Women’s rugby Bern expecting more competitive Six Nations

I think we’ll see a more fast-paced style of game

THE Women’s Six Nations may not be the easiest of watches in the stands for Sarah Bern, but the world-beating prop insists there is a fizzing excitement about this Red Roses side to look forward to.

England enter their new Six Nations era under John Mitchell following Simon Middleton’s departing campaign last year, but Bristol Bears star Bern will miss out on selection after a season-ending meniscus injury in January.

The 26-year-old insists this year will be the most competitive tournament in Women’s Six Nations history as coaching reshuffles and full-time international contracts bolster all competitors.

Last year’s Grand Slam champions England have the opportunity to win a sixth title in a row in the spring and fierce competition can provide all the ingredients for a thrilling tournament.

“It’ll be difficult, but I’ll be supporting them in whatever capacity that looks like for me whether that be with an ice pack on my knee from the sofa or in the stadium with them,” said Bern, pictured.

“We’ve got John in this year but not much has changed, we still have the same strength and conditioning team, the same medical staff.

“I think there’ll definitely be more variety in our play though, people noticed at WXV how there was a wideranging style in what we were doing.

“I think we’ll see a more fastpaced style of game rather than our traditional kick-and-drive, even though that will still be in there.

“Hopefully, we’ll also do some things that will excite the crowd as well, give them something to shout about.”

It is not the first time Bern has missed a Women’s Six Nations campaign, absent from 2021’s triumph with a year-long shoulder injury.

The Bears forward is getting behind Gloucester-Hartpury’s Maud Muir to seamlessly step up to a starting place in Mitchell’s XV at tighthead, adding to her 25 caps. Mitchell has made a statement coming into the Red Roses fold, joining up with the side for a winning WXV campaign before officially taking over as head coach following the tournament.

“John has been great,” Bern said. “He’s good at understanding you individually as a person and as a player. He’s brilliant at getting you to perform the best for yourself and therefore for the team so I think that’s been a really good aspect to having him as a coach.

“He’s not just trying to get people to sit in boxes but actually trying to understand people, always encouraging the girls so I’m excited to see where he takes this team.

“I’m backing Maud Muir to be a brilliant starting tighthead for this campaign – she’s got a lot of caps under her belt now.

“It’ll be some good experience for her to get some starting opportunities and really flourish into that number three role.”

Bern’s meniscus injury is not something which will hamper her hopes of making Mitchell’s 2025

World Cup squad, despite being out of the office for six months following surgery in January. In the meantime, the Red Roses star anticipates a gripping Women’s Six Nations campaign, where England’s mettle will be tested against an increasingly competitive field.

“This will be a Six Nations to remember definitely, you’ve got Scott Bemand coaching Ireland with more full-time contracts and it’s the same with Wales and Scotland,” she said. “It’s going to be a really competitive tournament and Italy have come on stride for stride, so I think they’ll be great to watch. I think it’ll be tougher than any other Six Nations we’ve had before.”

» For the England versus Wales game at Ashton Gate, tickets are priced from £5 for juniors and £15 for adults, and for the England versus Ireland game at Twickenham they are priced from £5 for juniors and £20 for adults.