Six Nations 2026

Find our Topbets Six Nations 2026 recap below. There will also be predictions on our site for all matches during the 2027 Six Nations Tournament.

Presentation of the Six Nations Tournament – Rugby

Six Nations History and Format

The Six Nations Rugby Championship was founded in 1883 by the four Home Nations and has now grown to Europe’s most prestigious rugby tournament. The competition is now contested by England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy. The format of the tournament is quite simplistic in nature with each team playing the other over six weeks of competition. During the six weeks each team will have one rest week. After playing each other, the team with the most points after the six rounds will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie the team with the better points differential will be declared the champion. The 133th staging of this elite rugby tournament will be during the period of February to March 2027.

Expert advice for your 6 Nations predictions

Predicting the results of the Six Nations matches is not an easy task and there are many things to consider before the match begins. Here are some of the key factors that will influence the outcome of a match. Our rugby experts have taken the time to discuss these factors in more detail.

The location of the match

The location of the match will be crucial as the win ratio for teams are above 60% when they play at home. Some teams have excellent home records but the obvious exception is Italy who have lost 16 consecutive Six Nations matches at home. England on the other hand has a fantastic home record but it is important to note that any team is beatable on their day.

The form of the teams

The Six Nations is played months after the November internationals so judging a team’s form isn’t the easiest task. Last year after the World Cup, many of the team’s star players either retired or have taken time away from the game. The form of the players is something that must be taken into consideration leading up to the tournament. Injuries to key players could severely dent a team’s performance.

The playing style of the teams involved

There are some teams that are more free scoring than others and Scotland springs to mind led by the magician Finn Russell. They like to play a running game but the results are not always in their favour. They will however have one of the more settled squads in this year’s Six Nations as France, England, Wales and Ireland have lost some key players in recent months.

The usual tactics

The tactics of each team is different and it’s a good idea to know the two teams well before the match starts so you can make a more informed decision before you bet. It will be helpful to know that France favour the set scrum and rolling maul and what is the scrum strength of their opponents? Or can England use their kick and chase game to good effect against a team who are notoriously excellent under the high ball?

Recap of the 2026 Six Nations

The 2026 Men’s Six Nations Championship was one of the most exciting tournaments in recent memory as the title race went down to the final day and the final minute when France overcame the English to be crowned champions again. It was the 132nd season of the competition and the 27th since it expanded to become the Six Nations Championship in 2000. It began on 5 February 2026 with a Thursday night match between France and Ireland, and ended with France against England on 14 March.

France entered the tournament as reigning champions and secured a second successive title with the final kick of the final match, a penalty by the competition’s top scorer, Thomas Ramos, squeezing France past England 48–46, and edging out repeat Triple Crown winners Ireland by two table points. Other notable results included Italy’s first ever win over England, a record-breaking 50–40 victory for Scotland over France and the end of a 15-match losing streak in the championship by Wales, who beat Italy on the last day.

Champions of the 2026 Six Nations: France

France came into the 2026 Six Nations as the defending champions and the favourites with their star-studded team. They certainly lived up to their pre-tournament billing as they demolished the Irish in the opening round in Paris. After the first round of matches, it seemed like England would be the nearest rival to Les Blues and they crushed a hapless Wales side at Twickenham. It looked to be smooth sailing for the French until the penultimate round of matches when they came horribly unstuck against a fired up Scottish side at Murrayfield. This loss meant they had to beat the English in the final match to defend their title which they duly did the hard way by clinching the victory after the hooter thanks to a Tomas Ramos penalty.

Surprise package of the tournament: Italy

Italy was the standout surprise of the 2026 Six Nations Championship as they finally produced the performances that they had threatened for the last few tournaments. The Azzurri combined flair with an exceptional skill set but what truly stunned fans was their historic victories, beating both Ireland and England for the first time ever in the competition.

Captain Michele Lamaro leading from the front while Ange Capuozzo dazzled with his attacking brilliance but it was Tommaso Menoncello who confirmed his name among the best players in the world with his blockbuster performances. It was hard to find any faults in the Italians performances but their loss in the final round was a disappointment but there is no doubting this side is capable of beating anybody on their day.

Wooden Spoon winners: Wales

Wales have been a shadow of their former selfs, so it was no surprise that they were the early pick to finish in last spot. After the opening two rounds where they suffered heavy defeats to England and France, many thought they would again go winless in the tournament. They did however manage to beat Italy in the final round and will be hoping this is the start of something positive for Welsh rugby.

Early odds on the outright winner for 2027 Six Nations

France 6/4
Ireland 9/4
England 10/3
Scotland 13/2
Italy 80/1
Wales 150/1