England's women's national team, known as the Red Roses, delivered a spectacular performance at Ashton Gate, overwhelming Wales with a total of ten tries in a 62-24 rout that cemented their flawless record in the 2026 Women's Six Nations. The match opened explosively, with Meg Jones and Marlie Packer each crossing the try line twice, while a host of other England players added to the tally. Debutant Millie David, Maddie Feaunati, Amy Cokayne, Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Jess Breach and Maud Muir all found the chalk, showcasing the depth and versatility of the squad.
The early minutes set the tone. Within six minutes, Feaunati broke through the Welsh defensive line, sprinting into the 22 and grounding the ball close to the posts, with Helena Rowland converting the effort. Just moments later, David collected a long pass from Holly Aitchison, surged down the wing and scored, although her day was cut short after she failed a head‑injury assessment. Wales responded promptly; scrum‑half Keira Bevan snatched a ball from a ruck, darted through a gap and grounded her own try, converting it herself to narrow the deficit to 12‑7.
England quickly re‑established control. Flanker Marlie Packer powered over, and centre Meg Jones produced a solo run that earned England a bonus‑point try, with Rowland adding the conversion.
Wales managed a well‑executed line‑out move that saw hooker Jones score, but the Red Roses entered the halftime break with a commanding 29‑12 lead, the result of a fluid attacking sequence that involved Moloney‑MacDonald and Ellie Kildunne. The second half saw England maintain relentless pressure. Hooker Amy Cokayne peeled off the back of a rolling maul to score, and Rowland added the two points.
Wales suffered a setback when full‑back Kayleigh Powell received a yellow card for a deliberate knock‑on, reducing their defensive options. Moloney‑MacDonald capitalised on the ensuing space, finishing in the corner, while Jess Breach added the eighth England try, converted by substitute Zoe Harrison. Subsequent scores from Packer and Maud Muir, both converted by Harrison, pushed the English total to ten.
Scotland’s final try came from lock Seren Lockwood, securing a bonus point for Wales as the match clock expired. Marlie Packer was named player of the match. In her post‑game interview with the BBC she praised her teammates and the atmosphere at Ashton Gate: "We’re really pleased.
Wales gave us a tough game and have improved massively. Our young squad stepped up and I’m proud of their performance.
Wearing this shirt is an honour, and playing in front of a sold‑out crowd means everything to us. We want to give the fans a great show and enjoy every moment in camp. The Red Roses environment is fantastic and helps us produce this level of rugby." Wales head coach Sean Lynn also reflected on his side’s effort, highlighting character: "That’s what I asked for today – character. A year ago we might have collapsed, but the girls fought back with two tries and earned a bonus point.
We’re disappointed to have conceded 62 points, but England were clinical and deserved the win." Elsewhere in the tournament, the competition’s narrative shifted dramatically in the Stade Marcel‑Michelin as France faced Ireland. The French side secured a 26‑7 victory, demonstrating the unforgiving efficiency required at test level. Ireland displayed moments of brilliance, particularly through Aoife Wafer’s powerful carries, and even crossed the line four times in the first half, but only one try was awarded after a contentious decision.
Disallowed scores for Brittany Hogan and Emily Lane, coupled with a spectacular try‑saving tackle by Anaïs Grando, left the Irish side with a 7‑7 halftime score. Their inability to capitalise on multiple opportunities proved costly, and the French team’s disciplined, low‑error play ultimately prevailed, bringing Les Bleues level with England atop the standings. In Parma, Italy celebrated the 50th cap of veteran prop Silvia Turani by delivering a masterclass against Scotland, winning 41‑14.
The Azzurre executed a high‑tempo, precision‑driven game plan that left the Scots struggling to keep pace. Scotland’s campaign was hampered by the late withdrawal of captain Rachel Malcolm and a spate of injuries, which exposed a lack of depth against an Italian side that combined ambition with accuracy. The Italian performance underscored their rising stature in women’s rugby and set up an intriguing finale to the championship. Overall, the day highlighted England’s dominance, France’s resurgence, and Italy’s emerging power, while Wales and Ireland showed flashes of promise that will be crucial as the tournament approaches its concluding rounds.
The Red Roses’ ten‑try display not only reinforced their unbeaten run but also sent a clear message to their rivals: they are the benchmark for excellence in the 2026 Women’s Six Nations.