LONDON (AP) — A record Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 watched new world champion England account for Ireland 33-12 at Twickenham on Saturday.
Attendance was only 4,700 shy of the women's rugby world record at the World Cup final in September when England beat Canada, also at Twickenham.
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England's Lilli Ives Campion, top left, wins a line-out during the Women's Six Nations Rugby 2026 match between England and Ireland, in London, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
England's Jess Breach, left, and Ireland's Stacey Flood in action during the Women's Six Nations Rugby 2026 match, in London, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
England's Megan Jones, right, and Ireland's Vicky Elmes Kinlan in action during the Women's Six Nations Rugby 2026 match, in London, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
England's Megan Jones, center, in action during the Women's Six Nations Rugby 2026 match, in London, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
In its first match since then England was rusty but still too physical for Ireland and extended its world record winning run to 34 tests.
Momentum from the World Cup helped England ticket sales beat the previous Six Nations attendance record of 58,498 for England-France in 2023.
Overall attendance this year is set to easily surpass the 151,506 fans attracted to last year's Women’s Six Nations.
England had the result in hand by halftime at 21-0 thanks to tries by front-rowers Amy Cokayne and Sarah Bern from lineouts.
Lock Morwenna Talling and scrumhalf Natasha Hunt finished the game on crutches but England finished in style when Jess Breach scored her 54th try in her 54th test in the 54th minute, and Ellie Kildunne rounded off a 60-meter counterattack.
Ireland rallied with tries by Anna McGann and new captain Erin King for their narrowest loss to England in 10 years.
Center Megan Jones marked her first match as England captain with a brilliant player-of-the-match performance.
“There's always going to be nerves going into a big campaign off the back of an amazing World Cup,” Jones said. “To have this crowd is phenomenal. We want to play but sometimes it gets a bit unstuck like that. But we found ways, that's what a winning team does.”
France weathered a tough first half then blew away Italy in Grenoble for a sixth straight time.
The six-try rout featured six debutants, three of them starters including tackle machine Mathilde Lazarko, but was marred by a serious-looking knee injury to center star Joanna Grisez.
France led only 5-0 at halftime after a try on debut for winger Anaïs Grando.
Then flyhalf Carla Arbez stepped too easily through the Italy line and skipped away, and the floodgates opened. Tries followed for props Yllana Brosseau and Assia Khalfaoui, the player of the match.
France wrought the benefit of a 6-2 bench by pulverising Italy's scrum. New fullback Pauline Barrat set up winger Léa Murie then scored herself. Arbez was lethal off the tee to make it 40-0 after 76 minutes.
But there was enough time for Gaia Buso's consolation converted try, Italy's first points against France in 3 1/2 hours.
Scotland beat Wales 38-8 at the World Cup in August but trailed 12-10 at halftime in Cardiff. Barrelling tries by front-rowers Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu and rugged Welsh defense set back Scotland.
But Scotland spied gaps in the backfield and kicks in behind led to tries by Shona Campbell and Lucia Scott. Helen Nelson's goalkicking helped Scotland shoot in front 24-12.
Wales' bench lifted the tempo and Seren Lockwood set up a converted try by captain Kate Williams to close the gap to five.
As the clock turned red, Wales fought its way from out of its 22 to 35 meters from the tryline of Scotland, which was down to 14 players. Then a lineout trick play was dropped and Wales' dramatic fightback ended in the 87th minute.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
England's Lilli Ives Campion, top left, wins a line-out during the Women's Six Nations Rugby 2026 match between England and Ireland, in London, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
England's Jess Breach, left, and Ireland's Stacey Flood in action during the Women's Six Nations Rugby 2026 match, in London, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
England's Megan Jones, right, and Ireland's Vicky Elmes Kinlan in action during the Women's Six Nations Rugby 2026 match, in London, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
England's Megan Jones, center, in action during the Women's Six Nations Rugby 2026 match, in London, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell has so far denied calls for him to exit the California governor’s race following allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him. After prominent supporters withdrew their backing, Swalwell said in a video on social media that he would spend the weekend with family and friends and share an update “very soon.”
“These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They're absolutely false. They did not happen, they have never happened, and I will fight them with everything that I have,” the congressman said Friday.
Swalwell was among the leading Democrats in the race to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. But in just hours, he saw his most prominent supporters — including U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff and powerful labor unions — drop their endorsements and call for his exit from the race.
Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential candidate who has avoided engaging in the contest to replace him, said in a statement: “As we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who hasn’t endorsed in the race, said the “serious allegations” must be investigated and that she spoke to Swalwell and suggested that be done “outside of a gubernatorial campaign.”
The allegations surfaced at a critical stage of the wide-open campaign to lead the nation’s most populous state. Voters will receive mail ballots next month in advance of the June 2 election.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a woman said Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019 and 2024. The newspaper reviewed text messages about the alleged 2024 assault and spoke to people whom she had told about it. She told the newspaper she did not go to police because she was afraid she would not be believed.
The woman worked for Swalwell in 2019, when the first alleged assault occurred, and the 2024 assault allegedly occurred after a charity gala, the newspaper reported. She said in both cases she was too intoxicated to consent to sex.
The paper didn’t name the woman, and The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify her account and identity. Her lawyer declined to comment.
The alleged 2024 incident occurred in New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Saturday that anyone with knowledge should contact its special victims division.
Schiff said in a social media post he's “deeply distressed” by the allegations, calling for Swalwell to end his gubernatorial bid.
Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who helped run Swalwell’s campaign, said he’s immediately ending his role.
“The congressman should leave the race now so there can be full accountability without doubt, distraction, or delay,” Gomez said on social media.
Powerful labor unions, including the California Service Employees International Union and the California Teachers Association, said they're suspending their support. The California Federation of Labor Unions said it’s “acting urgently” on next steps.
A spokesperson for House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the allegations require a “serious and thorough investigation.”
Swalwell is among a handful of prominent candidates in the crowded race to succeed Newsom, and he immediately came under pressure from all other Democratic rivals to withdraw from the race. The party has been mired in a messy primary season with some leaders fearing the crowded field could cost them spot in the November general election. The state's top-two primary system sends the two highest vote-getters on to the general election regardless of party.
Swalwell on Tuesday kicked off a planned series of campaign events in Sacramento, where he told reporters he’s never had a sexual relationship with a staff member or intern. He canceled the next scheduled event in Palm Springs on Thursday.
Uncorroborated and nonspecific rumors that Swalwell behaved inappropriately with female staffers have circulated on social media for weeks, but the Chronicle's story is the first reported account of someone making a direct accusation. CNN also published a story that appeared to feature the same woman’s allegations, though she was not named, as well as allegations from several women that Swalwell sent them inappropriate sexual messages.
He's suggested the allegations were part of an attack due to his campaign’s momentum.
Swalwell was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential run in April 2019 but shuttered it a few months later after failing to catch on with voters. Swalwell, who is married and has three children, is perhaps best known nationally as a House manager in President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial during his first term in early 2021.
Blood reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed.
California gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-CA appears at a town hall meeting in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
