By Jackie Finlan

The Women’s Six Nations hit a bye weekend last week after two rounds of play, and it’s evident that England and France are the title contenders this year. 

So far, the Red Roses have unveiled a more compelling product, but here’s betting that Les Bleus will play their best game of the tournament on March 10 when the sides meet in Grenoble, France.

Watch the 2018 Women's Six Nations LIVE on FloRugby

Watching the first two rounds of the Women’s Six Nations, one notices obvious, major differences between the European tournament and the experience created around the USA women’s national team tests. But it’s the availability and exposure — relative to other women’s national teams, not necessarily another country’s male counterpart — that is truly striking.

Exposure

Simply, the tests are accessible both on TV and online. France has proven to have the strongest viewership of the Women’s Six Nations, which comes as no surprise after 3.4 million tuned into France 2 for Les Bleus’ semifinal loss to England in the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. When France traveled to Scotland last weekend for a Saturday night test, a peak of 750,000 viewers took in Les Bleus' 26-3 win on France 4.

Growing Attendance

Viewership and attendance are eagerly tracked, no doubt as fodder for potential sponsors. In 2017, all but France broke attendance records for Women’s Six Nations game contested at home (in 2016, 11,100-plus attended the Ireland at France test in Perpignan). Last weekend, the high-water mark was re-established for two teams. Scotland broke its record by more than a thousand when 2,792 ticketed spectators took in the France match at Scotstoun. And England drew its largest crowd (for a Women’s Six Nations home game) to The Stoop, issuing 4,024 tickets for its 52-0 win over Wales. 

England Not On Top

Interestingly, England’s record-breaking attendance ranks fifth among its competitors. Ireland is second behind France, having drawn approximately 6,000 spectators to Donnybrook for last year’s match against England. Italy counted 4,500 at Stadio Tommaso Fattori against Ireland last year, and Wales brought 4,113 to Cardiff Arms Park during the 2017 test against the Red Roses.

It’s rumored that Scotland is trying to sell out its Feb. 23 test against England at Scotstoun, capacity 6,600. Word is there’s good momentum behind the effort, and if Scotland is successful, then England will fall to sixth.

USA Contrast

Looking for contrast? The USA women last played at home in late March-early April 2017. The two-game series against Canada was held at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Center and it was a closed event — that is, tickets for spectators were not made available.

The Women’s Six Nations resumes with its third round this weekend, and all of the test matches are streaming live on FloRugby.com:

ROUND 3

Friday, Feb. 23

2:05 PM EST / 11:05 AM PST

England at Scotland — WATCH LIVE

Saturday, Feb. 24

3 PM EST / 12 PM PST

Italy at France — WATCH LIVE

Sunday, Feb. 25

10 AM EST / 7 AM PST

Wales at Ireland — WATCH LIVE