Slam Final: Emma Sing, who plays full-back for the Red Roses, didn’t expect a call from head coach John Mitchell while she was in a crochet class—one of the team’s favorite hobbies.
It was Monday evening, the first day of a big training week before Saturday’s Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam match against France at Twickenham.
The 24-year-old hadn’t played since the opening game against Italy and was okay with being behind Ellie Kildunne, the world player of the year. But when she saw a missed call from Mitchell, she knew something had changed.
She called him back and found out Kildunne had a small hamstring injury, so Sing would be starting in the final match.
After the announcement, Mitchell praised Sing, calling her “world class.” He said this match would be a great chance to give her some solid game time before the Rugby World Cup.
When asked on BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly if France might try to challenge Sing in the air, Mitchell replied, “Good luck if they do.” He said Emma is a strong tackler, great in the air, and doesn’t need to play like Kildunne—she has her own style, running hard and being tricky to stop.
“She can break through defenses too,” he added.
Sing started playing for England in 2022 and is known for her accurate goal-kicking. She’s scored 288 points for Gloucester-Hartpury in the past two league seasons.
But it was her running game that stood out in the match against Italy—she broke through the defense three times and scored a try, showing she’s ready for top-level rugby.
“Emma’s been the best full-back in the league,” Mitchell said. “This gives us a chance to adjust and handle the situation.”
Women’s Six Nations Table So Far
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | PD | Bonus | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 184 | 4 | 20 |
| 2 | France | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 3 | 19 |
| 3 | Ireland | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 10 |
| 4 | Italy | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -80 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | Scotland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -80 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Wales | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -114 | 1 | 1 |
I Know What Aitchison Is Capable Of
The Red Roses have won 24 games in a row and are aiming for their 15th straight win over France. If they win, they’ll claim their seventh Six Nations title and their fourth Grand Slam in a row.
France last played at Twickenham in 2023, when they scored 33 points in the second half but just missed making a huge comeback.
In last year’s match, England played well from start to finish and won 42-21 in Bordeaux to earn their third Grand Slam in a row.
Fly-half Holly Aitchison led England to that win and was expected to keep her place this season, but coach John Mitchell has been rotating between three players in that position.
Helena Rowland, who will be on the bench Saturday, played fly-half once against Italy. Aitchison started at fly-half in last weekend’s big win over Scotland.
Zoe Harrison, who started the 2022 World Cup final, played well in wins against Wales and Ireland. She’s starting this game because of her strong kicking skills.
Mitchell thinks using a smart, practical game plan works best in high-pressure matches, and a good performance could help Harrison lock in her spot. But he says the decision isn’t simple.
“The World Cup is the real goal, and I already know what Holly can do,” Mitchell said. “But I still need to see more from Zoe and Helena. It would be risky to rely on just one player in 2025 if something happens to the others.”
Saturday’s game will also be the last time England can win a trophy at the same stadium where the World Cup final will be held in September.
“It feels exciting playing here, especially with a Grand Slam on the line,” Harrison told BBC Sport. “It helps us get used to playing in big finals and gives us more confidence.”
