The 2013 Women's Six Nations Championship, also known as the 2013 RBS Women's Six Nations, due to the tournament being sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 12th series of the annual women's rugby union competition. Matches were held in February and March 2013, on the same weekends as the men's tournament.
won their first championship, winning both a Triple Crown and a Grand Slam at the same time. In their opening match of the campaign, Ireland beat 12–10. Then on 9 February 2013 they defeated for the first time. Alison Miller scored a hat-trick of tries as Ireland won 25–0. On 23 February 2013 they clinched their first Triple Crown with a 30–3 win against Scotland. On 8 March 2013 Ireland effectively won the championship after they defeated France 15–10. It was confirmed the following day after failed to defeat England. Ireland eventually finished four points clear of runners-up France. Ireland secured the Grand Slam with a 6–3 away win against Italy on Saint Patrick's Day. Two penalties from Niamh Briggs gave Ireland their fifth win in a row.
Italy's defence was one of the revelations of the tournament - aside from the first half against England. This was by far their best ever Six Nations. Injuries to key players at the start of the tournament hampered France's challenge, but they were in magnificent form at home, won for the first time at Twickenham, and lost only narrowly in Italy and Ireland. Wales would also have been broadly content with their performance, with narrow defeats to Ireland and England - but wins over Italy and Scotland ensured World Cup qualification, which was their main aim. Scotland, on the other hand, suffered some horrendous defeats in a very disappointing campaign where they scored no tries and only three points. As for England, like 2009, the vast majority of their leading players were left out of the Six Nations squad to prepare for the forthcoming Sevens World Cup taking place in June in Russia, so they used the Sevens World Series as a warm-up for that event. Consequently, they had a largely inexperienced squad with only 3 players remaining from the successful series win over New Zealand in the autumn of 2012.
Table Position Nation Games Points Tablepoints Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference Tries 1 5 5 0 0 88 26 +62 12 10 2 5 3 0 2 160 48 +112 24 6 3 5 3 0 2 150 71 +79 23 6 4 5 2 0 3 55 79 –24 7 4 5 5 2 0 3 39 68 –29 2 4 6 5 0 0 5 3 203 –200 0 0
Fixtures and results
Week 1
