Can France make it two titles in a row when the Six Nations 2026 kicks off in February?
The men’s Six Nations 2026 will kick-off in less than a month. All of the nations will be looking to inflict an upset or two but there are a few teams who are favourites for the trophy.
England are coming off the back of a stellar year, including a win over New Zealand. However, reigning champions France will not give up their trophy willingly and they should be boosted by the return of their talisman Antoine Dupont. And although Dupont returns, Maxime Lucu will miss the start of the tournament with an injury of his own.
Read more: Dupont returns
The competition kicks off on Thursday 5 February, when France host Ireland. That opening weekend of fixtures also features Scotland heading to Rome to take on Italy, and Wales looking to avenge their humbling March defeat to England when they travel to Twickenham.
While Wales did manage to end their losing run in 2025, they are still a team who are building back to their once formidable form. The Six Nations will be even more difficult for the side as their star Jac Morgan has been ruled out of the start of the competition. Morgan, who recently signed for Gloucester, dislocated his shoulder against Argentina in the autumn.
Steve Borthwick’s team have their own injury doubt with Will Stuart currently sidelined with an Achilles issue. His return to the pitch has not yet been confirmed.
Other notable injuries for fans to be aware of include Ireland’s Jami Osborne, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen.
Read more: Why Wales during the Six Nations is a bucket list item
This article will tell you everything you need to know about the men’s Six Nations 2026, including a recap of the 2025 tournament and details of the championship’s previous winners.
Six Nations 2026: key information
Dates: Thursday 5 February – Saturday 14 March 2026
Participating teams: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales
UK TV coverage: The BBC and ITV shared coverage in 2025, and will continue to do so thanks to a new TV deal that kicks off in 2026.
Six Nations 2026 fixtures
England’s Tom Curry claims the line out (Getty Images)
Round 1
Thursday 5 February
- France v Ireland
Stade de France
Saturday 7 February
- Italy v Scotland
Stadio Olimpico, Rome - England v Wales
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Round 2
Saturday 14 February
- Ireland v Italy
Aviva Stadium, Dublin - Scotland v England
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Sunday 15 February
- Wales v France
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Round 3
Saturday 21 February
- England v Ireland
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham - Wales v Scotland
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Sunday 22 February
- France v Italy
Stade Pierre Mauroy
Round 4
Friday 6 March
- Ireland v Wales
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Saturday 7 March
- Scotland v France
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh - Italy v England
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Round 5
Saturday 14 March
- Ireland v Scotland
Aviva Stadium, Dublin - Wales v Italy
Principality Stadium, Cardiff - France v England
Stade de France
READ MORE: Six Nations 2026 fixtures: A comprehensive guide including kick-off times and UK broadcaster information
Six Nations overview
Teams: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales
The backstory: The tournament began as the Home Nations Championship in 1883, contested between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. France joined in 1910 to make it the Five Nations, were suspended in 1932, and subsequently readmitted in 1947 when the Five Nations resumed after the Second World War. The current Six Nations iteration kicked off in 2000 with the arrival of Italy.
First title: England (England also won the first-ever Five Nations and Six Nations titles)
Most titles: England and Wales have both won 39 titles. (England have 29 outright wins with 10 shared; Wales have 28 outright wins with 11 shared). We have a full list of previous winners of the championship in all its different forms dating back to 1883.
Six Nations 2025 recap and results
Winners: France
Final standings:
- France (21 points)
- England (20 points)
- Ireland (19 points)
- Scotland (11 points)
- Italy (5 points)
- Wales (3 points)
England had their best tournament since they won the title in 2020, finishing a single point behind France after a thumping win over Wales. Reigning champions Ireland won the Triple Crown but had to make to do with third place having lost to France in Dublin.
In the bottom half of the table, Scotland managed two wins (over Italy and Wales), but were left rueing their narrow Calcutta Cup defeat to England in round 3. Italy failed to match last year’s best-ever return of two wins and a draw, but that was still enough to finish ahead of Wales, who had another dismal campaign and retained the Wooden Spoon.
Round 1
Friday 31 January 2025
- France 43 – 0 Wales
Stade de France, Paris
Saturday 1 February 2025
- Scotland 31 – 19 Italy
Murrayfield, Edinburgh - Ireland 27 – 22 England
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Round 2
Saturday 8 February 2025
- Italy 22 – 15 Wales
Stadio Olimpico, Rome - England 26 – 25 France
Twickenham Stadium, London
Sunday 9 February 2025
- Scotland 18 – 32 Ireland
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Round 3
Saturday 22 February 2025
- Wales 18-27 Ireland
Principality Stadium, Cardiff - England 16-15 Scotland
Twickenham Stadium, London
Sunday 23 February
- Italy 24-73 France
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Round 4
Saturday 8 March 2025
- Ireland 27-42 France
Aviva Stadium, Dublin - Scotland 35-29 Wales
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Sunday 9 March 2025
- England 47-24 Italy
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Round 5
Saturday 15 March 2025
- Italy 17-22 Ireland
Stadio Olimpico, Rome - Wales 14-68 England
Principality Stadium, Cardiff - France 35-16 Scotland
Stade de France, Paris
Previous Six Nations winners
France lifted the Six Nations 2025 trophy (Warren Little/Getty Images)
Here’s every winner of the Six Nations title since Italy joined the tournament in 2000.
2000 – England
2001 – England
2002 – France (Grand Slam)
2003 – England (Grand Slam)
2004 – France (Grand Slam)
2005 – Wales (Grand Slam)
2006 – France
2007 – France
2008 – Wales (Grand Slam)
2009 – Ireland (Grand Slam)
2010 – France (Grand Slam)
2011 – England
2012 – Wales (Grand Slam)
2013 – Wales
2014 – Ireland
2015 – Ireland
2016 – England (Grand Slam)
2017 – England
2018 – Ireland (Grand Slam)
2019 – Wales (Grand Slam)
2020 – England
2021 – Wales
2022 – France (Grand Slam)
2023 – Ireland (Grand Slam)
2024 – Ireland
2025 – France
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