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Steve@Mose 
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 Topic: Six Nations 2026
Posted: 19 May 2025 at 12:26 |
Thursday night blockbuster to start 2026 Six Nations
 Ireland will travel to defending champions France in the first-ever Thursday night fixture in Six Nations' history when the 2026 tournament begins on 5 February.
Ireland and France have won the last four titles between them and their blockbuster 20:10 GMT encounter has been brought forward to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan the following day.
The shift is designed to maximise audiences in France.
The finale of last year's tournament, when France beat Scotland to secure the title, returned record Six Nations audiences in France with 9.5m people (a 46% share of viewers) watching live on France2., external
The 2026 tournament recorded a 6.3% increase in audience in domestic markets overall.
It has also been confirmed there will be only one rest weekend, rather than the previous two, in the 2026 tournament.
2026 Six Nations fixtures in full (all times GMT)
Round 1
France v Ireland - Thursday 5 February (20:10)
Italy v Scotland - Saturday 7 February (14:10)
England v Wales - Saturday 7 February (16:40)
Round 2
Ireland v Italy - Saturday 14 February (14:10)
Scotland v England - Saturday 14 February (16:40)
Wales v France - Sunday 15 Feburary (15:10)
Round 3
England v Ireland - Saturday 21 February (14:10)
Wales v Scotland - Saturday 21 February (16:40)
France v Italy - Sunday 22 February (15:10)
Round 4
Ireland v Wales - Friday 6 March (20:10)
Scotland v France - Saturday 7 March (14:10)
Italy v England - Saturday 7 March (16:40)
Round 5
Ireland v Scotland - Saturday 14 March (14:10)
Wales v Italy - Saturday 14 March (16:40)
France v England - Saturday 14 March (20:10)
...
It is hoped the shorter length of the tournament will allow it to gather more momentum, with narratives holding the public attention more easily.
Previously, the third round of fixtures would have been sandwiched between two rest weekends.
After France take on Ireland, the rest of the opening round of fixtures sees Scotland travel to Italy on Saturday, 7 February (14:10 GMT) and England host Wales on the same day (16:40 GMT).
France are still to confirm the venues for their games.
The French Rugby Federation said in December it had not yet received a satisfactory proposal to stay at the Stade de France, their usual Paris home.
It added it was considering "the various opportunities available" elsewhere.
France played in M@rseille, Lille and Lyon in the 2024 Six Nations while preparations for the Olympics in Paris meant the Stade de France was off limits.
All three venues can hold more than 50,000, but none can match the 80,000 capacity and revenue generated by the Stade de France.
Six Nations organisers have also confirmed that the 2026 women's tournament will kick off three weeks later than the 2025 edition, pushing it to an April start and May finish.
The change is part of new and separate global calendar for the women's game.
It means England's PWR season will conclude after mid-summer with the top flight having a rest weekend followed by two regular-season rounds, semi-finals and a 27 June final after the conclusion of the Women's Six Nations. |
Edited by Steve@Mose - 19 May 2025 at 12:28
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FHLH
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Posted: 19 May 2025 at 13:06 |
No one works on a Friday otherwise bar sales would plummet. 
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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 12 Jun 2025 at 13:23 |
Single-day 'super' rounds for 2026 Women's Six Nations
Each round of next year's Women's Six Nations will be staged on a single day, with four 'Super Saturdays' leading to Sunday 17 May when holders England travel to nearest rivals France in the final match of the tournament.
Runaway world number ones England have won seven successive titles, but France threatened to ruin their most recent celebrations, coming within a point of the Red Roses in April.
England will stage their 11 April opener against Ireland at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium, where, in 2023, they set a world record for the biggest crowd for a women's Test match with 58,498 watching a win over France.
England's meeting with Ireland will be the Red Roses' first match following their 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup campaign on home turf, where they are favourites to lift the crown for the first time in 11 years.
Scotland will host England at Murrayfield the following week in the first standalone women's international at the venue staged in front of fans.
The current record attendance for a Scotland women's home match - 7,774, set at the 2024 meeting between the two rivals – is expected to be beaten.
