Published 11 May 2026 · Le Crunch is more than a match. It's a century of rivalry, last-minute heartbreaks, legendary tries and crushing defeats. Look ahead to the 2027 edition, scheduled for Sunday 14 February at the Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), and dive into the history of a fixture that goes far beyond rugby.
The first official Test between England and France was played on 22 March 1906, at Parc des Princes in Paris. England won 35-8. At that time, French rugby was just discovering international level; England were already an established power, with 35 years of Test rugby behind them (the first ever international: Scotland v England, 1871).
The rivalry built up over decades. For much of the early years, England comfortably dominated head-to-head. France had to wait until 1927 for their first victory in the fixture: a 3-0 win at Colombes in atrocious weather.
The nickname "Le Crunch" was coined by the British press in the 1970s-1980s, to capture the extreme physicality of the fixture. English commentators used "the crunch" as shorthand for head-on collisions, bone-crushing scrums and bruising tackling. The term crossed the Channel through the French media and now refers exclusively to this annual fixture.
By the end of 2026, England and France have met more than 110 times in Test matches (Five and then Six Nations, Rugby World Cups, summer and autumn Tests). The overall record favours England, but the gap has narrowed considerably since the 2000s.
16 March 1991, Twickenham. With both sides arriving unbeaten, England beat France 21-19 in a winner-takes-all Grand Slam decider on the final day of the Five Nations. The match is also remembered for one of the greatest tries in rugby history: an iconic counter-attack from inside the French 22, finished by Philippe Saint-André after slick offloads from Lagisquet, Sella, Camberabero and Mesnel. England's victory sealed Will Carling's first Grand Slam.
16 November 2003, Telstra Stadium, Sydney: in the Rugby World Cup semi-final, Jonny Wilkinson kicked five penalties and three drop-goals to drive England to a 24-7 victory over France in pouring rain. Sir Clive Woodward's side went on to win the trophy a week later — England's only Rugby World Cup title to date.
13 October 2007, Stade de France: in the Rugby World Cup semi-final, England eliminated host nation France 14-9 in a dramatic match, sealed by a late Wilkinson penalty. England went on to lose the final to South Africa; France, the hosts, were knocked out at home — a national trauma.
19 March 2022, France 25 England 13 at the Stade de France: Fabien Galthié's France clinched their first Grand Slam since 2010 by dispatching an out-of-sorts England. Antoine Dupont was named player of the championship.
16 March 2024, France 33 England 31 at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon: in their Guinness Six Nations finale, England came within a whisker of an away upset, only to lose in the 81st minute to a Thomas Ramos penalty. An instant classic that reignited the rivalry.
Le Crunch 2027 will be played on Sunday 14 February 2027 at 15:10 GMT at the Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) in London. It is Round 2 of the championship for both sides.
For England, hosting Le Crunch at Twickenham is the chance to set the tone for Steve Borthwick's side eight months out from the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. For France, this trip is critical: a win at Twickenham would be a major statement of intent for the world champions in-waiting.
For England, the questions revolve around the back-row (Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill), the 10 shirt (Marcus Smith, Fin Smith) and the captaincy (Maro Itoje is the incumbent captain). For France, the spine of Dupont – Ntamack – Ramos is expected to start if all three are fit, with Antoine Dupont once again leading Les Bleus.
An open contest. The Twickenham factor historically tips the balance (England win the home fixture roughly one in two years), but France's recent dynamic and squad depth could swing things back. Our pick: England 24 — France 22, in a nail-biting finish.
Tickets for Le Crunch 2027 are sold primarily by the RFU (englandrugby.com), since the match is at Twickenham. The members' pre-sale typically opens in autumn 2026, with the general public on-sale following. Expect £140-350 for a Category 2-3 seat, and £80-130 for Categories 4-5.
If you're travelling from across the UK, an early Sunday return is easy thanks to South Western Railway out of Twickenham station. For French supporters making the trip, plan at least one overnight stay: the match is mid-afternoon and the Eurostar from Paris takes around 2h20. Book well in advance — fares climb sharply as the date approaches.
Tickets for the England v France Crunch on 14 February 2027 at Twickenham go on sale in phases. Sign up to get an email the moment the RFU on-sale opens.