As every rugby fan knows, it is almost that time. The Six Nations 2026, one of the most beloved tournaments in sports, and not only in rugby, rich in history and mythology, we could write, will begin on the 5th of February. We have more than a couple of months to wait, but each supporter in England, Wales, France, Ireland, Scotland and Italy is already looking forward to it. And how could he or she not? The fixtures are amazing.
A spectacular schedule
Ready, set, go! On the first gameday, France will meet Ireland and England will play against Wales. On the 15th of February, France will go against Wales; in the fifth and last one, on the 14th of March, France will square off against England, in the game that could possibly decide the whole tournament. All the rivalries, the emotions and the wonders of a championship etched in European history will keep fans amazed for a month and a half, from the explosive opening to the unmissable ending.
Who are the favourites to win?
As usual, teams taking part in the Six Nations sit on different tiers of talent. Once again, Italy and Scotland aren’t scaring anyone, but we are writing about two proud teams which love the sport and may bring some pain to whoever undervalues them. The odds indicate that France is the clear favorite to win. This opinion is shared by both the most established bookmakers in the industry and the new betting sites on the market. The defending champions seem to have everything they need to retain their title and will look to do just that. However, Ireland and England may have some other ideas in mind.
The Six Nations gets more competitive and unpredictable each year. The tournament invites more and more fans to tune in and enjoy the drama. In 2025, nearly 130 million fans were watching coverage of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations – this is how the full name of the competition goes – in home markets. It means that we registered a nice +6.30% increase compared to the previous year. Rugby is growing on the European market, even on the continent. It is not an occupation for the sole Brits anymore.
The latest set of fixtures promises to keep fans hooked for the whole five rounds of sporting entertainment even in 2026. Perhaps the French will lift the trophy, but rugby itself may come out of the tournament as the true winner.
The history of the Six Nations
As always, the Rugby Observer will follow England and all its opponents during the tournament and will cover the Six Nations on the dedicated rugby section. Before looking forward to the next edition, though, let’s check the past of this fascinating competition. Who won the most Six Nations among the, well, six nations?
England and Wales lifted the trophy 39 times each and are looking forward to a tie-breaker. France follows with 26 and is getting closer. Les Bleus paid for their late blooming, though: they got to their first win only in 1954, after 25 tries. Ireland is in fourth position, with 24 total wins and Scotland in fifth with 22. The Scots have not won since 2000, the year when the Five Nations became the Six Nations, after the admission of Italy. The Italians are still looking forward to their first win and are becoming better and better, year after year. They still seem like a very long shot to lift the Championship Trophy though.
The Six Nations award eight total trophies, excluding the Championship Cup. The Triple Crown is presented to the Home Nation that wins all its three matches against the other British teams and is winnable only by England, Wales, Ireland or Scotland. The Calcutta Cup goes to the winner between England and Scotland; the Millennium Trophy is awarded to the winner of England-Scotland; The Centenary Quaich is contended by Ireland and Scotland; the Giuseppe Garibaldi trophy is for France and Italy; the Auld Alliance Trophy is the prize when France plays Scotland; the Doddie Weir Cup is exclusive for Wales and Scotland while the Cuttitta Cup is contended between Italy and Scotland. The team who wins all his games scores the Grand Slam while the last team on the table is awarded the Wooden Spoon, which is a metaphorical prize and a mark of infamy.
This is a submitted article
