Both teams have placed first and second respectively in every Six Nations since 2020 and have gone face to face in the final each year since 2021. But England, in achieving their eighth consecutive win, marked the longest unbeaten streak since the competition began – held previously by the 2006-2012 England squad.
Despite an early try and a strong performance from France, England were able to gain momentum and fend off Les Bleues long enough for them to snatch victory.
John Mitchell’s squad featured Loughborough-linked athletes: Lightning captain Daisy Hibbert-Jones, alum Bo Westcombe-Evans, alongside current Loughborough students Lilli Ives Campion, Carmela Morrall, Sadia Kabeya, Haineala Lutui, and Helena Rowland.
Also in Bordeaux, a strong side for Scotland achieved third place overall, with Loughborough players Becky Boyd joining Elis Martin, Anne Young, Leia Brebner Holden, Helen Nelson, and Lucia Scott in donning Scottish kit.
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