With six rounds to go, the Élite 1 championship is closing in on its conclusion, while the Six Nations begins for France on 11 April with a home fixture against Italy. Here is the state of play.

10 teams, 18 rounds, with 6 still to play until 7 June. The Élite 1 currently boils down to a fight between leaders Stade Toulousain (57 points) and ASM Romagnat (53 points). At the bottom of the table, things are difficult for Villeneuve-d’Ascq (Lille Métropole, 8 points) and RCT (10 points).

Toulouse shake up the pecking order

Stade Bordelais’ dominance in recent seasons is being called into question (3rd, 44 points). The culprits are Stade Toulousain, riding a fine run of form and a wave of popularity rarely seen in the Élite 1: 15,102 spectators were at Ernest-Wallon to watch the Red and Blacks beat Grenoble 50-19 on 16 March.

The round 13 programme

To keep us going before the international jousting, the Élite 1 pitches beckon from tomorrow. Note the top-of-the-table clash moved to the Michelin for the Auvergne side.

  • Toulon – Grenoble: Saturday 21 March at 4.00pm (Stade Léo Lagrange)
  • ASM Romagnat – Montpellier: Saturday 21 March at 4.45pm (Stade Marcel-Michelin, playing straight after the ASM match)
  • Stade Bordelais – Stade Toulousain: Saturday 21 March at 5.00pm (Stade Sainte-Germaine, Le Bouscat)
  • Villeneuve-d’Ascq – Blagnac: Saturday 21 March at 8.00pm (Stade Emmanuel-Théry)
  • Bobigny – Lyon: Sunday 22 March at 3.00pm (Stade Henri Wallon)

The Six Nations in sight

The women’s Six Nations begins in three weeks against a positive backdrop, with a deep refresh of the squad, a new coaching staff and a window now separate from the men’s tournament. Five weeks that will start with France – Italy at the Stade des Alpes in Grenoble and end with the meeting with the England ogres at the Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux, a side who have been all but unbeatable for ten years.