Summary

  • England 64-0 France: Hosts win men's international emphatically - with three tries each for for Ash Handley and George Williams

  • Six England tries in first half - two for Handley, and one each for Harry Smith, Ethan Havard, Jack Wardle and Williams

  • Captain Williams gets two more after half-time, with Handley and Kai Pearce-Paul also scoring, before Danny Walker rounds off victory

  • England's women earlier beat France 64-0 in double-header - with Leah Burke scoring four tries, two in each half

  • Further first-half scores for Shona Hoyle, Tamzin Renouf, debutant Eboni Partington and Tara-Jane Stanley

  • Hollie-Mae Dodd added two for England in the second half, and Sinead Peach and Amy Hardcastle one each

  1. What's to come?published at 15:25 British Summer Time 29 April 2023

    England v France (16:30 BST)

    England men’s team to face France: Jack Welsby, Ash Handley, Toby King, Jake Wardle, Matty Ashton, George Williams (captain), Harry Smith, Tom Holroyd, Danny Walker, Ethan Havard, Matty Nicholson, Kai Pearce-Paul, Morgan Smithies.

    Interchange: Jez Litten, James Harrison, Ben Currie, Tyler Dupree.

  2. Postpublished at 57 mins

    England 46-0 France

    Now Hollie-Mae Dodd knocks on with the French line bearing down on her. Much better defence from the visitors.

  3. Postpublished at 54 mins

    England 46-0 France

    England get back into position for another tilt at the France line, only for centre Tamzin Renouf to drop a pass out wide.

  4. try

    TRYpublished at 51 mins

    England 46-0 France

    Hollie-Mae Dodd shows again why she's heading off to play in Australia's NRLW this summer. The back-rower bursts onto Grace Field's pass to break though the line on halfway and then produces a step to beat the covering defender and go all the way to touch down for her second try.

    She's now gained 116 metres today, with England's next best performers on 84. Tara-Jane Stanley adds the kick to nudge the hosts to the 50-point mark.

  5. 'We've got to do the hard work first'published at 15:13 British Summer Time 29 April 2023

    England 40-0 France

    Dec Hardman, England assistant coach, speaking to Sky Sports: “It’s been a great start for us, we started well, getting a drop-out from the first kick and then we managed to hold our energy off the back of that. We’re really happy with the start for sure.

    "We just talked about being patient and building into it, making sure when we get a chance, we execute, but there’s a process before that, and making sure we’re not trying to push the ball and score off every play.

    "At half-time, we talked about more of the same, about going through the process. Don’t get excited. Make sure we look after the ball. And then we’ll get the reward off the back of it. We’ve got to do the hard work first.”

  6. try

    TRYpublished at 47 mins

    England 40-0 France

    Leah Burke scores her hat-trick try against FranceImage source, PA Media

    An England restart is allowed to bounce before going into touch so they get it back before producing a lovely finish to the set.

    Tara-Jane Stanley floats a kick towards the left of the in-goal area and into the grateful of arms of Leah Burke for her hat-trick try. Stanley is unable to add the kick though.

  7. try

    TRYpublished at 43 mins

    England 36-0 France

    Sinead Peach dumps from the ball off from dummy-half to Hollie Mae-Dodd, who shows some neat footwork before crashing through.

    France now have 23 missed tackles, and Tara-Jane Stanley makes her fourth kick from seven.

  8. Postpublished at 42 mins

    England 30-0 France

    England make up the field position but their grubber kick is blocked and France gain possession, only to produce another knock-on from a low(ish) pass.

  9. Kick-offpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 29 April 2023

    England 30-0 France

    France get the second half under way, with the stands filling up nicely at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

    This is the first instalment of a double-header remember, with England's men facing France at 16:30 BST.

  10. 'We had a bad start'published at 14:57 British Summer Time 29 April 2023

    England 30-0 France

    Romain Maillot, France head coach, speaking to Sky Sports about his team's performance so far: "We had a bad start and lost our confidence. We need to keep the ball and try to put the pressure on the English team. We need to push more on the sides."

  11. Postpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 29 April 2023

    England 30-0 France

    Apparently new England coach Stuart Barrow has only had one training session with his players so far. You wouldn't think so on that evidence.

    Sure, France are committing some basic errors, but England have looked fluent with the ball in hand.

  12. Half-timepublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 29 April 2023

    England 30-0 France

    And there's the half-time break. France trudge off the line, fully expecting a stern word from coach Romain Maillot as he attempts to stop the rot.

  13. Postpublished at 38 mins

    England 30-0 France

    Former England captain Emily Rudge bursts through the France line but hasn't quite got the legs to finish it off and the visitors bring her down just short.

    Leah Burke is then unable to latch onto a pass out to the left so France have a chance to see out the half.

  14. Postpublished at 36 mins

    England 30-0 France

    Speaking to Sky Sports, France coach Romain Maillot has just said: "We had a bad start and then lost our confidence."

    Half-time can't come soon enough for the visitors.

  15. try

    TRYpublished at 34 mins

    England 30-0 France

    Tara-Jane Stanley grins as she scores England's sixth tryImage source, PA Media

    France complete just their third set of the day before England force a goal-line drip out.

    Zoe Harris finds Tara-Jane Stanley, who spots a gap to stride over and add her name to the list of try scorers. The reigning Woman of Steel adds a fine kick for good measure.

  16. ouch!

    Ouch!published at 31 mins

    England 24-0 France

    Sarah Menaa produces a crunching tackle that sends Vicky Molyneux flying backwards onto the deck.

    Perhaps that will put a bit of fire into the visitors' belly.

  17. try

    TRYpublished at 28 mins

    England 24-0 France

    Eboni Partington scores on her England debutImage source, PA Media

    Margot Canal really doesn't look confident under the high ball. She spills another and from the scrum, centre Tamzin Renouf sends her winger Eboni Partington over for a try on debut.

    Tara-Jane Stanley has the right line with the kick but there isn't quite enough legs on it and it falls just short.

  18. Substitutionspublished at 26 mins

    England 20-0 France

    Sinead Peach and Vicky Whitfield come into the fray for the first time today.

  19. try

    TRYpublished at 24 mins

    England 20-0 France

    Tamzin Renouf scores for EnglandImage source, PA Media

    England have really got into their stride now, new captain Jodie Cunningham and her predecessor Emily Rudge helping to set up centre Tamzin Renouf to charge over on the right.

    Tara-Jane Stanley makes her second kick from four.

  20. try

    TRYpublished at 21 mins

    England 14-0 France

    Shona Hoyle pushes through the France defenceImage source, PA Media

    And again England make the French pay, with Shona Hoyle crashing over from close range, before Tara-Jane Stanley adds the kick from under the posts.