France v Ireland – Thursday, 5 February

Kick-off time: 8.10pm

Venue: Stade de France

TV Details: Virgin Media One (Coverage starts at 7pm), ITV (Coverage starts at 7.20pm)

It’s unusual to see Six Nations action scheduled for a midweek slot, but with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony happening on Friday, competition organisers and organisers felt a change was needed. And so, Thursday evening was selected as the platform to give Ireland and France the maximum level of exposure.

Andy Farrell heads to the Stade de France with an injury-ravaged side. Hugo Keenan is the latest to miss out due to a broken thumb. Additionally, Bundee Aki has been dropped from the squad, and has received a four-match ban for “verbal abuse and disrespect” towards the match officials after Connacht’s URC defeat to Leinster.

The reigning champions France have big absentees of their own too. Out-half Romain Ntamack and lock Thibaud Flament are both unavailable. Experienced tighthead prop Uini Atonio has been forced to retire due to a heart issue, while Gael Fickou, Damian Penaud and vice-captain Gregory Alldritt have all been omitted. 

Ireland head to Paris as massive underdogs, but expect the competition opener to be a real arm wrestle.

Italy v Scotland – Saturday, 7 February

Kick-off time: 2.10pm

Venue: Stadio Olimpico

TV Details: Virgin Media One (Coverage starts at 1.30pm), BBC One (Coverage starts at 1pm)

The first-round action continues in Rome as Italy welcome Scotland. Gregor Townsend travels with a stacked side after recalling experienced forwards Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry while Finn Russell continues to be a strong presence at out-half. Midfield could be an intriguing battle between Sione Tuipulotu [Scotland] and Tommaso Menoncello [Italy].

Scotland won this fixture in Edinburgh last year on the way to finishing above Italy in the table, and will be hoping to start their championship with a win before hosting England in the second round.

Italy were victorious the last time they took on Scotland at home in the championship two years ago. However, they go into this tie without star back Ange Capuozzo due to injury. The 26-year-old suffered a fractured finger in Toulouse’s Top 14 win over La Rochelle in late December, and has not featured since.

Head coach Gonzalo Quesada will also be without some experienced players including out-half Tommaso Allan, hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi and back-rower Sebastian Negri. Italy lost their last game of the 2025 Six Nations to Ireland, and will be hoping to get off the mark in Rome if they are to improve on their fifth-place finish last year.

England v Wales – Saturday, 7 February

Kick-off time: 4.40pm

Venue: Twickenham

TV Details: RTÉ 2 (Coverage starts at 4pm), ITV (Coverage starts at 3.45pm)

Last year’s runners-up England will be heavy favourites to beat Wales this weekend.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has made some interesting squad selection calls for this year’s championship. George Furbank has been included despite making just four senior appearances for Northampton this season due to calf issues. Meanwhile, his clubmate George Hendy has been left out.

Greg Fisilau features as one one of three uncapped players alongside Billy Sela and Emmanuel Iyogun.

Wales have not won a Six Nations match for the last two years and a tough opener against England will be followed by another big challenge when France come to visit for the second round of the championship.

Along with the struggles at international level, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has proposed cutting one of its four men’s professional sides – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. Two consortiums have submitted final bids for Cardiff and reportedly Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, are the preferred bidder, allowing the two sides to effectively become one team.

This news has led to the possibility of strike action among players in the Wales squad. However, head coach Steve Tandy has dismissed that as speculation.