The 2025 Ladies’s Six Nations will get underway on Saturday with Eire internet hosting France in Belfast, earlier than Scotland and Wales comply with in Edinburgh.
Defending champions England host Italy in York on Sunday to spherical off week one.
With a lot to look ahead to, listed here are 5 gamers to be careful for because the match will get underway.
1. Ellie Kildunne
Sure, it goes with out saying, however all eyes will once more be on the excellent Ellie Kildunne each within the Six Nations and World Cup this 12 months. The explosive fullback stole the present in 2024, main a bunch of metrics together with tries scored, whole factors, meters carried, meters gained and line breaks. An explosive ball runner who could make defenders really feel like they’re caught in a hurricane, Kildunne is likely one of the sport’s real superstars.
These performances noticed her named World Rugby’s girls’s participant of the 12 months in December and Kildunne will likely be trying to make an announcement of intent forward of the World Cup.
Kildunne will possible be flanked by Abby Dow and Jess Breach on the wings, making for a menacing English again three.
2. Aoife Wafer
One of many few gamers not from England or New Zealand to be named in World Rugby’s workforce of the 12 months in 2024, Aoife Wafer is an enforcer on either side of the ball. Nonetheless simply 21 years previous, the Irish back-row is dominant on the breakdown and a strong defender.
Wafer was a standout performer in Eire’s historic win over New Zealand final 12 months, scoring two tries. With Eire little doubt eager to kick on this time round, search for Wafer to make an impression.
3. Marine Ménager
A slick winger whose try-scoring document speaks for itself, Marine Ménager will hope so as to add much more to her tally in 2025. Ménager is vital to France’s assault and after being a standout within the final World Cup, all eyes will likely be on her going into the 2025 showpiece with followers hoping she will repeat these heroics.
Her first check comes within the Six Nations, with France trying to knock England off their perch and win the title for the primary time since 2018.
4. Holly Aitchison
The England No. 10 jersey is an iconic one and with it comes nice duty. Holly Aitchison has embraced that stress and risen to the event at each membership and worldwide stage.
A dynamic, quick-thinking fly-half, Aitchison has a powerful vary of passes which might break up open opposition defences within the blink of an eye fixed. With England little doubt craving ruthless, medical performances in preparation for the World Cup, Aitchison will likely be tasked with holding the facet shifting and making use of stress at each potential second.
5. Sophie Barrett
One in every of eight uncapped gamers in Eire’s squad trying to make their mark, Sophie Barrett was named the 20224 Ladies’s Six Nations Summer season Sequence MVP and will likely be tasked with stepping up this 12 months.
Barrett provides depth to the back-row shares and brings good kind into the competitors after a profitable Celtic Problem match with the Eire Clovers facet.