However venues for the rest of the matches are yet to be announced, with organisers saying they "will be announced in due course".
The 2026 tournament starts three weeks after the end of the men's Six Nations, rather than the previous one-week gap, as part of a new global international calendar.
It is hoped the tournament, coming a little over six months after the finale of the Women's Rugby World Cup in England, will attract unprecedented audiences
2026 Women's Six Nations fixtures
All times BST
Saturday 11 April
France v Italy 12:25
England v Ireland - Allianz Stadium - 14:25
Wales v Scotland 16:40
Saturday 18 April
Scotland v England – Murrayfield – 13:30
Wales v France – 15:35
Ireland v Italy 17:40
Saturday 25 April
England v Wales 14:15
Italy v Scotland – 16:30
France v Ireland – 20:10
Saturday 9 May
Italy v England – 14:00
Scotland v France – 16:15
Ireland v Wales – 18:30
Sunday 17 May
Wales v Italy – 12:15
Ireland v Scotland – 14:30
France v England – 16:45 |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 10 Jan 2026 at 21:03 |
Premier Sports to broadcast live Guinness Men's Six Nations matches in 2026
Premier Sports will broadcast five live matches from the 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations Championship, one from each round.
The coverage from Premier Sports complements that of the BBC, with the same fixtures still available to UK fans, via free to air coverage offered by the BBC, who recently agreed a long term partnership with Six Nations Rugby to show fixtures from one of sport's most loved annual events until 2029.
The newly acquired rights will see Premier Sports deliver live coverage of key Championship fixtures involving Scotland and Wales. Rugby supporters can follow pivotal moments from both nations’ campaigns throughout the Championship.
Premier Sports hosts more than 400 live top-class rugby fixtures every season with rights to four major international rugby competitions including Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, Top 14 and BKT United Rugby Championship as well as Japan League One and MLR in the USA.
Premier Sports’ coverage of Guinness Men's Six Nations will be fronted by a team of Premier Sports' top rugby pundits including Tom Shanklin, Andy Goode, Jim Hamilton, Ryan Wilson and Benjamin Kayser.
Premier Sports becomes part of the UK broadcast partnership for the Six Nations alongside BBC, ITV and S4C.
Guinness Six Nations 2026 – live on Premier Sports (UK)
- Italy v Scotland – Saturday 7 February (14:10), Stadio Olympico, Rome
- Wales v France – Sunday 15 February (15:10), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Wales v Scotland – Saturday 21 February (16:40), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Scotland v France – Saturday 7 March (14:10), Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Wales v Italy – Saturday 14 March (16:40), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
In addition to its UK broadcast footprint, Premier Sports will stream its Six Nations coverage across key Asian markets, to support bringing the Championship to new and emerging rugby audiences and expanding the global reach of one of the sport’s most iconic tournaments. Premier Sports is also now the exclusive home of the Six Nations in Canada where with exclusive rights to Nations Championship, SANZAAR tour matches, Super Rugby Pacific plus the Greatest Rivalry.
Richard Sweeney, CEO of Premier Sports, said: “The Guinness Six Nations is one of the crown jewels of international rugby. The Championship showcases the world’s best players and remains one of the most culturally significant competitions in international sport and we're delighted to bring these outstanding fixtures to our customers and growing rugby network." |
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JZSmith2
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Posted: 11 Jan 2026 at 12:12 |
Steve@Mose wrote:
Premier Sports to broadcast live Guinness Men's Six Nations matches in 2026
Premier Sports will broadcast five live matches from the 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations Championship, one from each round.
The coverage from Premier Sports complements that of the BBC, with the same fixtures still available to UK fans, via free to air coverage offered by the BBC, who recently agreed a long term partnership with Six Nations Rugby to show fixtures from one of sport's most loved annual events until 2029.
The newly acquired rights will see Premier Sports deliver live coverage of key Championship fixtures involving Scotland and Wales. Rugby supporters can follow pivotal moments from both nations’ campaigns throughout the Championship.
