5 Things You Missed: Women's Six Nations Round 1

As we gear up for round 2, make sure you definitely caught these moments from round 1!

Women’s rugby is on an upward trajectory and is set for its biggest ever year with the World Cup in England later in 2025. Even so, s the Six Nations got underway this weekend, there are still plenty of things that happened that you probably missed. Here’s 5:

Ref Gets Her Steps In

The clash between England and Italy in York was reduced to almost comedy levels at times as Zimbabwean referee Precious Pazani was repeatedly forced to run the full length of the pitch to view the one and only screen in the ground - a football style small VAR screen on a tripod behind England’s in-goal area - so she could pass judgement on what were mostly clear and obvious calls that the TMO could have relayed to her without making her take the trip. This was not only a bizarre spectacle in an international rugby match but also robbed the game of any flow or momentum. The Telegraph has since called the fiasco a “blight” on the opening weekend which must not be permitted to happen at the World Cup in a few months time.

Morgane Bourgeois Wins it For France

France and Ireland both scored three tries when they met on Saturday but the French prevailed by twelve points thanks to the boot of their twenty-two year old winger Morgane Bourgeois. Having a reliable goal kicker is still a huge advantage in some women’s rugby fixtures and Bourgeois comes into this tournament having previously been the top scorer in the French Elite 1 league, in which she plays for current champions Bordeaux. Her ability to knock over penalty goals when Ireland were zero from three off the tee gave France breathing space whilst down to fourteen.

Lisa Thompson is Really Good

A player being scandalously omitted from most people’s team of the round is Scotland’s inside centre Lisa Thompson. Thompson is an elite rugby player and one who excels at both fifteens and sevens. Against Wales she ranked 2nd overall for line-breaks and carries, 3rd overall for metres and top for both contact metres and rucks won. When the women’s Lions comes along she would be fully deserving of a seat on that plane to New Zealand.

Flo Finally Feels the Light

Flo Robinson was supposed to make her debut for the Red Roses back in 2021 against France, but the game was abandoned as the floodlights at the ground failed. Four years later, the twenty-three year old Exeter player finally got another chance as she came off the bench on 66 minutes as she replaced Lucy Packer at scrum half. She finished the game with the 5th most touches of anyone.

Keira Keeps On Delivering

Wales scrum half Keira Bevan has reached talismanic status for her country. Installed as co-captain and playing under new head coach Sean Lynn for the first time, she registered two try assists against Scotland as well as a line break and a game high sixty-five passes. She also nailed all three of her attempts at goal. Her Bristol Bears teammate Jaz Joyce was another back to her best as she made the most carries, metres and 2nd most turnovers of any woman in red.

Thank you for reading! During the W6N I will also be naming my top performer from each and every match, you can catch it on HG Rugby TikTok and YouTube Shorts!