What Is 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship

Overview

The 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship was the 18th edition of the annual international rugby union competition contested by six European nations: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. It served as a key preparatory tournament ahead of the 2021 Rugby World Cup, with teams using it to test strategies and player depth.

Played from February 1 to March 16, 2019, the championship followed a round-robin format where each team faced the others once. France emerged victorious with a historic Grand Slam—their first since 2002—after winning all five of their matches, a feat that marked a major resurgence in French women's rugby.

• France defeated England 15–10 in the decisive final match on March 16, securing both the Championship and the Grand Slam in front of a record crowd at Parc des Princes.
• The tournament featured 15 matches played over six matchdays, with games typically scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays to maximize broadcast visibility and fan attendance.
• France accumulated 20 points in the standings, winning all five games with four victories by 10 or more points, demonstrating both consistency and dominance.
• England finished second with 16 points after winning four matches, but their narrow loss to France cost them both the title and a chance at a Grand Slam.
• Wales recorded their first win since 2015 by defeating Italy 20–12 on March 9, boosting morale despite finishing fourth in the final standings.

How It Works

The Women's Six Nations operates on a structured format similar to its men's counterpart, with standardized rules for scoring, standings, and tiebreakers. Each team plays five matches over seven weeks, with points awarded based on results and bonus criteria.

• Match Format: Each game lasts 80 minutes, divided into two 40-minute halves, with two points awarded for a win and one for a draw under standard tournament rules.
• Scoring System: Teams earn 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, and 0 for a loss, with additional bonus points for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or fewer.
• Grand Slam Definition: A team achieves a Grand Slam by won all five matches in a single tournament, a rare accomplishment last achieved by France in 2019.
• Standings Tiebreakers: If teams are level on points, rankings are decided first by points difference, then tries scored, and finally head-to-head results.
• Player Eligibility: Players must be citizens of the nation they represent and registered with their national union, with no foreign-born player caps allowed unless through residency rules.
• Refereeing Standards: Matches are officiated by World Rugby–certified referees, with video assistant referees (VAR) used selectively to review key decisions during televised games.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of final standings in the 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship based on points, wins, and key performance metrics.

France’s dominance was evident not only in their perfect win record but also in their points difference of +82, far surpassing England’s +71. Italy and Ireland both earned five points but finished below Wales due to inferior points difference, highlighting how marginal performances influenced final rankings.

Why It Matters

The 2019 Women's Six Nations was a landmark event for women's rugby, showcasing increased competitiveness, growing fan engagement, and rising media coverage. Its outcomes had lasting implications for national team development and global rugby strategy.

• France’s Grand Slam victory marked a turning point in European women’s rugby, reestablishing them as a dominant force after nearly two decades without a title.
• Record attendance of 28,000 at Parc des Princes for the France vs. England match demonstrated growing public interest and commercial viability of women’s rugby.
• Increased broadcast deals from BBC and France Télévisions helped expand visibility, with all matches streamed live or televised across the UK and France.
• Player development pathways were strengthened in nations like Wales and Italy, using the tournament as a benchmark for future investment in grassroots programs.
• World Rugby used the results to refine rankings ahead of the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup, influencing seeding and qualification dynamics.
• Sponsorship interest grew significantly post-tournament, with brands like Land Rover and Macron increasing investments in women’s team kits and training facilities.

The 2019 championship not only elevated the profile of women’s rugby but also set a precedent for future tournaments, proving that high-level competition and public support are both achievable and sustainable.