Premier Sports hosts more than 400 live top-class rugby fixtures every season with rights to four major international rugby competitions including Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, Top 14 and BKT United Rugby Championship as well as Japan League One and MLR in the USA.
Premier Sports’ coverage of Guinness Men's Six Nations will be fronted by a team of Premier Sports' top rugby pundits including Tom Shanklin, Andy Goode, Jim Hamilton, Ryan Wilson and Benjamin Kayser.
Premier Sports becomes part of the UK broadcast partnership for the Six Nations alongside BBC, ITV and S4C.
Guinness Six Nations 2026 – live on Premier Sports (UK)
- Italy v Scotland – Saturday 7 February (14:10), Stadio Olympico, Rome
- Wales v France – Sunday 15 February (15:10), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Wales v Scotland – Saturday 21 February (16:40), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- Scotland v France – Saturday 7 March (14:10), Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- Wales v Italy – Saturday 14 March (16:40), Principality Stadium, Cardiff
In addition to its UK broadcast footprint, Premier Sports will stream its Six Nations coverage across key Asian markets, to support bringing the Championship to new and emerging rugby audiences and expanding the global reach of one of the sport’s most iconic tournaments. Premier Sports is also now the exclusive home of the Six Nations in Canada where with exclusive rights to Nations Championship, SANZAAR tour matches, Super Rugby Pacific plus the Greatest Rivalry.
Richard Sweeney, CEO of Premier Sports, said: “The Guinness Six Nations is one of the crown jewels of international rugby. The Championship showcases the world’s best players and remains one of the most culturally significant competitions in international sport and we're delighted to bring these outstanding fixtures to our customers and growing rugby network." |
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I'm sure the key Asian markets can't wait to watch Wales!
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 20 Jan 2026 at 11:41 |
England prepare to reveal Six Nations hand with Borthwick aware of ticking clock
On the face of it the Champions Cup has been helpful for the majority of Six Nations head coaches before this year’s championship. Gregor Townsend, for example, would dearly love Scotland to play with the purpose and passion currently oozing from Glasgow and will doubtless wish to ensure his national side exhibit similar characteristics.
Ditto France. If Fabien Galthié overlooks the electric form of Matthieu Jalibert, particularly with Romain Ntamack out injured for the next few weeks, his trademark thick-rimmed glasses must have misted up. There can be no rational reason not to bury la hachette with the Bordeaux fly-half and invite him to combine as brilliantly with Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud as the trio do at club level.
Even Wales should have been cautiously encouraged by the efforts, albeit in defeat, of the Scarlets at Northampton on Sunday. And while Ireland have injury problems to deal with before Wednesday’s squad announcement, at least Leinster have had back-to-back wins over Top 14 opposition as their opening Six Nations date with France in Paris looms on 5 February.
Which brings us to England, who will reveal their Six Nations hand this Friday, Again, on the surface, the Champions Cup has helped in some respects. Seven English sides have qualified for the last 16 with two more advancing in the Challenge Cup. Only Gloucester, who don’t have a stack of England squad regulars anyway, have failed to make the knockout cut.
Dig a little bit deeper, though, and there are mixed messages. Saracens may have seen off Toulouse in the wind and rain of north London but a side studded with England internationals were then unceremoniously thumped at Scotstoun on Sunday. Northampton shipped 50 points in Bordeaux last week while a weakened Sale’s 77-7 loss in Toulouse showcased the enduring class of Antoine Dupont and his lieutenants.
Admittedly Quins had a great result in La Rochelle with Marcus Smith to the fore but in many ways that just muddied the Twickenham waters. And, while Bath have stormed into the last 16, their most effective England-qualified forward of recent weeks – Alfie Barbeary – has yet to convince the national head coach, Steve Borthwick, he is a stronger bet than, say, Exeter’s Greg Fisilau or Leicester’s Emeka Ilione.
Ironically enough the other Bath player who looked a potential world-beater on Friday night against Edinburgh was Joe Cokanasiga, who looks as fit and penetrative as he has done in a while. With Borthwick’s preference for aerial prowess, however, there are several other spring-heeled contenders ahead of Big Joe in that specific category.
