It’s what everyone is playing for, but how much do you actually know about the TikTok Women’s Six Nations trophy?
England are the current holders but will face stiff competition from France this weekend as the two do battle in a Grand Slam decider.
Three teams have got their hands on the trophy since the Championship started in 2002, and the trophy has often found itself alongside impressive company.
The History
The trophy was designed and made by Thomas Lyte, who are the silversmiths and goldsmiths to the Royal Household.z
Thomas Lyte are also responsible for the design and making of the Guinness Six Nations trophy, having also made the current editions of the men’s and women’s FA Cup trophy.
Also in rugby, they have been tasked with restoring the Women’s Rugby World Cup and working on the men’s Rugby World Cup silverware, the Webb Ellis Cup.
They are not just involved in football or rugby but have also worked on the Ryder Cup in golf and the ATP Finals trophy in tennis.
Previous Winners
The first team to hoist the Women’s Six Nations trophy aloft were France in 2002, as they won the Grand Slam.
England partook in their first trophy lift the following year before having to wait two years to enjoy the experience again as they then embarked on a run of seven consecutive titles.
The streak was snapped in 2013 as Ireland claimed their first Triple Crown, Six Nations and Grand Slam in an historic year.
What followed was a seven-year stretch in which the holders were not able to defend their title, as Ireland and France swapped the trophy between 2013 and 2016 before England reclaimed the title in 2017.
France were the last team to deny England the trophy in 2018, with the Red Roses winning the next four Championships in a row, including most recently in 2022 as the trophy boasted the purple ribbons of TikTok for the first time.
Finals
There has only been one official final for the Women’s Six Nations, in 2021 when the Covid pandemic saw the Championship shortened into pool stages and then a final and place play-offs.
It was familiar foes England and France who squared off with the Red Roses coming out on top at Twickenham, winning 10-6.
That does not mean that the Women’s Six Nations has not been decided on the final day, just as it will be on Saturday.
France’s second title came by way of a 13-12 win over England in 2004 in the final round, with the Red Roses getting revenge six years later by the same margin, winning 11-10 to seal their fifth trophy in a row.
France came out on top on the final day of the 2016 Championship thanks to two tries from current head coach Gaelle Mignot and a score from now-captain Audrey Forlani.
The next year saw England square off against Ireland on the final day with the trophy on the line, but 14 points from Emily Scarratt helped the Red Roses to a comfortable 34-7 win and their first title in five years.
Last year saw another de facto final with France hosting England in the Battle of Bayonne, the Red Roses enjoyed another trophy lift as they won 24-12 and will hope for a repeat on their own turf on Saturday.
