Les Bleuettes a class apart in the inaugural Six Nations Women’s Summer Series

The inaugural Six Nations Women’s Summer Series, held from July 4th to July 14th, 2024, in Parma, Italy, marked a significant milestone in the development of women’s rugby in Europe. This first-of-its-kind development competition, featuring all Six Nations teams, saw France’s U20 team, Les Bleuettes, emerge as the dominant force. With three decisive victories against Wales, Scotland, and England, France accumulated an impressive 196 points, including 31 tries, showcasing their attacking prowess and team depth throughout the tournament.

Round 1:

France 57 Wales 12

Les Bleuettes opened their campaign with a convincing 57-12 win over Wales. The French side demonstrated their versatility with nine tries from nine different scorers, including Kelly Arbey, Mae Levy, and Cleo Hagel. Wales managed two tries through Lucy Isaac and Amy Williams but were outclassed by the French team’s speed and skill.

England 33 Ireland 10

England made an impressive start to the tournament, defeating Ireland 33-10. Captain Lilli Ives Campion scored two tries in a dominant first-half performance that saw England lead 26-5 at the break. Tori Sellors, Reneeqa Bonner, and Lia Green also crossed for England, while Chisom Ugwueru and Hannah Clarke scored for Ireland. England’s strong defence in the second half helped secure the convincing win.

Italy 17 Scotland 13

In a tightly contested opening match, Italy edged out Scotland 17-13. Greta Copat’s second-half try proved decisive, as Italy held off a late Scottish surge to secure the win. Vittoria Zanette and Aregash Pellizzon scored Italy’s other tries, while Nicole Flynn crossed for Scotland in a closely fought encounter.

Round 2:

Ireland 17 Italy 24

Italy’s development was further evidenced in their 24-17 victory over Ireland. Martina Busana scored two tries in six minutes, while Vittoria Zanette and Greta Copat also crossed the line. Ireland showed fight with tries from Ivana Kiripati and a brace from Kelly Burke, but Italy’s second-half performance sealed the win.

Scotland 10 France 69

France’s second match was another display of their offensive firepower, overwhelming Scotland 69-10. Nine different French players crossed the try line, including another hat-trick from Kelly Arbey. Scotland’s early resistance, including a try from Gemma Bell, was eventually worn down by France’s relentless attack and depth, particularly as Scotland suffered from injuries throughout the match.

Wales 24 England 55

England continued their strong start to the tournament with a 55-24 victory over Wales. Despite an early Welsh lead through Lucy Isaac, England’s quality shone through with tries from Kira Leat, Evelyn Clarke (2), Niamh Swailes, and Millie Hyett. Wales improved in the second half with tries from Maisie Davies, Cadi Davies, and Molly Wakely, but England maintained control with further scores from Leat, Millie David, Ellie Roberts, and Sophie Langford.

Round 3:

Ireland 37 Scotland 7

Ireland found their form against Scotland, securing a 37-7 win. Beth Buttimer’s second-half brace helped Ireland pull away after a closely contested first half. Sophie Barrett crossed early for Ireland, while Lucia Scott’s try put Scotland back in contention before the break. However, Ireland’s dominance in the second half, with tries from Eadaoin Murtagh and Hannah Wilson alongside Buttimer’s double, sealed the victory.

Italy 33 Wales 19

The host nation, Italy, showed significant improvement throughout the tournament. In their final match, they mounted an impressive second-half comeback to defeat Wales 33-19. Tries from Elena Errichiello, Vittoria Zanette, Alia Bitonci, Desiree Spinelli, and Greta Copat secured the victory for the Azzurre. Wales had led 14-5 at halftime but couldn’t maintain their advantage against a resurgent Italian side.

France 72 England 21

In the tournament’s marquee matchup, France displayed their superiority with a commanding 72-21 victory over England. Kelly Arbey’s hat-trick led the French onslaught, as they ran in 11 tries against a strong English side. Despite England opening the scoring through Steph Else, France quickly took control, with tries from Hawa Tounkara, Marie Morland, and Suliana Sivi giving them a comfortable halftime lead. The second half saw France extend their dominance, with Arbey completing her hat-trick and Anna De Almeida adding to the scoreline.

The tournament’s format, allowing teams to field predominantly Under-20 players with the option to include up to three Under-23 players per match day squad, provided flexibility and additional opportunities for player development. This approach ensured that players who may have missed the Under-18 entry point onto the rugby pathway have another route to international rugby.

Italy’s progression throughout the tournament was particularly noteworthy, as the host nation secured victories in all three of their matches against Scotland, Ireland and Wales, demonstrating significant improvement with each game. Their success on home soil bodes well for the future of Italian women’s rugby.

England, despite their heavy loss to France, showed moments of brilliance and resilience, particularly in their matches against Ireland and Wales. Their performances in the tournament highlight their potential as a future powerhouse in women’s rugby.

For teams like Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, the tournament provided crucial experience against top-tier competition. These nations will undoubtedly use the lessons learned in Parma to strengthen their youth programs and bridge the gap to the leading teams.

The success of this inaugural event underscores the importance of age-grade tournaments in developing the next generation of women’s rugby talent.