The cross-Channel rivals meet on the final day and bring the curtain down on the tournament when they meet at Bordeaux’s Stade Chaban-Delmas. First though they are aiming to make a winning start to the tournament when they take on Ireland at the Stade Marie-Marvingt in Le Mans on the opening weekend.
Riffonneau was recently part of France’s pre-tournament training camp in Toulouse where joint coaches Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz laid out their plans for a tournament that also features home matches against Italy at the Stade Jean Bouin in Paris, and away trips to Edinburgh and Cardiff.
“We hadn’t seen each other since WXV,” Riffonneau said. “We were together for two, three days, so we had a good focus. It was a good atmosphere and good to see everybody.
“We’re going step by step and focusing on Ireland. If there’s the chance of a big final in Bordeaux then that will be great, but we are going to start at the start, and Ireland.
“It is always exciting to play England. They are our best enemy. We are happy to play them in France and be ready to play them and try to get the Grand Slam.”
Riffonneau started at hooker twice and came off the bench once as France won once and lost twice at the WXV1 in New Zealand in October and November.
KIWI VICTORY
They began strongly with an impressive 18-17 win over the Black Ferns, the hosts and reigning world champions. However, they failed to follow up that performance against Australia and Canada. They lost both matches 29-20, though Riffonneau did score a try against Australia, her first for Les Bleues.
It meant they finished fifth, three points ahead of bottom-placed Wales, but they go into this year's Championship after two defeats.
“Even though the results weren’t what we would have liked, we had a good experience together,” Riffonneau said. “We knew there were a lot of new players and a lot of young players, so it was something of a test for the team.
“We beat New Zealand and while we lost the next two games, it was something of a process to be ready for the next Six Nations and the start of the next World Cup cycle.
“The results weren’t what we wanted, but we are now in a good mindset for the Six Nations. We have learned from the last tournament and are now ready for the Six Nations.”
LONDON CALLING
Riffonneau made her France debut in the 2023 Championship, when she came off the bench against Wales, and she added a further two caps as France finished second.
Since then, it has been all change for the 20-year-old from Tours. She left Stade Rennais where she made her name in France’s Elite 1 Féminin championship and jumped on a Eurostar to London where she signed for Ealing Trailfinders Women.
With the likes of England winger Abby Dow, Ireland’s Shannon Ikahihifo and Andrea Stock, and Italy’s Sara Seye in the Trailfinders’ ranks, Riffonneau admits that the rival players have been “laughing a lot about it and are excited to play against each other.”
Riffonneau’s move to west London came in collaboration with her politics degree which features a year studying abroad and she jumped at the chance to study at Brunel University.
As the Ealing Trailfinders Academy is based at Brunel’s campus in Uxbridge, it didn’t take long for Trailfinders Women’s Director of Rugby Giselle Mather to realise she had a special talent on her doorstep, and she quickly snapped her up.
“They gave me Giselle’s contact and after I spoke with her, I was attracted by the project that Giselle set up,” Riffonneau said. “I arrived in July, and I really liked the atmosphere around the club. We’re new to the league and so I’m happy to be part of the project.
“Giselle is amazing. She tries to get you to give your all for the team. She wants you to be the best player and the best person that you can be. She’s amazing.
“In terms of differences, the rugby in England is more physical, there is more contact. The way they play is different, and also all the players are contracted to clubs, but it is only the international players in France who are contracted.
“It is a high level like France and there are a lot of good players in the English and French leagues.”
HOME COMFORTS
France are chasing their first Grand Slam since 2018. In 2019 they finished third behind England and Italy, but in 2020, 2022 and 2023, they finished second having lost the decisive match against England.
While France’s men may be out of contention to win their title this year, and having lost to South Africa in the World Cup quarter-finals, Riffonneau realises there may be the feeling that it is now the women’s team’s responsibility to provide an air of positivity to France’s national teams.
“We just want to show that we can do great things,” Riffonneau said. “We are in a good mood and want to create something.
“We are playing three times in France, so we are excited to see the supporters, and we want to put a smile on their faces.”
