"Kicks Off this Weekend" - 2024 Women's Six Nations: All Captains and Coaches Preview Ahead Of Opening Round

Long serving head coach Simon Middleton retired from the post last April, after England claimed their fifth consecutive Women's Six Nations title. Middleton's final match was the iconic Grand Slam decider against France, which set a new attendance record for a women's rugby match. 58,498 fans packed themselves into Twickenham, to see Marlie Packer lead her side to the title, in a 38-33 'classique'.

Packer was amongst a host of international rugby talents, who attended London's Marble Arch for the official launch event of the 2024 Women's Six Nations this past week. The back-row was joined by her head coach 'Mitch', as well as the representative head coaches and captains of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. England begin their Women's Six Nations campaign with a trip to Parma, as they take on Italy in Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium, the home of United Rugby Championship side Zebre.

England and Italy will close out the weekend's action on Sunday, with Saturday's fixtures including France vs Ireland in Le Mans and Wales hosting Scotland at the Cardiff Arms Park. So, ahead of the opening weekend of the competition, let's look back at the biggest talking points from each side, as they gear up for the 2024 Women's Six Nations.

2023 RECAP: Women's Six Nations Champions & WXV1 Champions / WORLD RANKING: 1st (96.18)

John Mitchell has brought some fresh faces into the side, who are getting set to make their England debuts in the 2024 Women's Six Nations. The head coach has called up three uncapped players, in the Exeter Chiefs duo of Maddie Feaunati and Lizzie Hanlon and Vicky Laflin of Trailfinders Women. Mitchell discussed what he's seen from each player at the launch event press conference.

JOHN MITCHELL: "So Lizzie Hanlon from Exeter. Very shy girl but very hard working. But each camp that she's come into, you can feel that she's getting more confident, she's getting clear on a role. We're obviously adjusting some technical things as well, which she is very receptive to."

"Maddie, I obviously spoke to her and her family in New Zealand. Obviously, we had to get through some red tape as well. I knew that she was in a in pre-season with the Hurricanes (since joined Exeter), so she's going to be well prepared. You wouldn't believe it, but I think Sarah (Hunter) and Louis (Deacon) were talking to her the other day, and she already understands just about 90% of the playbooks.

"So it's like pretty exceptional, she's obviously done some study and somebody within the team has obviously helped her with that as well which is really encouraging. She's driven she, she wants to be the best. I like her attitude, I like her drive. Then we've got Vicky, as Katie Buchanan got a syndesmosis ankle injury, so Vicky got the call."

"I've seen her train this morning, and she's like any new player, having to learn a lot and adjust. I still think she's got some attributes that can be one of the best wingers in the world, in the air. She has the ability to run with the ball, we'll help her game in a couple of areas. She's a good tackler, but I think she can add to her attacking game by adding a kick. So we'll look to develop that with her."

Marlie Packer is set to make her 100th England appearence against Italy, yet the Saracen is more excited to get her side back up and running rather than focus on her century milestone. Packer is excited to be joined by some returning England legends in the camp, as Emily Scarratt, Abby Ward and Zoe Harrison have all been named in the wider training squad.

MARLIE PACKER: "I'm just super excited to be fair, just more excited about kicking off the tournament. I think as you've seen the Red Roses in WXV, we've changed the way we're playing. We're now evolving, and I think we've had the break for PWR. We've all enjoyed that first half of the season. But now we've come together, we just want to get the Six Nations kicked off. About the 100th cap, it's more of a 'I just want to get out there and play'.

"We've got the likes of Abby Ward, Emily Scarratt and Zoe Harrison coming back. You know, those types of caliber players which we haven't seen since that (2022) World Cup Final, actually, I think I'm more excited to see them come back in than for me to get my 100th cap, next week (against Italy) hopefully."

2023 RECAP: Women's Six Nations - 5th / WXV2 - 2nd / WORLD RANKING: 7th (75.61)

England's opponents for the opening round of the tournament, Italy Women will be looking to replicate the impressive performances of their Men's team and achieve some upset victories. The Azzurri men achieved a draw against France and a win over Wales, to finish in fifth place for Gonzalo Quesada's first competition in charge. Italy Women defeated Ireland 24-7 in last season's Championship, and too achieved a fifth placed finish in the table.

Italy Women's captain Elisa Giordano expressed how the side has been inspired by the recent success of the men in blue, and likened her side to an 'diesel engine', that may start slow against England, but is looking to finish the competition strong. She discussed how qualifying for the 2025 Rugby World Cup was the goal of the tournament, in what would see her side finish third in the overall rankings.

ELISA GIORDANO: "We of course want to win, to win as much as possible and to write to the qualifications of the World Cup with the Six Nations. So our first game against England is of course the toughest test we have. But we can try to see this match as a test to improve ourself and to understand at what point we are at."

