The 2026 Six Nations Championship starts on February 5 with a blockbuster clash between France and Ireland in Saint Denis.
The two nations have shared the prestigious rugby union title between them over the past four years, and are the favourites to dominate the tournament this year.
With that in mind, read on as we look at the 2026 Six Nations fixtures, before previewing what promises to be a thrilling showcase of international rugby.
Six Nations 2026 – Fixtures
The schedule for the 2026 Six Nations is as follows:
Round 1
- France vs Ireland – February 5 – Stade de France
- Italy vs Scotland – February 7 – Stadio Olimpico
- England vs Wales – February 7 – Allianz Stadium
Round 2
- Ireland vs Italy – February 14 – Aviva Stadium
- Scotland vs England – February 14 – Scottish Gas Murrayfield
- Wales vs France – February 15 – Principality Stadium
Round 3
- England vs Ireland – February 21 – Allianz Stadium
- Wales vs Scotland – February 21 – Principality Stadium
- France vs Italy – February 22 – Stade Pierre Mauroy
Round 4
- Ireland vs Wales – March 6 – Aviva Stadium
- Scotland vs France – March 7 – Scottish Gas Murrayfield
- Italy vs England – March 7 – Stadio Olimpico
Round 5
- Ireland vs Scotland – March 14 – Aviva Stadium
- Wales vs Italy – March 14 – Principality Stadium
- France vs England – March 14 – Stade de France
Six Nations 2026 – Team-by-Team Preview
England
Head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 36-man England squad, which is looking to extend an 11-match winning streak.
Forwards: Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Ben Earl (Saracens), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Guy Pepper (Bath), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Vilikesa Sela (Bath), Sam Underhill (Bath).
Backs: Henry Arundell (Bath), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers).
England last won the Six Nations in 2020, but they have a genuine chance of snapping that streak this year. Their clashes with Ireland (H) and France (A) will be crucial to their hopes.
A potential Grand Slam decider in Paris awaits Borthwick’s team, and it will be intriguing to see if they can make it to their final game with a perfect record.
France
The reigning champions have named a 42-man squad, which is headlined by the return of Antoine Dupont.
Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri (Stade Toulousain), Uini Atonio (Stade Rochelais), Hugo Auradou (Section Paloise), Cyril Baille (Stade Toulousain), Paul Boudehent (Stade Rochelais), François Cros (Stade Toulousain), Alexandre Fischer (Aviron Bayonnais), Joshua Brennan (Stade Toulousain), Jean-Baptiste Gros (RC Toulon), Mickael Guillard (Lyon OU), Oscar Jegou (Stade Rochelais), Anthony Jelonch (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Lamothe (Union Bordeaux Begles), Julien Marchand (Stade Toulousain), Temo Matiu (Union Bordeaux Begles), Peato Mauvaka (Stade Toulousain), Emmanuel Meafou (Stade Toulousain), Regis Montagne (ASM Clermont), Rodrigue Neti (Stade Toulousain), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier HR), Charles Ollivon (RC Toulon), Dany Priso (RC Toulon), Thomas Staniforth (Castres Olympique), Tevita Tatafu (Aviron Bayonnais), Cameron Woki (Union Bordeaux Begles).
Backs: Gregoire Arfeuil (Section Paloise), Theo Attissogbe (Section Paloise), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Union Bordeaux Begles), Fabien Brau-Boirie (Section Paloise), Romain Buros (Union Bordeaux Begles), Thibault Daubagna (Section Paloise), Nicolas Depoortere (Union Bordeaux Begles), Gael Drean (RC Toulon), Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain), Kalvin Gourgues (Stade Toulousain), Aaron Grandidier Nkanang (Section Paloise), Matthieu Jalibert (Union Bordeaux Begles), Yoram Moefana (Union Bordeaux Begles), Noah Nene (Stade Francais), Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain), Baptiste Serin (RC Toulon), Ugo Seunes (Racing 92).
While a favourable schedule tips the scales in France’s favour, it would be foolish to think that the outcome of the Six Nations is a foregone conclusion.
France have talented players throughout their squad, which gives head coach Fabien Galthie plenty of selection headaches to contend with.
Ireland
Head coach Andy Farrell has selected a 37-player squad for the 2026 Six Nations campaign.
Forwards: Tom Ahern (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Edwin Edogbo (Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).
Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Tom Farrell (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).
Having won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, Farrell missed last year’s competition because of his British and Irish Lions commitments.
Ireland ultimately finished third after losing to France, and Farrell will be eager to make amends on his return to Six Nations action.
Italy
Italy have named a 33-man squad that could spring a few surprises this year.
Forwards: Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Danilo Fischetti (Northampton Saints), Muhamed Hasa (Zebre Parma), Marco Riccioni (Saracens), Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby), Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (Zebre Parma), Pablo Dimcheff (Colomiers Rugby), Giacomo Nicotera (Stade Français), Niccolo Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs), Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby), Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby), Captain Samuele Locatelli (Zebre Parma), David Odiase (Zebre Parma), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby).
Backs: Alessandro Fusco (Zebre Parma), Martin Page-Relo (Lyon), Stephen Varney (Exeter Chiefs), Giacomo Da Re (Zebre Parma), Paolo Garbisi (Toulon), Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby), Leonardo Marin (Benetton Rugby), Damiano Mazza (Zebre Parma), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), Paolo Odogwu (Benetton Rugby), Matt Gallagher (Benetton Rugby), Monty Ioane (Lyon), Louis Lynagh (Benetton Rugby), Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Parma), Edoardo Todaro (Northampton Saints).
The Italians bagged a record points haul of 11 in 2024, but were limited to a solitary victory over Wales last year. That will be the minimum requirement this time around.
They will be without winger Edoardo Todaro, and his absence places additional pressure on the rest of the squad during the Six Nations.
Scotland
Glasgow Warriors players feature heavily in Scotland’s Six Nations squad.
Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby), Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Dave Cherry (Vannes), Alex Craig (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Union Bordeaux Bègles), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), George Turner (Harlequins), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors).
Backs: Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben White (Toulon.)
Gregor Townsend’s side have struggled to deliver consistently in the Six Nations, finishing fourth for the past two years.
However, Townsend believes he has a more talented squad at his disposal, and Scotland could force their way into the top half of the standings this year.
Wales
Head coach Steve Tandy will be desperate for his squad to avoid finishing bottom for the third consecutive year.
Forwards: Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers), Harri Deaves (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby), Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby), Josh Macleod (Scarlets), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Backs: Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester Tigers), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby)
Home games against Scotland and Italy are potentially favourable on paper, but it would be a brave move to back Wales to take anything from them.
There will be plenty of pressure on half-backs Dan Edwards and Tomos Williams to perform, while exciting winger Louis Rees-Zammit also needs to live up to the hype.
Six Nations 2026 – How to Watch
Numerous broadcasters have the rights to air Six Nations matches. These include:
- England – ITV, BBC, Premier Sports
- Ireland – RTE, Virgin Media, Premier Sports
- Scotland – ITV, BBC, Premier Sports
- Wales – ITV, BBC, S4C, Premier Sports
- Italy – Sky, RAI
- France – France TV, TF1
- Northern Ireland – ITV, BBC, Premier Sports
You can seen Six Nations global broadcast partners here, and you can learn how to stream Rugby games live here.
