The 2025 Six Nations kick off this weekend with the six giants of European rugby going head-to-head to see if anyone can topple England. This post goes into some basic detail about the teams and what you can expect from the competition in 2025.
Italy
Head Coach: Fabio Roselli
Captain: Elisa GIordano
Player to Watch: VIttoria Ostuni Minuzzi
World ranking: 8th
Last Year's Finish: 5th
Predicted FInish: 6th
Story-line to watch: After moving on from their previous head coach, Italy will be looking to take a step forward and challenge for the top half of the table in 2025.
Squad
Hookers: Laura Gurioli - Vittoria Vecchini
Props: Gaia Maris - Alessia Pilani - Sara Seye - Emmanueala Stecca - Silvia Turani
Locks: Giordana Duca - Valeria Fedright - Sara Tounesi
Back Row: Ilaria Arrighetti Giada Franco - Alessandra Frangipani - Elisa Giordano - Isabella Locatelli - Alissa Ranuccini - Francesca Sgorbini - Beatrice Veronese
Scrum-half: Francesca Granzotto - Sofia Stefan
Fly-half: Veronica Madia - Emma Stevanin
Centre: Alia Bitonci - Alyssa D'Inca - Sara Mannini - Beatrice Rigoni - Michela Silari
Back Three: Aura Muzzo - Beatrice Capomaggi - Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi
Wales
Head Coach: Sean Lynn
Captain: Hannah Jones
Player to Watch: Jasmine Joyce-Butchers
World ranking: 10th
Last year's finish: 6th
Predicted finish: 5th
Story-line to watch: Wales have struggled in recent times but the addition of serial winner Sean Lynn could well turn things around for Cymru.
Squad
Hooker: Rosie Carr - Kelsey Conner - Carys Phillips - Molly Reardon
Prop: Abbey Constable - Maisie Davies - Gwenilian Pyrs - Donna Rose - Jenni Scoble
Lock: Gwen Crabb - Georgia Evans - Natalia John - Alaw Pyrs
Back row: Alisha Joyce-Butchers - Alex Callender - Abbie Fleming - Gwennan Hopkins - Bryonie King - Bethan Lewis - Kate Williams
Scrum-half: Keira Bevan - Meg Davies - Sian Jones - Ffion Lewis
Fly-half: Robyn Wilkins
Centre: Catherine Richards - Carys Cox - Lleucu George - Hannah Jones - Kerin Lake
Back Three: Hannah Bluck - Jasmine Joyve-Butchers - Courtney Keight - Lisa Neumann - Jenny Hesketh - Nel Metcalfe - Kayleigh Powell
Scotland
Head coach: Bryan Easson
captain:Rachel Malcolm
Player to watch:
World ranking: 7th
last year's finish: 4th
Predicted finish: 4th
Story-line to watch: After Ireland have taken a step forward through development in the women's game, Scotland are at risk of being left behind. Can they close the gap?
Squad
Forwards
Leah Bartlett - Christine Belisle - Becky Boyd - Sarah Bonar - Elliann Clarke - Hollie Cunningham - Evie Gallagher - Adelle Ferrie - Jade Konkel - Rachel Malcolm - Elis Martin - Rachel McLachlan - Aila Ronald - Molly Poolman - Lana Skeldon - Alex Stewart - Anne Young - Molly Wright
Backs:
Leia Brebner-Holden - Beth Blacklock - Rhea Clarke - Rhona Lloyd - Caity Mattinson - Francesca McGhie - Liz Musgrove - Helen Nelson - Rachel Philipps - Chloe Rollie - Lucia Scott - Emma Orr - Lisa Thomson - Hannah Walker - Evie Willis Meg Varley
Ireland
Head coach: Scott Bemand
Captain: Edel McMahon/Sam Monaghan
Player to Watch: Aoife Wafer
World ranking:
Last year's finish: 3rd
Predicted finish: 3rd
Story-line to watch: Ireland have invested massively in women's rugby over the past few years and that has paid dividends. After some big wins in WXV 2, can Ireland challenge England and France?
Squad
Forwards
Alma Atagamen - Aoife Wafer - Beth Buttimer - Brittany Hogan - Christy Haney - Claire Boles - Cliodhna Moloney - Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird - Dorothy Wall - Edel McMahon - Erin King - Fiona Tuite - Grace Moore - Jane Clohessy - Jane Neill - Linda Djougang - Neve Jones - Niamh O'Dowd - Ruth Campbell - Sadhbh McGrath - Siobhan McCarthy - Sophie Barrett
Backs
Amee-Leigh Costigan - Amy Larn - Anna McGann - Aoibheann Reilly - Aoife Dalton - Beibhinn Parsons - Caitriona Finn - Dannah O'Brien - Emily Lane - Enya Breen - Eve Higgins - Katie Corrigan - Katie Heffernan - Meabh Deely - Molly Scuffii-McCabe - Nicole Fowley - Stacey Flood - Vicky Elmes-Kinian
France
Head coach: David Ortiz
Captain: Gaelle Hermet
Player to watch: Pauline Bourdon
World Ranking: 4th
Last year's finish: 2nd
Predicted finish: 2nd
Story-line to watch: Can the French finally overcome the dominance of the Red Roses in time to make a statement going into the 2025 World Cup.
Squad
Hooker: Manon Bigot - Gaelle Mignot - Elisa RIffoneau - Agathe Sochat
Prop: Rose Bernadou - Yilana Brosseau - Celia Domain - Charlotte Escudero - Clara Joyeux
Lock: Madoussou Fall - Manae Feleu - Hina Ikahehegi - Kiara Zago
Back row: Axelle Berthoumieu - Taina Maka
Scrumhalf: Ocean Bordes - Pauline Bourdon Sansus - Alexandra Chambon
Fly-half: Carla Abez - Morgane Bourgeois - Leah Champon - Lina Queyroi - Lina Tuy - Gabrielle Vernier
Centre: Nassira Konde - Marine Menager -
Back three: Montserrat Amedee - Kelly Arbey - Emilie Boulard - Melisande Llorens - Ambre Mwayembe - Seraphine Okemba
England
Head coach: John Mitchell
Captain: Zoe Aldcroft
Player to watch: Ellie Kildunne
World ranking: 1
Last year's finish: 1st
Predicted finish: 1st
Story-line to watch: England have become arguably the most dominant sporting force in World sport in recent years - maybe only challenged by Australia's women's cricket team. The Red Roses are going into a home World Cup in which they are almost expected to win. Can they handle that pressure?
Squad
Hooker: Lark Atkin-Davies - May Campbell - Amy Cokayne
Prop: Hannah Botterman - Sarah Bern - Mackenzie Carson - Kelsey Clifford - Maud Muir
Lock: Zoe Aldcroft - Charlotte Fray - Rosie Galligan - Lilli Ives Campion - Morwenna Talling - Abbie Ward
Back row: Sarah Beckett - Abi Burton - Maddie Feaunati - Sadia Kabeya - Alex Mathews - Marlie Packer
Scrum-half: Natasha Hunt - Lucy Packer - Flo Robinson
Fly-half: Holly Aitchison - Zoe Harrison - Helena Rowland
Centre: Tatyana Heard - Megan Jones - Emily Scarratt - Jade Shekells
Back three: Jess Breach - Abi Dow - Claudia MacDonald - Mia Venner - Ellie Kildunne - Emma Sing
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