Six Nations on the horizon as main games confirmed

The majority of fixtures for the 2010 Womens Six Nations have been set with only a small number of dates and venues to be confirmed.

Ireland will play all of their home games against Italy, Wales and Scotland - at Ashbourne RFC as Friday night fixtures while their away games are in France at the Stade des Allees and against England at Esher.

England will play their two home games at Esher this season and play Italy in Parma, Scotland in Meggetland in Edinburgh while their clash with France will take place at the magnificent Stade Velodrome in Rennes, home to football team Olympique Marseille.

Scotlands games at home will be at Lasswade and Meggetland while Wales have yet to confirm where their home matches will be held.

Next years competition is set to be one of the most intriguing in recent seasons with managements looking to cement their squads ahead of the World Cup later in the year.

England will come into the competition as typical favourites having won the crown last year and since added the Nations Cup title to their cabinet. Their recent win over New Zealand will also have given them fresh impetus to go through the early part of next year unbeaten.

Gary Street is unlikely to make as many combination changes as he did last year, in an effort to both accommodate both Englands 7s players who were preparing for the Rugby World Cup Sevens during the 6 Nations and to find his best starting team.

Wales go into the season as Triple Crown holders though so will have plenty to play for in a bid to at least repeat their heroics of earlier this year.

Asides from Italy, all sides will have an eye on the World Cup which means none will be willing to give an inch on the results board.

2010 Women's 6 Nations fixtures

Round One:

February 5th

Ireland V Italy, Ashbourne, 7.30pm

February 6th.

England V Wales, Esher, 3pm

Scotland V France, Lasswade, 7pm.

Round Two

Febraruy 12th.

France V Ireland, Stade des Allees, Blois

February 13th.

Italy V England, Noceto, Parma, 2.30pm

February 14th.

Wales V Scotland, 2pm, venue TBC

Round Three

February 28th

England V Ireland, Esher, 3pm.

Wales V France, 2pm, Venue TBC

Scotland V Italy, Time, Venue TBC

Round Four

March 12th

Ireland V Wales, Ashbourne, 7.30pm.

March 13th

Scotland V England, Meggetland, Edinburgh, 1.30pm

France V Italy, time, venue TBC

Round Five

19th March

France V England, Stade Velodrome, Rennes, 8pm

Ireland V Scotland, Ashbourne, 7.30pm.

21st March.

Wales V Italy, 2pm