Red Roses to return to Sunderland for 2027 Six Nations home match

England's Red Roses will return to Sunderland's Stadium of Light to play Scotland on 17 April in their first home match of the 2027 Six Nations. The fixture follows the stadium's role as the venue for England's record-breaking opening game at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup.

The Stadium of Light hosted 42,723 fans for England's 67-9 victory over the United States that opened the Women's Rugby World Cup in August 2025. That crowd exceeded the 42,579 who attended the final of the previous tournament, and England later drew an 81,885 sell-out for their final victory over Canada at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.

It will be the first time England have played a home match away from a rugby-specific ground outside of a World Cup. England's 2027 Six Nations home schedule also includes a meeting with Italy at Northampton's DPD Stadium at Franklin's Gardens on 24 April and a final-round fixture against France at Twickenham on 15 May.

"It was an amazing atmosphere to be a part of - one of the favourites in my career," England full-back Ellie Kildunne said of her previous visit to the Stadium of Light. "I just remember the noise when we got off the bus and the amount of time the fans stayed behind afterwards. It was incredible. They really spurred us on that night. "If the match with Scotland can replicate anything close to that night, it's sure to be another memorable occasion."

The venues for England's away Six Nations fixtures against Wales and Ireland are yet to be announced. Their preparations for the tournament will begin after they play two Tests against Canada and one Test against the United States on the away leg of their WXV Global Series campaign next month.

England are aiming for their ninth successive Six Nations crown, with their first home game of the 2027 campaign confirmed as Scotland at the Stadium of Light on 17 April.