In brief: New Zealand, France and Germany

Six Nations 2016: News of TV broadcasts/streaming arrangements

New Zealand: Winiata on form as Manuwatu take 7s title

Manawatu demonstrated their dominance of the shorter game in New Zealand when they beat Wellington 26-19 to their third national title in four years.

Selica Winiata put Manawatu in front when finding acres of space on the blindside from a ruck in the Wellington 22m area. Wellington pulled level through Amanda Rasch who made Manawatu pay for a restart that was straight into touch, but Manawatu struck back when Winiata threw a giant-sized dummy before she had a 40m run in.

Wellington then made the most of a post-half-time hooter penalty to take the ball the length of the field were Kat Whata-Simpkins cut open the defences and then held the ball in Winiata's despairing tackle to score and get Manawatu back to 14-12 at halftime. Rasch looked to make a sideline break early in the second half but her infield pass was intercepted by Winiata who raced into the clear and then fed Crystal Mayes who raced in handy to the posts for the conversion to be added.

The win was sealed in the last two minutes when Kristina Sue got over from another of the side's quick penalty taps taking by Winiata. There was time for a consolation try in the last minute to Whata-Simpkins.

Whata-Simpkins had an extra bonus when selected to win the Anna Richards women's player of the tournament trophy.

France: Squad for Italy and Ireland

France have announced their squad for their opening two six nations games, at home to Italy and Ireland.- a young team with several new faces thanks, to the expansion of the sevens squad. Most have previously played for the U20s, including prop Arkya Ait Labib (who also appeared in France’s university sevens team in 2013); backrow Julie Annery and fly-half Camille Imart. Stade Toulousain captain and scrumhalf Laure Sansus also gets a chance with the national team.

Audrey Abadie (Blagnac Saint-Orens); Arkya Ait Labib (Stade Rennais Rugby); Julie Annery (Bobigny); Lise Arricastre (Lons); Julie Billes (Montpellier); Caroline Boujard (Montpellier); Patricia Carricaburu (Lons); Laura Delas (Tarbes); Coumba Tombe Diallo (Bobigny); Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); Celine Ferer (Bayonne); Audrey Forlani (Blagnac -Saint Orens); Lucille Godiveau (Bobigny); Céline Heguy (Bayonne); Camille Imart (Stade Toulousain); Romane Menager (Lille–Métropole RC Villeneuvois); Gaëlle Mignot (Montpellier); Safi N’diaye (Montpellier); Elodie Poublan (Montpellier); Pauline Rayssac (Montpellier); Yanna Rivoalen (Lille –Métropole RC Villeneuvois); Laure Sansus (Stade Toulousain); Agathe Sochat (Stade Bordelais ASPTT)

France: U20 squad

France have also announced their U20 squad for their warm-up game against a Basque Select XV on 6th February in Hernani (near San Sebastian), ahead of their home-and-away series with England in March. The squad is:

Maeva Abderemane (AC Bobigny 93); Lou Baguette (US Tarbes, Pôle France); Miléna Buzenet (Stade Rennais Rugby); Camille Chailloux (Lyon Rugby féminin); Mélanie Combebias (Stade Toulousain); Annaelle Deshaye (Ovalie Caennaise, Pôle France); Cindy Faure (USA Perpignan); Maelle Filopon (Rugby Sassenage Isère); Amaya Gonzalez (AS Bayonne); Marie Hamon (Stade Rennais Rugby, Pôle France); Gaëlle Hermet (Stade Toulousain); Ian Jason (Stade Rennais Rugby, Pôle France); Maëlia Lapoujade (Stade Bordelais ASPTT, Pôle France); Fiona Lecat (Stade Toulousain, Pôle France); Marine Menager (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois, Pôle France); Philippine Mias (Rugby Sassenage Isère); Carla Neisen (Blagnac Saint-Orens, Pôle France); Maeva Saheb (Ovalie Romagnatoise Clermont Auvergne); Noémie Sanch (Montpellier, Pôle France); Pauline Soulard (Blagnac Saint-Orens); Lindsey Thimon (AC Bobigny 93); Laure Touye (Blagnac Saint-Orens); Marie Vanthournout (Stade Montois)

Germany: Top team to tour England

Top German team to tour England SC Neuenheim, currently second on the German Frauenbundesliga, will embark on a short tour of England next month, starting on 10th February. With their league in winter shutdown until March, SC Neuenheim - one of the strongest teams in Germany - will play two games in the west country against National League teams Bath and Cheltenham.