ITALY: FB 15 Manuela Furlan RW 14 Michela Sillari OC 13 Maria Grazia Cioffi IC 12 Paola Zangirolami LW 11 Maria Diletta Veronese FH 10 Veronica Schiavon SH 9 Sara Barattin N8 8 Flavia Severin OF 7 Silvia Gaudino (C) BF 6 Michela Este RL 5 Alice Trevisan LL 4 Cristina Molic TP 3 Lucia Gai HK 2 Sara Zanon LP 1 Melissa Bettoni Replacements: HK 16 Debora Ballarini PR 17 Awa Coulibaly PR 18 Marta Ferrari LK 19 Cecilia Zublena FL 20 Ilaria Arrighetti SH 21 Vanessa Chindamo FH 22 Michela Tondinelli WG 23 Chiara Castellarin Coach: Andrea Di Giandomenico FRANCE: FB 15 Audrey Parra RW 14 Jade Le Pesq OC 13 Marjorie Mayans IC 12 Élodie Poublan LW 11 Caroline Ladagnous FH 10 Jessy Trémoulière SH 9 Marie-Alice Yahé (C) N8 8 Safi N'Diaye OF 7 Laëtitia Grand BF 6 Coumba Diallo RL 5 Marine De Nadaï LL 4 Sandra Rabier TP 3 Lisa Arricastre HK 2 Gaëlle Mignot LP 1 Hélène Ezanno Replacements: HK 16 Laëtitia Salles PR 17 Julie Duval PR 18 Elodie Portaries LK 19 Lénaïg Corson FL 20 Manon André FH 21 Sandrine Agricole CE 22 Lucille Godiveau WG 23 Elodie Guiglion Coach: Christian Galonnier
Assistant referees: Barbara Guastini (Italy) Monia Salvini (Italy) Assessor: Valeria Ballardini (Italy)
ENGLAND: FB 15 Lauren Cattell RW 14 Lydia Thompson OC 13 Abigail Chamberlain IC 12 Amber Reed LW 11 Kay Wilson FH 10 Ceri Large SH 9 Georgina Gulliver N8 8 Sarah Hunter (C) OF 7 Hannah Gallagher BF 6 Joanna McGilchrist RL 5 Emily Braund LL 4 Tamara Taylor TP 3 Rosemarie Crowley HK 2 Emma Croker LP 1 Kate Newton Replacements: HK 16 Victoria Fleetwood PR 17 Laura Keates PR 18 Rochelle Clark LK 19 Rebecca Essex FL 20 Harriet Millar-Mills SH 21 La Toya Mason CE 22 Sally Tuson WG 23 Fiona Pocock Coach: Gary Street SCOTLAND: FB 15 Steph Johnston RW 14 Lauren Harris OC 13 Annabel Sergeant IC 12 Lisa Ritchie LW 11 Megan Gaffney FH 10 Tanya Griffith SH 9 Louise Dalgliesh N8 8 Susie Brown (C) OF 7 Tess Forsberg BF 6 Mary Lafaiki RL 5 Bridget Millar-Mills LL 4 Lindsay Wheeler TP 3 Tracy Balmer HK 2 Sarah Quick LP 1 Heather Lockhart Replacements: PR 16 Beth Dickens PR 17 Suzanne McKerlie-Hex HK 18 Lindsey Smith LK 19 Rebecca Parker FL 20 Jade Konkel SH 21 Sarah Law CE 22 Leanne Neary WG 23 Laura Steven Coach: Karen Findlay
Assistant referees: Sarah Cox (England) Simon Bourne (England) Assessor: David Warren (England)
WALES: FB 15 Rosie Fletcher RW 14 Caryl James OC 13 Elen Evans IC 12 Rebecca De Filippo LW 11 Philippa Tuttiett FH 10 Elinor Snowsill SH 9 Amy Day N8 8 Rachel Taylor (C) OF 7 Sioned Harries BF 6 Catrina Nicholas RL 5 Shona Powell Hughes LL 4 Gemma Hallett TP 3 Catrin Edwards HK 2 Lowri Harries LP 1 Megan York Replacements: HK 16 Carys Phillips PR 17 Bethan Howell PR 18 Jenny Davies LK 19 Nia Davies N8 20 Vicky Owens SH 21 Laura Prosser FB 22 Dyddgu Hywel WG 23 Rafiuke Taylor Coach: Rhys Edwards IRELAND: FB 15 Niamh Briggs RW 14 Niamh Kavanagh OC 13 Grace Davitt IC 12 Jennifer Murphy LW 11 Alison Miller FH 10 Lynne Cantwell SH 9 Larissa Muldoon N8 8 Joy Neville OF 7 Claire Molloy BF 6 Laura Guest RL 5 Marie Louise Reilly LL 4 Sophie Spence TP 3 Ailis Egan HK 2 Gillian Bourke LP 1 Fiona Coghlan (C) Replacements: HK 16 Stacey-Lea Kennedy PR 17 Fiona Hayes PR 18 Lauren Day LK 19 Heather O’Brien FL 20 Siobhan Fleming SH 21 Amy Davis CE 22 Nora Stapleton WG 23 Ashleigh Baxter Coach: Philip Doyle