"Of course, we try to get inspiration and make the same boat as Italy (men). As a nation we are kind of like a diesel engine, so we'll start slowly then improve game by game, match by match, and we are trying to finish our tournament better than we started, and to improve on going up. Of course, the results of the men's national team are positive for us."

Italy head coach Giovanni Raineri then discussed one of his most talked about talents, in centre Beatrice Rigoni. The Sale Sharks star has been tearing up the PWR this season, despite her club not reaching the heights she would have hoped for. Rigoni is one such player who could be set for a future return to Italy, after the FIR's landmark annoucement of launching women's franchises with Benetton Treviso and Zebre Parma, to grow the women's side of the sport on home soil.

GIOVANNI RAINERI: "Lots of your journalist are asking about Beatrice Rigoni. So, we can say she's making a good improvement here in England. We are happy about that. Even if Sale Sharks are not doing good in the tournament now, but I know she's doing a good job here. Also Sara Tounesi, they play together with the Sale Sharks. They starting to play really good rugby. Beatrice, you know is full of fantasy, she's always tried to do some different rugby and she has a (different) rugby style, so we must accept that, because it's part of her."

2023 RECAP: Women's Six Nations - 6th / WXV3 - Champions / WORLD RANKING: 10th (71.52)

The underdogs coming into the competition, Ireland have often struggled in the Women's Six Nations yet did get their hands on silverware last Autumn. Ireland lifted the trophy to cap off the inaugural WXV3 competition, with a trifecta of wins over Kazakhstan, Colombia and Spain.

Former England scrum half Scott Bemand is ready to lead his side through his first Women's Six Nations, after taking over the reins as head coach back in July. Bemand was formerly the England Women's backs coach, and is excited to enter the competition with a new side and more responsibilities.

SCOTT BEMAND: "Really exciting, new challenge. Obviously, we don't shy away of looking at what sort of went on in the last six nations, but the group has come together, we've done WXV, we built some winning momentum, built some connections and just excited about getting going into this Six Nations."

"I don't know if it's more of a challenge (than coaching England). It's a younger program, with England, professionalism started a few years before (Ireland), so you could say the maturity of the program is on a couple of years. But how people are developing within the program, when we get people back together, girls that are playing in the UK, are clearly developing. Girls that are in the Ireland program, the centralised program, or the non-centralised program.

"So there's a reasonable amount of touch points, we're going to continue to grow those touch points as we go through. But I'd say, the challenges have always existed a bit like that. When you get back into camp, there's a palpable level of excitement to get back in a room together."

Ireland take on France in their opening game, who outside of the reigning champions England, look like the front-runners for the 2024 title. Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon spoke at the competition launch event, about how she is readying her side to test their mettle in a fiery French atmosphere. The Exeter Chiefs back row recalled her trip to Toulouse from two years ago, and the impressive crowd that was drawn.

EDEL MCMAHON: "I loved playing there two years ago in Toulouse, loosen that was a full crowd. We actually chatted about our experiences on the pitch. I just heard quite a lot of noise. Yes, the line-breaka, a big hit, try score, turn over momentum, and that is engulfed while you're on the pitch. But you don't really pick up those little things like drums or whistles going (in the crowd). I think you kind of found that a little bit different on the sideline. Maybe from an Irish perspective, maybe the crowd liked us a bit more."

"Sometimes you kind of zone out of it. I feel like you focus more into the game. And it's just background noise. It does help then when you're on the front foot and the crowd was what you. It's just an experience to relish."

2023 RECAP: Women's Six Nations - 3rd / WXV1 - 6th / WORLD RANKING: 6th (76.76)

Wales are a side that continue to improve in every performance. Along with Ireland and Scotland, Ioan Cunningham's side are bringing through their next generation in the Celtic Challenge, in a push to close the gap between England & France, and the rest of the Six Nations pack. Wales' women's side went professional in 2022, and the WRU more than doubled their contracts from 14 to 25 last year.

The continued growth saw Wales finish third in the 2023 Women's Six Nations, as stars like world-beating prop Sisilia Tuipulotu emerged for the Red Dragons. The 3rd place finish earned Wales a spot in the top flight of WXV, yet they struggled in defeats to Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Head coach Cunningham and captain Hannah Jones spoke at the launch event, and laid out their ambitions for the upcoming tournament.

Out of the 36 players selected for Cunningham's Women's Six Nations squad, 13 of them play their club rugby at Gloucester-Hartpury. Skipper Jones is amongst the contingent, lead the side to win their first league title, in last season's Allianz Premier 15s campaign. Cunningham discussed the strong proportion of Cherry and Whites in the national side, and the team cohesion this builds for Wales.

IOAN CUNNINGHAM: "Yeah, 100% I think the momentum that Gloucester-Hartpury can bring into camp with us, you know, there's 13 players there at Gloucester-Hartpury, So we're excited by that. And we've got to capitalize on that momentum for sure. And how do you bring that momentum if they're playing for Gloucester and other players, to express themselves as they have been for Gloucester Hartpury, which is really important. combinations are key as well, I think we looked at about two or three games back-to-back, five of the back-line were Welsh, of the seven. So that's something good for us and Welsh combinations are important that we can capitalize at Test level."

