Breakthrough opportunity for women's rugby

The Red Roses of England Rugby will take another huge step forward whey play their first standalone fixture at Twickenham in next season’s Women’s Six Nations tournament. 

England Women have played at Rugby HQ before but that was combined with a men’s game, and this fixture against France on April 29 will be a breakthrough moment. 

The RFU has already stated its ambition fill Twickenham for a women’s game by 2025 and this fixture will be the next stage in achieving that aim.  

England open their Six Nations campaign at Kingston Park, Newcastle on March 25 against Scotland, followed by a visit from Italy to Northampton’s Franklin’s Gardens. England then play away in Wales and Ireland before the showpiece visit from France. 

Before all that excitement, however, England go into next month’s World Cup in New Zealand as pre-tournament favourites. 

In the Women’s Super League on Wednesday night, Chelsea recovered from conceding an early goal at home to West Ham to secure a 3-1 victory, while Rangers Women suffered heartbreak in the Champions League, conceding a last-minute equaliser at Benfica before going out in extra time. 

A final congratulations to Zoe Newson, who won her second European Para-powerlifting title in the women’s 45kg class in Tblisi.