Assistant referees: Kelvin Shorte (Wales) Peter Evans (Wales) Assessor: Vernon Brown (Wales)
Week 2
FRANCE: FB 15 Caroline Ladagnous RW 14 Jade Le Pesq OC 13 Marjorie Mayans IC 12 Lucille Godiveau LW 11 Elodie Guiglion FH 10 Jessy Trémoulière SH 9 Marie-Alice Yahé (C) N8 8 Laëtitia Grand OF 7 Manon André BF 6 Coumba Diallo RL 5 Marine De Nadaï LL 4 Sandra Rabier TP 3 Elodie Portaries HK 2 Gaëlle Mignot LP 1 Aurélie Vernhet Replacements: HK 16 Laëtitia Salles PR 17 Julie Duval PR 18 Assa Koïta LK 19 Lénaïg Corson FL 20 Safi N'Diaye FH 21 Sandrine Agricole CE 22 Élodie Poublan WG 23 Audrey Parra Coach: Christian Galonnier WALES: FB 15 Dyddgu Hywel RW 14 Caryl James OC 13 Elen Evans IC 12 Rebecca De Filippo LW 11 Philippa Tuttiett FH 10 Elinor Snowsill SH 9 Amy Day N8 8 Vicky Owens OF 7 Sioned Harries BF 6 Nia Davies RL 5 Shona Powell Hughes LL 4 Gemma Hallett (C) TP 3 Catrin Edwards HK 2 Lowri Harries LP 1 Megan York Replacements: HK 16 Carys Phillips PR 17 Bethan Howell PR 18 Jenny Davies N8 19 Rachel Taylor FL 20 Delyth Davies SH 21 Laura Prosser FB 22 Leila Johns WG 23 Rafiuke Taylor Coach: Rhys Edwards
Assistant referees: n/a n/a Assessor: n/a
IRELAND: FB 15 Niamh Briggs RW 14 Ashleigh Baxter OC 13 Lynne Cantwell IC 12 Jennifer Murphy LW 11 Alison Miller FH 10 Nora Stapleton SH 9 Larissa Muldoon N8 8 Joy Neville OF 7 Claire Molloy BF 6 Siobhan Fleming RL 5 Marie Louise Reilly LL 4 Sophie Spence TP 3 Ailis Egan HK 2 Gillian Bourke LP 1 Fiona Coghlan (C) Replacements: HK 16 Stacey-Lea Kennedy PR 17 Fiona Hayes PR 18 Lauren Day LK 19 Leigh Dargan FL 20 Laura Guest SH 21 Amy Davis CE 22 Grace Davitt WG 23 Niamh Kavanagh Coach: Philip Doyle ENGLAND: FB 15 Kay Wilson RW 14 Francesca Matthews OC 13 Abigail Chamberlain IC 12 Amber Reed LW 11 Sally Tuson FH 10 Ceri Large SH 9 La Toya Mason N8 8 Sarah Hunter (C) OF 7 Hannah Gallagher BF 6 Joanna McGilchrist RL 5 Tamara Taylor LL 4 Rowena Burnfield TP 3 Sophie Hemming HK 2 Victoria Fleetwood LP 1 Rochelle Clark Replacements: HK 16 Emma Croker PR 17 Laura Keates PR 18 Rosemarie Crowley LK 19 Rebecca Essex FL 20 Harriet Millar-Mills SH 21 Georgina Gulliver CE 22 Lauren Cattell WG 23 Fiona Pocock Coach: Gary Street
Assistant referees: Helen O'Reilly (Ireland) Edward Kenny (Ireland) Assessor: Michael Carroll (Ireland)
SCOTLAND: FB 15 Steph Johnston RW 14 Lauren Harris OC 13 Annabel Sergeant IC 12 Lisa Ritchie LW 11 Megan Gaffney FH 10 Tanya Griffith SH 9 Louise Dalgliesh N8 8 Susie Brown (C) OF 7 Tess Forsberg BF 6 Jade Konkel RL 5 Bridget Millar-Mills LL 4 Lindsay Wheeler TP 3 Tracy Balmer HK 2 Sarah Quick LP 1 Heather Lockhart Replacements: PR 16 Beth Dickens PR 17 Suzanne McKerlie-Hex HK 18 Nikki McLeod LK 19 Rebecca Parker FL 20 Mary Lafaiki SH 21 Sarah Law CE 22 Leanne Neary WG 23 Laura