World Cup semi-finals and pushed England in recent battles. However, they need to convert these promising performances into a statement victory. Under new management, with Francois Ratier taking charge in January, France will be looking to break out of their "best of the rest" loop and potentially set up a Grand Slam decider against England in Bordeaux. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are all looking to shake up the tournament's traditional hierarchy. Ireland, in particular, seem capable of disrupting France's status as England's nearest challengers, having finished third last year and boasting a renewed sense of optimism. Scotland and Wales, meanwhile, are beginning new eras under fresh coaching teams. Scotland have genuine momentum and growing confidence, while Wales are looking to rebound from a disappointing World Cup and re-establish their identity. Wales will also be hoping to break their crowd record of 21,186 when they host Scotland at Principality Stadium on Saturday. The Welsh side was whitewashed in 2025, but coach Sean Lynn has had time to settle in and introduce new coaches and players, including nine new caps and captain Kate Williams.