Thousands will descend on Bordeaux's Stade Atlantique on Sunday to witness the Women's Six Nations grand slam decider between France and England. Among the spectators will be New Zealand legend Ruby Tui, a World Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist who has been working for the BBC as a pundit. She has expressed her desire to see France triumph in Le Crunch, ending England's seven-year trophy hold.
Tui's Six Nations Experience
Tui attended her first Six Nations match in round one of this year's competition at Twickenham, where England faced Ireland. For the 34-year-old, the match felt like an extension of the World Cup party, having witnessed last year's groundbreaking event through her media duties. Should the Red Roses secure victory, they would extend their Six Nations winning run to 39 consecutive games and become the first team to win the tournament after claiming the World Cup. However, Tui is backing the women in blue.
“Absolutely, I am definitely going for France,” Tui said. “I can't go for England. I am not allowed to. France lost by one point [in the Six Nations decider] last year, that was crazy. It is well and truly up to France. That quarter-final against Ireland at the World Cup kind of summed them up. They were 13-0 down at half-time and turned around and won 18-13. The way they play, it is very much a roll of the dice.”
She added: “They could beat England and I think England know they are looming there in the background. But also if England sorted out all of their attack and defensive systems they have, France won't have a chance. I am very happy it is coming down to a banger in Bordeaux.
“There are a few French players who I thought would give Zoe Harrison a run who are out so it will be a big ask but the last country to do it was France in 2018 and we need someone to stop this seven, eight run. So fingers crossed France [can do that].”
Injury Challenges for Both Sides
France will be without key players such as Gabrielle Vernier and Joanna Grisez, but England have been contending with even more significant setbacks. The Red Roses have more than 10 players unavailable due to injury or pregnancy, yet they have continued to win. For Tui, this demonstrates their world-class status.
She explained: “The only way to test if your systems are what they truly are is by chucking in debutants, third- and fourth-string positionals coming through, which is what is happening. What happens is you have your team and you have your bench but the most interesting thing to me is the next layer down: the travelling reserves, the players in camps – those are the standards that you can't let slip.
“It is hard because there is no one there that is experienced, they are all brand new. So what are they doing in camp? Are they keeping up the standards? Are they living and breathing the systems because people think it is about the starting team but you can't put the pressure all on them. You have got to have these guys carrying. If you want this 37 [game‑winning run] to turn into 67 you need that stuff.”
Impressive Crowd Numbers and Player Appeal
Tui has also been impressed by the crowd numbers across the tournament, noting that she did not expect England to sustain their attendance momentum as they have. She credits individual players for being a major draw for supporters.
“I am in awe of what the players are doing,” Tui said. “We often look at everyone else and what they can do more but it is hard to imagine what more the Red Roses themselves could do. [They are] doing all of these amazing things that we as the Black Ferns didn't even think of. I am learning so much from being here.
“I think the game needs personalities, characters. We need people to follow it. But to me they are more than personalities, they are turning up for things and they are putting in hard work, they are really present. I am really glad I didn't know this when I was playing them because I wouldn't have been able to get angry on the field at them so easily! The game needs them but they are doing above and beyond.”
Tui's Future in Rugby
Tui has not played since being omitted from the Black Ferns' 2025 World Cup squad, with media work now dominating her professional life. She has been nominated for several punditry awards. However, she is not ruling out a return to the pitch, with England's Premiership Women's Rugby being one league she is exploring.
“I have been having some conversations,” she said. “I have been going to a couple of teams. We went through Bristol, Trailfinders, Harlequins … This punditry stuff is a lot. I am not shutting the door. Definitely not the USA but there are a few places I could end up. I am not really sure, I am excited to find out.”