Steven Coach: Karen Findlay ITALY: FB 15 Manuela Furlan RW 14 Michela Sillari OC 13 Maria Grazia Cioffi IC 12 Paola Zangirolami LW 11 Chiara Castellarin FH 10 Veronica Schiavon SH 9 Sara Barattin N8 8 Flavia Severin OF 7 Silvia Gaudino (C) BF 6 Michela Este RL 5 Alice Trevisan LL 4 Cristina Molic TP 3 Lucia Gai HK 2 Melissa Bettoni LP 1 Awa Coulibaly Replacements: HK 16 Debora Ballarini PR 17 Sara Zanon PR 18 Marta Ferrari LK 19 Ilaria Arrighetti FL 20 Giuliana Campanella SH 21 Vanessa Chindamo FH 22 Michela Tondinelli WG 23 Sofia Stefan Coach: Andrea Di Giandomenico
Assistant referees: n/a n/a Assessor: n/a
Week 3
SCOTLAND: FB 15 Steph Johnston RW 14 Annabel Sergeant OC 13 Sarah Dixon IC 12 Lisa Ritchie LW 11 Megan Gaffney FH 10 Tanya Griffith SH 9 Louise Dalgliesh N8 8 Susie Brown (C) OF 7 Tess Forsberg BF 6 Jade Konkel RL 5 Rebecca Parker LL 4 Lindsay Wheeler TP 3 Tracy Balmer HK 2 Sarah Quick LP 1 Heather Lockhart Replacements: PR 16 Beth Dickens PR 17 Suzanne McKerlie-Hex HK 18 Nikki McLeod LK 19 Bridget Millar-Mills FL 20 Kelly Shields SH 21 Sarah Law CE 22 Laura Steven CE 23 Leanne Neary Coach: Karen Findlay IRELAND: FB 15 Niamh Briggs RW 14 Ashleigh Baxter OC 13 Lynne Cantwell IC 12 Jennifer Murphy LW 11 Alison Miller FH 10 Nora Stapleton SH 9 Larissa Muldoon N8 8 Joy Neville OF 7 Claire Molloy BF 6 Siobhan Fleming RL 5 Marie Louise Reilly LL 4 Sophie Spence TP 3 Ailis Egan HK 2 Gillian Bourke LP 1 Fiona Coghlan (C) Replacements: HK 16 Stacey-Lea Kennedy PR 17 Fiona Hayes PR 18 Lauren Day LK 19 Leigh Dargan FL 20 Laura Guest SH 21 Amy Davis CE 22 Grace Davitt WG 23 Niamh Kavanagh Coach: Philip Doyle
Assistant referees: Alex Pratt (Scotland) Brian Darling (Scotland) Assessor: n/a
ENGLAND: FB 15 Lauren Cattell RW 14 Kay Wilson OC 13 Abigail Chamberlain IC 12 Amber Reed LW 11 Sally Tuson FH 10 Ceri Large SH 9 La Toya Mason N8 8 Sarah Hunter (C) OF 7 Hannah Gallagher BF 6 Joanna McGilchrist RL 5 Tamara Taylor LL 4 Rebecca Essex TP 3 Sophie Hemming HK 2 Emma Croker LP 1 Rochelle Clark Replacements: HK 16 Victoria Fleetwood PR 17 Laura Keates PR 18 Rosemarie Crowley LK 19 Rowena Burnfield FL 20 Harriet Millar-Mills SH 21 Georgina Gulliver FH 22 Katy McLean WG 23 Emily Scott Coach: Gary Street FRANCE: FB 15 Caroline Ladagnous RW 14 Jade Le Pesq OC 13 Élodie Poublan IC 12 Lucille Godiveau LW 11 Elodie Guiglion FH 10 Sandrine Agricole SH 9 Marie-Alice Yahé (C) N8 8 Safi N'Diaye OF 7 Laëtitia Grand BF 6 Coumba Diallo RL 5 Marine De Nadaï LL 4 Sandra Rabier TP 3 Christelle Chobet HK 2 Laëtitia Salles LP 1 Hélène Ezanno Replacements: HK 16 Gaëlle Mignot PR 17 Aurélie Vernhet PR 18 Elodie Portaries LK 19 Assa Koïta FL 20 Manon André FH 21 Jessy Trémoulière CE 22 Marjorie Mayans WG 23 Julie Billes Coach: Christian Galonnier
Assistant referees: Clare Daniels (England) Michael Patz (England) Assessor: Keith Page (England)