Women’s Six Nations 2026: England ‘will go into trenches’ to clinch Grand Slam

England have carved another piece of history into their legacy by winning the 2026 Women’s Six Nations.

No team – men’s or women’s – has won a World Cup and a Six Nations. England did it in the space of eight months, extending their record-breaking winning streak to 38 Tests in the process.

They achieved this despite repeated tests of their squad depth, with four players, including captain Joe Stratford, missing due to pregnancy and more than a dozen players missing matches due to injury. Only six of the players who started in last year’s World Cup final were in the starting XV against France.

Head coach John Mitchell made five Championship debuts, recalled Delaney Burns and Liz Crake after a three-year absence, and forced desperate moves into his forward pack, notably fielding a different second-row pairing each game.

“It was great to win the World Cup at home, but what we’ve navigated through this tournament – young people coming through, having our partners at home and becoming mothers, and going through rehabilitation, these girls are so brave,” a tearful Mitchell told BBC Sport.

“I have to take my hat off to the staff and the coaching staff. I want to thank the guys who do all the work behind the team, for navigating through so many changes but it’s made us such a good coaching unit.”

However, the New Zealander, who is yet to taste defeat since taking over the role at the end of 2023, is not one to rest on his laurels.

This latest win is just part of the evolutionary process and the first step towards back-to-back World Cup titles.

“We wanted to be really intentional around winning because in four years, we want to do the same thing,” Mitchell said.

“The generation that has joined us on this voyage, they are a different kettle of fish and have a lot of confidence. Meg has done a great job helping them understand what the red rose means.

“We’re in a really good place and today was the first step to be intentional in terms of what we want to do in four years. That’s why I showed a lot of passion because I love coaching this tournament and the girls showed it.”