Matches were held in February and March 2012, on the same weekends as the men's tournament, if not always the same day.

The championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

The tournament marked a significant step-forward in the broadcasting of matches.

Three of England's five games were available to the armchair viewer – their home matches against Wales (broadcast live in the UK by the BBC), their game against Ireland (webcast by the RFU), and their away game against France (broadcast in France by France4 and in the UK by Sky – the first time any women's international had been shown on French national TV).

Ireland v Scotland was also webcast by the IRFU – the first Irish women's home game ever broadcast.