Which just serves to underline how tricky this national squad selection lark can be. Because it simply won’t matter who England pick at No 8 or behind the scrum if they run out of fit props and can’t win any front-foot ball. With Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour out for months and Fin Baxter set to miss the opening round at least, Borthwick will be wary of losing any more big beasts over the next fortnight.
It leaves Joe Heyes, Trevor Davison and either Vilikesa Sela or Afolabi Fasogbon, 20 and 21 respectively, to anchor the tight-head with Ellis Genge, Beno Obano and Bevan Rodd as loose-head options. Despite Borthwick’s fondness for bench impact, there may have to be an acceptance that other avenues will now need exploring.
Borthwick certainly does not lack options. Anyone who was at the Rec on Friday night, for example, will have left convinced Max Ojomoh has the range of skills to be a top-drawer international centre. Which is tough on the unselfish Fraser Dingwall, who scored in the November win over the All Blacks, and Gloucester’s Seb Atkinson, both of whom have performed well in the England 12 jersey within the last nine months.
If Dingwall doesn’t start, too, it makes it slightly harder to pick his Saints team-mate Tommy Freeman at 13, at least for now. Which in turn means Freeman on one wing, Manny Feyi-Waboso on the other and one less vacancy for the plethora of other wingers – the latterly sidelined Tom Roebuck, Henry Arundell, Adam Radwan, Noah Caluori, Ollie Sleightholme, Cadan Murley, Will Muir, George Hendy and the aforementioned Cokanasiga – available to England.
Decisions, decisions. England are picking from strength in that they are on an 11-Test unbeaten run. But equally this is a key staging post in terms of building towards next year’s World Cup. At this similar juncture in 2022, Eddie Jones picked a 36-man squad for that year’s Six Nations. Remarkably, half of that group did not make the 2023 World Cup squad ultimately supervised by Borthwick. Injuries and form are always part of the equation but so is consistency.
Don’t expect, consequently, a blizzard of fresh, white-shirted faces. At some stage one imagines Borthwick will want to look at uncapped scrum-half prospects such as Archie McParland and Charlie Bracken and a thrusting young hooker or two. But for now it is about deciding whether Jamie George, Elliot Daly and Henry Slade can all go to the 2027 World Cup and, if not, giving game time to others. Ojomoh, Arundell, Henry Pollock as a starter, Fisilau or Barbeary as energising training ground wildcards? It is about backing a hunch that may or may pay off.
The process is never an exact science. Of the six uncapped players in that original 2022 Six Nations squad unveiled by Jones, only Ollie Chessum and Tommy Freeman kicked on. The others – Barbeary, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Luke Northmore and Orlando Bailey – have mostly had to be patient.
But Borthwick will also be aware of the ticking clock. With winning the primary objective in this July’s Nations Championship away games in South Africa and Argentina, a home game against a fragile Wales offers the last real chance to experiment. Then again he will want to take more than 50% of Friday’s squad to Australia next year. |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 20 Jan 2026 at 13:06 |
Francis returns for Wales as Hamer-Webb called up
Wales' 2026 Six Nations squad
Forwards (20): Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Liam Belcher (Cardiff), James Botham (Cardiff), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Ben Carter (Dragons), Olly Cracknell (Leicester), Harri Deaves (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Provence), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, capt), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Josh Macleod (Scarlets), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Backs (18): Josh Adams (Cardiff), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath), Eddie James (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester). |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 20 Jan 2026 at 14:10 |
Scotland call on Gray and Cherry for Six Nations
Scotland squad
Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Magnus Bradbury, Gregor Brown, Dave Cherry, Scott Cummings, Alex Craig, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Freddy Douglas, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Nathan McBeth, Liam McConnell, Elliot Millar Mills, D'arcy Rae, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, George Turner, Max Williamson.
