England to face Scotland at Sunderland's Stadium of Light in 2027 Women's Six Nations

England will play Scotland at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on 17 April in their first home match of the 2027 Women's Six Nations, according to BBC Sport. The return takes the Red Roses back to the ground where they began their 2025 World Cup campaign before a then-record crowd for the tournament.

Scottish Rugby's fixture list confirms England against Scotland as a second-round match on Saturday 17 April, with a 4:45pm kick-off, but still gives the venue as TBD. The Stadium of Light location therefore rests on BBC Sport's report; Scottish Rugby's published listing does not yet confirm the ground.

A return to the World Cup's opening venue

The Stadium of Light hosted England's opening match against the United States on 22 August 2025. England won 67-9, BBC Sport reports. World Rugby recorded 42,723 spectators that night, making it the largest crowd for a Women's Rugby World Cup match at that point. Sunderland now has a second England fixture on the schedule, this time in the annual Six Nations rather than a World Cup.

The Sunderland attendance exceeded the previous tournament record of 42,579, set at the final of the preceding World Cup, according to BBC Sport. The record did not last through the 2025 tournament: BBC Sport says 81,885 attended England's final victory over Canada at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium. The figures put the proposed return in context, though neither report establishes an attendance target for the Scotland match.

England full-back Ellie Kildunne recalled the previous Sunderland visit in comments to BBC Sport. She called the atmosphere ‘amazing’ and the occasion one of her career favourites. Kildunne said she remembered the noise when the team got off the bus and how many supporters stayed after the match. She said a similar atmosphere against Scotland would make for another memorable occasion.

England's home fixtures and the wider schedule

The Scotland match is one of three England home fixtures identified by BBC Sport for the 2027 championship. England are scheduled to host Italy at Northampton's DPD Stadium at Franklin's Gardens on 24 April. Their final-round home match against France is set for Twickenham on 15 May. The Sunderland game comes first, a week before the Italy fixture.

Scottish Rugby lists the England game as Scotland's second-round fixture. Its schedule places a home match against Ireland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on 10 April before the trip to England. That listing gives readers a date and kick-off time for England against Scotland even while its venue field remains unresolved.

BBC Sport says England are seeking a ninth successive Women's Six Nations title. Before that campaign, the team is due to play three away Tests in the WXV Global Series: two against Canada and one against the United States. Those matches precede the Six Nations; the available reporting does not establish how they will affect the side selected for Scotland.

What remains to be confirmed

The sources establish the 17 April fixture, while leaving a difference in how its location is presented: BBC Sport names the Stadium of Light and Scottish Rugby's fixture page says TBD. The available reporting does not establish when tickets will go on sale, what they will cost or how many spectators organisers expect. Those details should be checked against later fixture and ticket announcements.

BBC Sport also says venues for England's away games against Wales and Ireland had not been announced in its 29 September report. For now, the confirmed England home schedule in that report runs from the Scotland fixture in Sunderland through Italy in Northampton to France at Twickenham. The venue listing for the Scotland game remains the principal point for readers to watch as organisers update their schedules.