France clinches title with exhilarating last-minute victory against England

France (24) 48

Tries: Bielle-Biarrey 4, Attisogbe, Penalty Try Cons: Ramos 5 Pens: Ramos 2

England (27) 46

Tries: Roebuck, Murley, Chessum 2, Coles, M Smith, Freeman Cons: F Smith 2, M Smith 2 Pens: F Smith

England just narrowly missed the chance to disrupt France’s Six Nations celebration in Paris, as Thomas Ramos successfully kicked a long-range penalty with the time expired to secure an incredible 48-46 victory and the championship.

Ireland, victorious against Scotland earlier that day, looked on from Dublin, witnessing the title snatched away in the closing moments of a captivating iteration of the oldest international rugby championship.

Tommy Freeman’s try in the 77th minute seemed to have clinched an unexpected triumph for England – leading him and his Northampton teammate Henry Pollock to revel in front of the French supporters.

Nevertheless, Les Bleus recovered the ball after the restart and, mirroring the encounter in Lyon two years ago, Ramos had the concluding say.

England approached this match after uninspired defeats to Scotland, Ireland, and Italy, but showed renewed vigor, displaying tenacity and creativity that had been lacking throughout much of their campaign.

A heart-wrenching defeat, extending their losing streak to four games, was a meager reward, yet their outstanding performance represented a vote of confidence from the players towards coach Steve Borthwick.

However, a post-tournament inquiry is unavoidable.

As France celebrated their third Six Nations title in five years, England’s players remained aware that their own hopes for the title had faded long before.

This loss sealed England’s bleakest Six Nations campaign ever, with only a single victory from five matches. Even prior to the championship’s expansion in 2000, England had only been defeated four times in a single edition twice – in 1972 and 1976.

Borthwick’s team finished in fifth place in the 2026 standings, equaling the historic lows of 2018 and 2021.

However, this display – against one of the top teams in the world – will serve as the first piece of evidence Borthwick cites in discussions with his Rugby Football Union superiors.

A summer series of matches, which could ultimately determine his future, commences against world champions South Africa on 4 July, with additional games against Fiji and Argentina in the following weeks.

Following an extravagant pre-match event, featuring horse riders, fireworks, and light projections, the two teams presented an outstanding, dynamic match that would have honored any phase of their 120-year competition.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey, France’s remarkably fast winger, outpaced England twice within the initial 12 minutes, executing trademark tries.

The 22-year-old, who has now scored in 10 consecutive Six Nations fixtures, sprinted onto precisely placed kicks from Ramos and fly-half Matthieu Jalibert as England’s defense was drawn forward leaving space in the backfield.

England scored between these two tries, as Fin Smith and Elliot Daly, the duo responsible for the winning try at Twickenham last year, set up Tom Roebuck to dive into the corner.

Even early in the contest, it was apparent that there was intensity and cleverness in England’s running patterns, while the forwards engaged a robust French pack on the attack.

After Cadan Murley capitalized on a blunder by Theo Attissogbe in the backfield to narrow the hosts’ advantage to 14-10, Ollie Chessum broke through after a 13-man, 20-meter driving maul advanced downfield.

A rendition of Swing Low Sweet Chariot rose from a segment of England supporters as the scoreboard evened out at 17-17, and the two sides kept exchanging scores with nearly basketball-like rapidity.

Alex Coles crashed over on the blind side to give England a lead, while a Fin Smith penalty elevated the visitors to a 10-point advantage at 27-17.

Then, with time running out in the first half, two significant decisions were made.

The home side chose to kick for the corner, and from the ensuing line-out, referee Nika Amashukeli adjudged that Ellis Genge had collapsed the French maul, sending the prop to the sin bin and awarding a penalty try.

Disciplinary issues have marred England’s campaign, with only the Italian side of 2002 receiving more cards in a single Six Nations season.

England’s coaching staff were troubled by the ruling as they made their way to the locker room, and the start of the second half demonstrated why.

With Genge absent and England reduced to 14 players, France took full advantage.

Bielle-Biarrey completed his hat-trick just 90 seconds after the restart, before France’s forwards earned a penalty at the first scrum without Genge. Attisogbe glided in as the power advantage continued, and France surged ahead 38-27.

It appeared at that moment that the match was slipping away from England, but determination and opportunistic play drew them back into contention.

Chessum intercepted a Jalibert pass and charged in from a distance, and with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack van Poortvliet injecting vitality off the bench, fellow substitute Marcus Smith dodged around Demba Bamba to edge England back in front at 39-38 with 25 minutes remaining.

Bielle-Biarrey added his fourth try of the match and ninth of the championship, but the drama continued to unfold.

Bamba received a yellow card, and Freeman strolled in to leave the Stade de France in stunned silence.

With two minutes remaining, Chessum secured the restart, Van Poortvliet cleared long, but Jalibert conjured one last moment of brilliance, slicing through the pursuit to push England back.

A high tackle penalty awarded by the referee, noticeable by the lack of a replay on the large screens, allowed Ramos to take the spotlight with the final kick.