World champions England outclass France to win eighth successive Women's Six Nations title and fifth straight Grand Slam
Jess Breach and Amy Cokayne score tries as resilient England halt France's fightback in second half in Bordeaux
Sarah Bern powered over before player of match Ellie Kildunne (2) and Breach scored tries to give Red Roses 26-7 half-time lead at Stade Atlantique
Pauline Bourdon Sansus had given France deserved lead as hosts dominated early on
All-conquering England have won their past 38 matches
Record crowd of 35,062 for a Women's Six Nations match in France
FT: France 28-43 England
Image source, Getty ImagesAnother trophy for England's collection. 38 Test wins in a row and counting.
Can they be stopped? We'll have to wait until the autumn, when the Red Roses return to the field in the WXV Global Series, to find out.
Until then, you can keep across all things rugby union right here on the BBC Sport website.
See you soon!
FT: France 28-43 England
That's a wrap on round five and the 2026 Women's Six Nations.
Here are Sunday's results and the final table:
FT: France 28-43 England
Rugby Union Weekly
Keep an eye out for the latest episode of the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, where the team will reflect on everything Women's Six Nations.
The next episode will be available on BBC Sounds later on Sunday.
Image source, Getty ImagesClick 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Wow. What a inspiration the Red Roses are for not just for women's rugby but for women's sport. Absolute class. Seem so down to earth as well. So much energy. Well done.
Mark, Exeter
I hope Borthwick and the England men are watching this! That's how to do it!!
Ben Walker
So proud of this team. It has been a privilege and pleasure to watch them and they really are a huge motivator for not just women’s rugby, but women’s sport in general.
Adam, Portsmouth
FT: France 28-43 England
England Rugby
England head coach John Mitchell, speaking to BBC Sport: "That was a great performance, that was tough and it took a lot at the start.
"I think we have evolved our game. When we created connection at the back, we are unstoppable and that try at half-time was a world-class try.
"It was great to win a World Cup at home but what we have navigated through this tournament and the youth that is coming through, we then have our mates at home and becoming mums and going through rehab, these girls are so brave, unbelievably driven and hold their values right until the end.
"I have to take my hat off to the staff and the coaching staff, I want to be grateful to the people who do all of the work behind the team, to navigate through so much change but that has made us such a better coaching unit."
FT: France 28-43 England
England Rugby
England captain Meg Jones speaking to BBC Sport: "I am not even tired, I would go again [but] I am buzzing for a week off.
"I always give my all, I am really passionate about this game and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I will always give back to it no matter how I am feeling. I will always put myself through the trenches for this team."
On if it was harder than winning the World Cup: "I think there was a lot more doubters and outside noise but we had good players and we just had to mould together. Defence is a mindset but you just have to front up and own your collision and it becomes so much easier."
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: France 28-43 England
France Rugby
French captain Manae Feleu speaking to BBC Sport: "I think the disappointment is what we put in everyday to play these games and we train everyday, so it is a lot of disappointment.
"I think it was small mistakes. We knew that England can do big things and we gave them what they needed to score the tries after our first try.
"I am really proud of the girls and I am really proud of the group, we still have a lot to work on. I want to congratulate England, they are world champions and there is a reason for that."
FT: France 28-43 England
A word on France, whose wait for a first Women's Six Nations title since 2018 goes on.
Once again, they've come unstuck against England.
It wasn't the nail-biting match-up we enjoyed in 2023 or 2025 but the scoreline doesn't reflect the attritional nature of the match.
After dominating the opening 20 minutes, the hosts will be wondering about what could have been. They didn't make their territory pay and were let down by poor set pieces and poor handling in key moments.
FT: France 28-43 England
England Rugby
England winger Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, speaking to BBC Sport: "I think there is always jeopardy. France have given us so many issues in the past. It is always hard, so we knew we had to be at our best. We really turned up."
England prop Sara Bern, speaking to BBC Sport: "I think well done to the youngsters and the senior players who have got them up to scratch. Playing for the Red Roses, it's the heart, passion and the high standards. This is a result of extremely hard work and a lot of detail behind the scenes and a lot of heart."
FT: France 28-43 England
England Rugby
Player of the match Ellie Kildunne speaking to BBC Sport: "I love playing France in France - it's massive. You cannot hear anything on the pitch and just hoping on the best but then silencing them and them asking for your autograph - after you cannot complain.
"I will always put pressure on myself, I always want to be better than the last game or training. As Roses we always want more. I just love being on the pitch."
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: France 28-43 England
England's players have spoken about the adversity they've faced.
Here's a reminder of some of the players they've missed...
Captain Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward, Rosie Galligan, and Lark Atkin-Davies missed the tournament through pregnancy.
