Preparations are heating up for the 2025 Women's Six Nations as Scotland and Ireland gear up to face off against formidable opponents. Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm has expressed her strong belief in the team's potential to secure victories against all home contenders this tournament, particularly with matches against Wales, Ireland, and Italy scheduled at Hive Stadium, Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Ireland is optimistic about competing against France after their impressive performance at the WXV1 tournament last autumn.
Scotland is set to kick off their Six Nations campaign against Wales on Saturday, March 22, 2025, with the match commencing at 16:45 GMT. Reflecting on previous tournaments, Scotland aims to improve upon their fourth place finishes from the last two years; this position is one they have not escaped since 2005. Malcolm stated emphatically, “Yes, 100 percent,” when asked about her confidence in the team's ability to claim all three home games this year.
The team's performance against France last year—a narrow 15-5 defeat—has left Malcolm optimistic. She noted, “France and England are a little bit ahead of us still, but I think the performance we put out against France last year shows we are closing the gap.” This sentiment highlights Scotland's ambition, particularly as they prepare for the World Cup later this year, which Malcolm sees as both a motivating factor and a source of pressure.
“We need to get the most out of this Six Nations,” Malcolm said, firmly directing her focus at the upcoming tournament. The emergence of new players within the squad only adds to the energy and potential for growth. With the World Cup looming, she is passionate about embedding this new talent within the existing culture of the team.
This balance of short-term results and long-term development emerged throughout Malcolm's reflections, indicating the significance of the Six Nations as not just another tournament, but as fundamentals for their World Cup strategy. “Us qualifying for the last World Cup was history in itself,” she explained, and emphasized the progress they've made since, featuring record wins and reaching their highest world rankings.
Equally, players and fans alike are buzzing with excitement as malcolm integrates fresh faces who she believes will play significant roles not just now but also for the future of Scottish women's rugby. Reflecting on their progress, Malcolm highlighted, “I think what we’ve achieved between the last World Cup and this one is pretty phenomenal.”
Meanwhile, Ireland’s women’s team under the guidance of defence coach Hugh Hogan is poised to challenge France right out of the gate on the same date, Saturday, March 22, 2025, but at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, with kick-off set for 1pm. Hogan's confidence is somewhat buoyed by Ireland’s impressive results from the previous WXV1 tournament, where they surprisingly finished second, significantly outperforming France, who landed fifth.
“We expect to challenge France,” Hogan stated, indicating the mindset of the Irish team peering through the lenses of optimism and determination. Given the shifts and improvements made within the squad, both Scotland and Ireland are making headlines not just for their spirit but for the optimistic noise they are bringing to the tournament.
This year’s Women's Six Nations promises competitive clashes as both teams strive for honors, aiming to dethrone traditional heavyweights like England and France. The success of both Scotland and Ireland will hinge significantly on how they manage their home games and battles on the road against arch-rivals.
With these sentiments, the focus is now on tactical execution and the emotional energy players bring as the excitement builds for what fans hope will be thrilling rugby. Gender equality and the rising profile of female athletes serve as backdrops to these fixtures, making every tackle and try looped through the seasons, which adds even more significance to this competition.
Fans are certainly eager to witness how this year’s campaign will play out, with Scotland eyeing home victories and Ireland striving for an impactful opening clash against France. The narrative of this Six Nations will be one of ambition, strategy, and the thrilling prospect of competing on the global stage.
