About this episode

The episode previews the opening round of the Women's Six Nations, focusing on the England vs Ireland match and featuring insights from guest Rachael Burford.

In this week’s episode of The Rugby Paper Roundup… Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by 84-cap former England centre and 2014 World Cup winner Rachael Burford to preview the opening round of the Women’s Six Nations — with a huge occasion on the horizon. The sun is shining, anticipation is building, and England are set to face Ireland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in front of over 75,000 fans — a landmark moment for the Red Roses as they look to lay down an early marker. We break down the big game through a centre’s lens, from the midfield battle and England’s tactical approach to how Ireland can stay in the contest — including the threat posed by players like Aoife Wafer, Erin King and the Dalton-Higgins midfield pairing. We also discuss Meg Jones’ role as captain, England’s best centre combination, and the key battleground that could decide the match. Beyond Twickenham, we preview the rest of Round One — including Wales v Scotland and France v Italy — and give our predictions for how the tournament will start. Plus, we touch on a major story in the men’s game, with Courtney Lawes returning to English rugby with Sale Sharks and targeting a potential comeback for the 2027…

People in this episode

Host: Ben Jaycock

Guest: Rachael Burford

Topics covered

• Women's Six Nations
• England vs Ireland
• Rugby tactics
• Midfield battle
• Tournament predictions

Keywords

• Rachael Burford
• England rugby
• Ireland rugby
• Six Nations preview
• Courtney Lawes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sale Sharks

Places: England, Ireland, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

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• RED ROSES SELECTION! Six Nations 2026 + PWR Insights | ft Claire Thomas | The Rugby Paper Roundup · April 4, 2026 · 40 min
• 70,000 FANS FOR RED ROSES OPENER! | Meg Jones Captaincy + Women’s Six Nations Launch | ft Victoria Rush | The Rugby Paper Roundup · March 27, 2026 · 33 min

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