Ireland will bid to make history in 2025 by becoming the first team to complete a hat-trick of title successes in the Six Nations Rugby Championship.
Since Italy joined the competition in 2020 there have been back-to-back winners on six occasions, but no team has made it three in a row.
The 2025 fixture list favours Ireland, given they face their two toughest opponents on home soil. They are the bookmakers’ favourites to get the job done.
Fans will undoubtedly be clamouring to find Six Nations rugby tickets over the next few months in preparation for what could be a history-making tournament.
Read on as we look at the dates, venues and previous winners of the Six Nations before assessing whether anyone can stop Ireland’s quest for a three-peat.
Six Nations 2025 Fixtures
Round One
- France vs Wales – Stade de France, Paris – Friday, January 31 – 8.15 pm
- Scotland vs Italy – Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh – Saturday, February 1 – 2.15 pm
- Ireland vs England – Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Saturday, February 1 – 4.45 pm
Round Two
- Italy vs Wales – Olympic Stadium, Rome – Saturday, February 8 – 2.15 pm
- England vs France – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – Saturday, February 8 – 4.45 pm
- Scotland vs Ireland – Murrayfield Stadium, Scotland – Sunday, February 9 – 3.00 pm
Round Three
- Wales vs Ireland – Principality Stadium, Cardiff – Saturday, February 22 – 2.15 pm
- England vs Scotland – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – Saturday, February 22 – 4.45 pm
- Italy vs France – Olympic Stadium, Rome – Sunday, February 23 – 3.00 pm
Round Four
- Ireland vs France – Aviva Stadium, Dublin – Saturday, March 8 – 2.15 pm
- Scotland vs Wales – Murrayfield Stadium, Scotland – Saturday, March 8 – 4.45 pm
- England vs Italy – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – Sunday, March 9 – 3.00 pm
Round Five
- Italy vs Ireland – Olympic Stadium, Rome – Saturday, March 16 – 2.15 pm
- Wales vs England – Principality Stadium, Cardiff – Saturday, March 16 – 4.45 pm
- France vs Scotland – Stade de France, Paris – Saturday, March 16 – 8.00 pm
Six Nations Previous Winners
Since the Six Nations era started in 2000, only Scotland and Italy have failed to win the title. Here is the list of previous winners:
- 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
Six Nations 2025 Preview
Ireland will have a new head coach in December 2024, with Simon Easterby taking the role from Andy Farrell on an interim basis.
Farrell will be in charge of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next summer, and Easterby unquestionably has some big shoes to fill.
The former Ireland forward has been part of Ireland’s coaching staff since 2014 and is eagerly anticipating taking on a new challenge.
“To be asked to lead the Ireland team is a huge honour and one that I am thrilled to accept,” Easterby said.
“It is the highest achievement of my coaching career to date, and I’m looking forward to working with the talented backroom team and players while Andy is away with the British and Irish Lions.
“I have greatly enjoyed being a part of the men’s national team journey over the last ten years, and I believe that there are even brighter days ahead as we build towards a huge few months.
“There’s a lot to play for before December, and we’re looking forward to providing the next crop of future Irish players with a chance to impress against talented international opponents in South Africa and then across the four Autumn Nations Series matches at the Aviva Stadium.”
Easterby’s hopes of guiding Ireland to a third successive Six Nations title have been boosted by the composition of the 2025 fixture list.
France and England finished second and third in the standings this year and are expected to be Ireland’s biggest threats next spring.
However, Ireland are scheduled to face both teams at the Aviva Stadium, which should give them an advantage in their bid to claim the title again.
England head into the tournament with question marks hanging over them following the departures of several members of their backroom staff.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has appointed trusted ally Joe El-Abd as the team’s new defensive coach, and he has promised to deliver evolution rather than a revolution.
“I feel incredibly honoured to join the England coaching team, and I can’t wait to get started,” El-Abd said.
“I am excited by the direction in which this England team is headed and where they want to go under Steve’s leadership. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his vision for this team is clear.
“Defence is a huge part of the game, and I’m extremely passionate about it. I am excited by the opportunity to keep developing a defence that will help drive England’s success.
“I’d like to thank everyone at Oyonnax rugby, especially Dougal Bendjaballah, for understanding my deep desire to coach the England national team.”
El-Abd’s evolution strategy could pay dividends given that predecessor Felix Jones had got things heading in the right direction defensively with his innovative ‘blitz’ tactics.
England conceded just four tries in their two Tests against New Zealand this year, which was a commendable result for a touring team.
It will be intriguing to see how El-Abd tweaks the system, but his efforts are unlikely to be enough to help England overhaul Ireland in the Six Nations.
A second-place finish should not be beyond the realms of possibility for England, and their clash with France on February 8 could determine whether they secure that spot.
Les Bleus have had a troubled summer, with several off-field scandals casting a major shadow over international rugby in France.
While head coach Fabien Galthie believes he is working with a group of players who can be world-beaters, they have yet to live up to their potential.
Fixtures in November against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina will highlight whether France have what it takes to win the Six Nations next spring.
With Scotland, Wales and Italy likely to be making up the numbers again, everything points towards Ireland winning their third successive title.
England and France have more question marks hanging over them than the Irish team, and history looks set to be made in the 2025 Six Nations.
Six Nations 2025 Broadcasting
- France – France 2
- Republic of Ireland – RTE, Virgin Media
- Italy – Sky, TV8
- United Kingdom – BBC, ITV, S4C
- Asia – Premier Sports Asia
- Australia – Stan Sport
- Baltic states and Nordic countries (including Poland) – Viaplay
- Canada – DAZN
- Caribbean – ESPN
- Czechia (including Slovakia) – Nova Sport
- Germanic Europe (including Luxembourg) – More Than Sports
- Israel – Sport 5
- Japan – Wowow
- Malta – GO
- MENA – Premier Sports Middle East
- Netherlands – Ziggo Sport
- New Zealand – Sky Sport
- Portugal (including Slovenia) – Sport TV
- Romania – Orange Sport
- Spain (including Andorra) – Movistar Plus+
- South America – ESPN Latin America, ESPN Brazil
- Sub-Saharan Africa (including South Africa) – SuperSport
- United States – NBC Sports