WHEN PARC OL in Lyon brings the curtain down on the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations on 16 March, it will share in a very special rivalry. There have been 110 Tests between France and England, the first of them in 1906, and they are never less than full-blooded and full-throated affairs. England lead the series 60 wins to 43, with seven draws.
In honour of this great and cherished rugby relationship, we’ve picked 12 of the best England-France championship matches from the more recent past. See if you agree with our selection…
England 20-23 France
1997, Twickenham
Two years before England let a Grand Slam slip from their grasp at Wembley, they suffered similar heartache in Jack Rowell’s last match at Twickenham. In 1997 England crushed the Celtic nations, scoring 121 points, and led France 20-6 with 20 minutes left after some sublime rugby. Lawrence Dallaglio had a try, Paul
