England have won the woman’s Six Nations rugby grand slam after beating France 38-33 at Twickenham.

England led 33-0 at halftime following a ruthless first half display, scoring five tries.

But France came back strongly in the second half with three tries of their own.

The Red Roses added another to their haul, however, just managing to hold off a huge fightback from the French.

It was a fifth successive Six Nations victory for England.

Attendance at Twickenham was 58,498 – a world record for women’s international rugby, the Rugby Football Union said.

Twenty years ago it was just 150.

There were huge celebrations as the team lifted the cup, each player with a medal around their necks.

England captain Marlie Packer said she was “super proud”, adding: “The whole squad in this Six Nations has got us to where we are today and it is amazing.”

She told the BBC: “We knew they would be tough – they played to the 80th minute and kept asking questions of us so credit to them.

“Simon’s (head coach Simon Middleton) team talk just then had me in tears. He has been amazing for what he has done for women’s rugby.”

Player of the match Sadia Kabeya said it had been an “absolutely amazing tournament and today we got the result in front of an amazing crowd”.

She added: “It was definitely a game of two halves but we stuck to it and our game-plan.

“The only way is up for us. With the players we have coming through, the sky is the limit.”

It was Middleton’s final game in charge after eight years. He said it had been an “honour and a privilege to do the job” and an “exceptional day I will never forget”.

France were the last side to beat England in the Six Nations five years ago.

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