The key talking points ahead of the 2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations

There is so much to talk about ahead of the 2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations.

With new coaches, new players, new grounds and new kit, and all six sides now boasting professional contracts, the battle for the Championship is set to be an intense one with England looking to seal their fifth straight title.

Six Nations Rugby, the official organising body responsible for the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, broke all fan engagement records in 2022 and highlighted its commitment to giving the women’s game the best possible platform to grow.

The 2023 edition of the Championship stands to build on this progress, with even bigger crowds expected, more international broadcasters covering all the action and unprecedented social and digital promotion for the heroes of the women’s game.

With that in mind, let's look at the key talking point from each camp ahead of the big kick-off.

England: Legends making way for exciting fresh faces

Simon Middleton's departure alone would have signalled the end of an era for fans of the Red Roses but Sarah Hunter's retirement all but confirms it.

England's most-capped player will hang up her boots after Saturday's opener against Scotland in her hometown of Newcastle.

The 140-cap international has collated an astounding trophy haul of one World Cup, ten Six Nations titles and nine Grand Slams since her debut in 2007.

However, there are nine uncapped international stars in the making included in the squad, and many of them have been knocking on the door for some time.

Take Saracens' May Campbell, for example, who has been a try-scoring machine in North London for several seasons.

Wing Ellie Rugman is another star of the future, and she is also Gloucester-Hartpury’s current top try scorer having crossed the whitewash 11 times so far this season.

France: Could injuries prove costly in title pursuit?

A lot of the talk in the build-up to France's 2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations campaign has been around the retirement of legendary stars Safi N'Diaye, Celine Ferrer, and 2022 Player of the Championship Laure Sansus.

However, the absence of Madoussou Fall and Romane Ménager due to injury could prove an even greater cause for concern.

Fall was part of the 2022 TikTok Women's Six Nations Team of the Championship and was expected to be one of the leaders among France's forwards this year.

The same could be said of Ménager after she impressed in her sides’ second-place finish last time out.

Ireland: Changes on and off the pitch for McWilliams’ side

Ireland's decision to change the colour of their shorts from the traditional white to navy to ease player concerns around periods saw them become the first Home Nation to make the switch, part of a wider move away from white shorts in women's sport.

It is the latest change in a revolutionary few years for Ireland women that have seen Greg McWilliams appointed as head coach, Nichola Fryday named as captain, and 29 players accept professional contracts.

Having finished fourth last year, and after continuing their growth with a summer tour of Japan, Ireland will be setting their sights on closing the gap between themselves and France and England.

Wales: Jones takes captaincy as professional era takes shape

Hannah Jones will lead Wales into a TikTok Women's Six Nations campaign for the first time this month.

The centre was superb in 2022, scoring the decisive try in the 27-19 win against Ireland in Round 1, before helping her team to a third-place finish.

Jones was handed the captaincy at the World Cup having made her international debut in 2015 as a teenager.

Now more than a year into the professional era, Wales will be eager to improve on their impressive performance in 2022, and Jones is the perfect person to lead them to that end.

Scotland: Looking to rediscover winning formula

Scotland are on a run of nine losses on the bounce in all competitions that stretches all the way back to the 2022 TikTok Women's Six Nations.

However, that does not tell the full story.

They have lost six of those games by seven points or less and showed they have the potential to challenge some of the best sides in either hemisphere during the World Cup.

They certainly have the talent to improve on their finish in 2022 but first things first, they need a win, and they could not have asked for a tougher opener than England away in Round 1.

Italy: Raineri takes charge of team on the up

In Giovanni Raineri, Italy have an exciting rugby mind at the helm ahead of the 2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations.

Raineri was appointed as Italy’s new women’s head coach following Andrea Di Giandomenico’s decision to step down after 13 years in the role.

He cut his teeth in management as part of a Western Province set-up alongside three former South Africa head coaches in Allister Coetzee, Rassie Erasmus, and Jacques Nienaber.

Now he will take charge of Italy, a side on the up who have not finished bottom of a Six Nations table since 2017.

But no matter where they finish this year, this Italy side look set to be a force under Raineri for years to come.

For all the latest TikTok Women’s Six Nations news, information, and details on how to watch the Championship, visit: https://womens.sixnationsrugby.com/