The Six Nations is one of those rare sporting events that can dominate the conversation before a ball has even been kicked. Historic rivalries, packed stadiums and five demanding matches for every team make it an annual highlight of the UK rugby calendar. The 2026 edition lived up to that billing, producing dramatic upsets, record-breaking individual performances and a title race that remained alive until the final match.
This Six Nations 2026 guide covers the complete fixture list, final standings, tournament format, standout players and the television coverage available to UK fans. France ultimately retained the championship, finishing ahead of Ireland after five rounds of fiercely contested international rugby.
What Was the Six Nations 2026?
The Six Nations is an annual rugby union championship contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Each nation plays the other five once, creating a total of 15 matches across five rounds.
Home advantage alternates between seasons, meaning teams do not host the same opponents every year. The format is simple enough to follow, but bonus points, points difference and traditional prizes such as the Grand Slam and Triple Crown add extra significance to almost every score.
The 2026 championship began on Thursday, 5 February, with France hosting Ireland at the Stade de France. It concluded with three matches on Super Saturday, 14 March, including a remarkable 48-46 victory for France over England that secured the title.
Six Nations Fixtures 2026 and Results
The Six Nations fixtures 2026 schedule featured matches in London, Paris, Dublin, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Rome and Lille. Several games produced unexpected results, while the final round delivered the high-pressure conclusion supporters have come to expect from this rugby union championship.
Round One
Thursday, 5 February: France 36-14 Ireland at Stade de France. Saturday, 7 February: Italy 18-15 Scotland at Stadio Olimpico. England 48-7 Wales at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
France made an immediate statement by defeating Ireland, while Italy’s narrow victory over Scotland suggested that the traditional gap between the teams was continuing to close. England also began strongly with a commanding home performance against Wales.
Round Two
Saturday, 14 February: Ireland 20-13 Italy at Aviva Stadium. Scotland 31-20 England at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. Sunday, 15 February: Wales 12-54 France at Principality Stadium.
Scotland retained the Calcutta Cup by beating England, while France strengthened their title credentials with an emphatic attacking display in Cardiff.
Round Three
Saturday, 21 February: England 21-42 Ireland at Allianz Stadium. Wales 23-26 Scotland at Principality Stadium. Sunday, 22 February: France 33-8 Italy at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.
Ireland recovered impressively from their opening defeat, securing a convincing win in London. Scotland stayed in the championship race with a tight victory in Wales, while France continued to collect valuable table points.
Round Four
Friday, 6 March: Ireland 27-17 Wales at Aviva Stadium. Saturday, 7 March: Scotland 50-40 France at Murrayfield. Italy 23-18 England at Stadio Olimpico.
This was the weekend that transformed the tournament. Scotland handed France their only defeat in a thrilling 90-point contest, while Italy recorded a landmark first Men’s Six Nations victory over England.
Round Five
Saturday, 14 March: Ireland 43-21 Scotland at Aviva Stadium. Wales 31-17 Italy at Principality Stadium. France 48-46 England at Stade de France.
Ireland’s victory kept their championship hopes alive and secured the Triple Crown. France then needed a result against England and survived an extraordinary final contest to finish top of the table.
Final Six Nations Table
France finished first in the Six Nations table with 21 points after winning four of their five matches. Ireland were second with 19 points, followed by Scotland on 16. Italy finished fourth with nine points, England collected eight, and Wales ended the championship in sixth place with six points.
The final order was France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, England and Wales. Although France and Ireland both recorded four wins and one defeat, France’s stronger bonus-point return gave them the advantage.
Teams receive four table points for a victory and two for a draw. A try bonus point is awarded for scoring at least four tries, while a losing bonus point is available when a team loses by seven points or fewer. A team completing a Grand Slam receives three additional table points, ensuring an undefeated side cannot be overtaken by a team it has already beaten.
The Biggest Stories of the Championship
France defending their title was the headline result, but the championship was far from predictable. Their defeat in Edinburgh opened the door for Ireland, and the trophy was not secured until the closing stages of the final match against England.
Ireland responded strongly after losing in Paris, winning their remaining four fixtures and claiming the Triple Crown by beating England, Scotland and Wales. Scotland also enjoyed an encouraging campaign, defeating England and France before finishing third.
Italy’s progress was another major talking point. Wins against Scotland and England helped the Azzurri finish above both England and Wales. England’s campaign was particularly unusual: they began with a 48-7 victory and ended by scoring 46 points in Paris, yet still managed only one win.
Key Players Who Defined the Six Nations 2026
Louis Bielle-Biarrey was the tournament’s outstanding individual performer. The France winger scored nine tries across five matches, setting a new record for tries in a single Six Nations campaign. Four of those tries came in the decisive final-round victory over England, and he was voted Player of the Championship for the second consecutive year.
Thomas Ramos was another central figure in France’s success, finishing as the leading points scorer with 74. Antoine Dupont continued to influence matches through his kicking, decision-making and ability to create opportunities for players around him.
Elsewhere, Finn Russell was vital to Scotland’s attacking game, while Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey produced one of his strongest championship campaigns. Italy’s Tommaso Menoncello and Scotland winger Kyle Steyn were also shortlisted for the Player of the Championship award.
How to Watch Six Nations Matches in the UK
For supporters researching how to watch Six Nations rugby in the UK, the 2026 television rights were shared between ITV and the BBC. ITV broadcast ten live matches, including all five England fixtures, through ITV1 and ITVX. Its coverage was also available through STV, STV Player and UTV in the relevant regions.
The BBC carried the remaining five matches as part of the shared free-to-air agreement. This meant UK viewers could follow every game without needing a dedicated paid sports subscription, although a valid television licence was required for live viewing and BBC iPlayer use.
ITV also offered match highlights and additional clips through ITVX and its rugby social channels. The official Six Nations website and app provided live match centres, statistics, tables, team news and video highlights throughout the championship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Six Nations in 2026?
France won the 2026 Men’s Six Nations, finishing first with 21 table points. They recorded four victories and one defeat, retaining the title ahead of Ireland.
When did the Six Nations 2026 take place?
The championship began on Thursday, 5 February 2026 and finished on Saturday, 14 March 2026. The final three matches were played on Super Saturday.
Which teams competed in the tournament?
England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales competed. Each country played five matches, facing every other participating nation once.
Was the Six Nations 2026 shown on free-to-air television?
Yes. UK coverage was shared between ITV and the BBC, with all 15 matches available through free-to-air television and the broadcasters’ streaming platforms.
A Championship That Delivered Until the End
The 2026 Six Nations combined everything rugby fans value about the tournament: historic rivalries, unpredictable results, emerging teams and a title decided under intense final-day pressure. France proved strong enough to defend their crown, but Ireland, Scotland and Italy all contributed to a much more competitive championship than the final standings alone might suggest.
For UK supporters, it also remained one of the most accessible major sporting events of the year, with every match shown on free-to-air television. From record-breaking tries to landmark victories, the 2026 championship provided more than enough memorable moments to keep fans talking long after Super Saturday.