HANNAH JONES: "Yes, just using the momentum to our advantage really. We've learned how to deal with momentum, few of us over the border and just having that winning mindset. We've had a few tough close games in the Premiership, like at Exeter a couple of weeks ago. It's just keeping calm more and more, thinking about the next job and not getting ahead of ourselves. And we play our game within 20 minutes, 20 minutes each time. So it's not going ahead of yourself in the game, keeping calm and making the right decisions at the time."

2023 RECAP: Women's Six Nations - 4th / WXV2 - Champions / WORLD RANKING: 8th (74.37)

Scotland Women ended their 21-year wait for a major trophy last Autumn, as they narrowly secured the top spot to win WXV2. After three bonus point wins against South Africa, the United States and Japan, Scotland sat on par with Italy at the top of the tree. The tournament was ultimately decided by a marginal points difference, with Scotland taking the top spot with +55, narrowly edging over Italy's +53.

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson and captain Rachel Malcolm were next up for the press conference, and laid out their plans for a successful campaign in the 2024 Women's Six Nations. Malcolm discussed the importance of getting her hands on a trophy in South Africa last year, and the momentum that her side can carry into the upcoming Championship.

RACHEL MALCOLM: "I think the last couple of years in particular, we've known that we've been building something pretty special. But it's been tough, because not always like you say, we were picking up losing borders, points for fun, week after week and became a bit of a talent for us. And I think that kind of coming up just short became a habit. But we knew that the ingredients were there, we just weren't getting all of them together at the same time. WXV was a bit of a turn of turning of the tides in the sense of, at no point did we falter in that month that we were in South Africa, whether that be on the pitch or off the pitch. Which is probably the first time in a tournament, we've managed to do that.

"I think, we know what the ingredients are now and we kind of know how to put them together. And I'm not saying there won't be hurdles along the way that we have to face, But I think having come up against them and jumped over them now and proved to ourselves we can do it, I think that's going to be massive for us moving forward. And I think, you know, it's easily the best month in my life and just in terms of the culture that we've got within the group at the minute, it is such a fun place to be. And that also breeds performances on the pitch. so I think like we've come back in and it's like we've never been away. We've obviously all been apart for quite a long time but it's literally just like a family getting back together."

BRYAN EASSON: "As Rachel said, last year was really quite tough Six Nations wise. But I think it was between eight and 10 players senior players out, including the sevens players. We've got them back as well. We've got some senior players back and some youngsters, but we've won six on the bounce for the first time since 2001, which for us is huge. To get the crowds that Rachel was talking about as well.

"So to keep those performances where, some of our attack has been good, some of defence been excellent. Our line-out has been great. So it's consolidating that and really pushing on. If you look at the Six Nations, it is probably the toughest of the two years, if you think we have got England and France at home and then Wales, Italy, Ireland away, it's tough for us. But the confidence that we have, and the performances we've been putting in would beat that, so the challenge is, can we just keep pushing that performance on?"

2023 RECAP: Women's Six Nations - 2nd / WXV1 - 5th / WORLD RANKING: 3rd (87.89)

Rounding off our run-down of the 2024 Women's Six Nations sides, France have a clear mission in their quest to re-gain their crown; beat England. Les Bleus last won the Six Nations title in 2018, and have been routinely unsuccessful in their plights since then, to overthrow England at the top of the table. France were a hair's width away last year, having narrowed down a 33-0 half-time lead to lose by just five points at Twickenham.

Along with England, France have already qualified for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, but were overall frustrated by their inaugural WXV1 campaign. Despite ending the Black Ferns' 16-test winning streak in the opening match, Les Bleus suffered upset defeats to Australia and Canada, and will be searching for a return to winning form in the upcoming Six Nations. France Women captain Manae Felu and head coach Gaelle Mignot spoke at the launch event, about the mission objective of triumph against the Red Roses.

MANAE FELEU: "England are a really big team. They are one of the best teams but I think last year, we showed that we weren't really far from that. In our second half, I think we showed that we can rival them, we can take them on. And I think this year, we really want to show the same face that we showed in that second half during the game."

"I don't think there's much chasing to do I think it's more of a focus on ourselves. We need to be to work more on our strengths because we are really different teams with different strengths and weaknesses. And for the past years, I think England have been better than us in working on their strengths. And we need to be on with our strengths as well in this tournament."

GAELLE MIGNOT: (via translator) "The WXV has been really important for us to build the team and say that the team has really stepped up since that WXV Tournament. And we're developing and we got together in January for some training. And we see that the game is really improving. And we have a team that's highly motivated. Team members are giving their best and they're ready to put their boots on and put the boot in."