Hannah Botterman, May Campbell, and Tatyana Heard missed the entire tournament through injury. ]
Alex Matthews, Natasha Hunt, and Morwenna Talling were ruled out after the championship opener while Lilli Ives Campion, Sadia Kabeya, Maddie Feaunati, and Kelsey Clifford all missed matches.
Five players made debuts, Ellie Kildunne played two matches on the wing, flanker Abi Burton filled in at second row and number eight, and Delaney Burns and Liz Crake returned to the fold after three-year absences.
FT: France 28-43 England
An emotional England captain Meg Jones speaking to BBC Sport: "It's been a mad couple of weeks. We've adapted so well as a team. We've faced so much adversity. The group is so resilient. We asked for a good defensive set because everyone was doubting it. We fronted up and showed what England is about. I'm super proud of the girls - a special, special group.
"The calibre of players we have we shouldn't have been doubted - we didn't. Maybe we let outside noise creep in. We wanted to raise the floor and we did that in abundance.
"I'm shattered. I've got some time off now but it's about doing 80 mins and showing up and that's all I do.
"Up the girls!"
FT: France 28-43 England
Image source, Getty ImagesEngland opened their title defence with a routine 33-12 win over Ireland in front of a record Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 at Allianz Stadium. Sarah Bern starred with two tries.
Women's Six Nations - England 33-12 Ireland
Image source, Getty ImagesScotland's record-breaking day at Murrayfield was spoiled by England. The Red Roses put on a show, running in 12 tries with braces for Ellie Kildunne and Sarah Bern as they won 84-7.
Women's Six Nations - Scotland 7-84 England
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was tries galore again in Bristol, with England scoring 10 tries in a 62-24 win over Wales to secure a fifth consecutive Triple Crown. Millie David - one of five players to make her debut for England in the championships - scored just 13 minutes into her international career, while Marlie Packer and Meg Jones bagged two tries apiece.
Women's Six Nations - England 62-24 Wales
Image source, Getty ImagesEngland made it four bonus-point wins from four in Parma, beating Italy 61-33. Veteran flanker Marlie Packer scored four tries to take her individual tally for the tournament to seven. However, for the second match in a row, questions were asked of England's defence with Italy scoring five times to earn a valuable bonus point.
Women's Six Nations - Italy 33-61 England
Image source, Getty ImagesWorld champions England outclassed France to clinch an eighth consecutive Six Nations title and a fifth successive Grand Slam, winning 43-28 in Bordeaux. Player of the match Ellie Kildunne scored twice as did winger Jess Breach.
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
The Slam was never, ever in doubt. It’s England and the rest. At this rate they could go another 40 games unbeaten. Not great for the Six Nations but England won’t care. It’s for the rest to catch up if they possibly can.
Mark, London
FT: France 28-43 England
Image source, Getty ImagesEngland full-back and player of the match Ellie Kildunne, speaking to BBC Sport about winning the Six Nations after being crowned world champions: "It's hard. It's never been done before. To be part of a team to make history once again, I'm proud of it. It wasn't easy. We knew it would be hard. The girls made me so proud. There's no team I'd rather play for. Big up to all the girls. Grand Slam baby!
"As a team we've had to show how adaptable we are. I don't think there's been a time we've had so much mixing and matching [with injuries and pregnancies]. It shows the depth in English rugby and the culture of the team to bring new people in. Never any doubts.
"I don't ever reflect on my own performance. I reflect on the team. I was surprised I was man of the match. 14 other people deserved it.
"We've got lots to learn. That's the exciting thing. We've won a Grand Slam but we've still got room to grow."
FT: France 28-43 England
And there it is! The trophy goes up. Gold ticker tape and purple fireworks burst into the sky.
"We are the Champions" rings around the stadium. England's players eagerly join in.
Yet another Red Roses triumph.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: France 28-43 England
The England players are collecting their medals, hugging the trophy as they go by.
Meg Jones is at the back of the line, waiting to get her hands on it.
FT: France 28-43 England
Image source, Getty ImagesEngland's Sadia Kabeya speaking to BBC Sport: "That was crazy, in the first 20 minutes I was blowing. It was hard but we just did it. It is always a battle with the French, it always goes back and forth.
"It was a very tough game but when the subs came on it gave us hope and momentum and we felt that we could breath again."
FT: France 28-43 England
England are unbeaten in 38 consecutive Tests, a run stretching back to the 2022 World Cup final.
They haven't lost in the Women's Six Nations since March 2018 - that was 39 matches ago.
John Mitchell, who joined up with the Red Roses in late 2023, is yet to taste defeat as England head coach.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: France 28-43 England
Brian Moore
Former England hooker on BBC One
Don't underestimate the resolve you have to have just to keep doing what you are doing.
It is a difficult challenge to maintain for so long. Let's give England credit for actually going out and doing it.