Backs: Fergus Burke, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, Adam Hastings, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Finn Russell, Kyle Rowe, Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White. |
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NeverbeentoChinnor
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Posted: 20 Jan 2026 at 18:39 |
Elliot Millar Mills...Chinnor's biggest recent success to date.
I can hear Bill say 'and here comes a lump of a man for Scotland who a few years ago was helping Chinnor in a Nat 1 relegation scrap. And he didn't get one mention in FatBear's match report.'
Great to see.
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fatbear
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Posted: 21 Jan 2026 at 10:23 |
NeverbeentoChinnor wrote:
Elliot Millar Mills...Chinnor's biggest recent success to date.
I can hear Bill say 'and here comes a lump of a man for Scotland who a few years ago was helping Chinnor in a Nat 1 relegation scrap. And he didn't get one mention in FatBear's match report.'
Great to see. |
It's true. Millar-Mills played three times for Chinnor in 2022/23, and he did not get one mention in Fatbear's report on the home game against Bishop's Stotford.......
Prop Danny Southworth played 24 times for Chinnor on loan from Exeter in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons and was in the Welsh squad for the autumn internationals but didn't get to make his debut. He has been dropped from the latest Welsh squad !
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NeverbeentoChinnor
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Posted: 21 Jan 2026 at 10:35 |
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He hadn't hit my radar but I will look out for him going forward.
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 21 Jan 2026 at 14:10 |
Teenager Todaro makes Italy's Six Nations squad
Italy Six Nations squad:
Forwards: Lorenzo Cannone, Niccolo Cannone, Tommaso di Bartolomeo, Pablo Dimicheff, Riccardo Favretto, Simone Ferrari, Danilo Fischetti, Muhamed Hasa, Alessandro Izekor, Michele Lamaro (captain), Samuele Locatelli, Giacomo Nicotera, David Odiase, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, Mirco Spagnolo, Andrea Zambonin, Manuel Zuliani
Backs: Juan Ignacio Brex, Giacomo da Re, Alessandro Fusco, Matt Gallagher, Paolo Garbisi, Monty Ioane, Louis Lynagh, Leonardo Marin, Damiano Mazza, Tommaso Menoncello, Paolo Odogwu, Martin Page-Relo, Lorenzo Pani, Edoardo Todaro, Stephen Varney |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 21 Jan 2026 at 15:14 |
Wing Penaud left out of France's Six Nations squad
France Six Nations squad
Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri, Uini Atonio, Hugo Auradou, Cyril Baille, Paul Boudehent, François Cros, Alexandre Fischer, Thibaud Flament, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickaël Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lamothe, Julien Marchand, Temo Matiu, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Régis Montagne, Rodrigue Neti, Lenni Nouchi, Charles Ollivon, Dany Priso, Thomas Staniforth, Tevita Tatafu, Cameron Woki
Backs: Grégoire Arfeuil, Théo Attissogbe, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Romain Buros, Thibault Daubagna, Nicolas Depoortere, Gaël Dréan, Antoine Dupont, Kalvin Gourgues, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Matthieu Jalibert, Yoram Moefana, Noah Nene, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin, Ugo Seunes. |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 21 Jan 2026 at 15:28 |
Henderson out of Ireland squad as Doak included
Ireland squad
Forwards: Tom Ahern (Munster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster) captain, 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), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster). |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 23 Jan 2026 at 11:44 |
Uncapped Sela called up for England Six Nations tilt
England Six Nations squad
Forwards: Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clark (Gloucester), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton), 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), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby) Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Backs: Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), 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 Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
Rehabilitation in Girona: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints) |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 02 Feb 2026 at 14:03 |
England team to face Wales
Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George, Heyes; Coles, Chessum; Pepper, Underhill, Earl
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith |
Wales: Rees-Zammit; Mee, James, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Macleod, Wainwright.
Replacements: Belcher, Carre, T Francis, Carter, Plumtree, Deaves, Hardy, Grady. |
Edited by Steve@Mose - 05 Feb 2026 at 12:35
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 05 Feb 2026 at 12:41 |
Ireland start Loughman but Lowe and Furlong out
France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (capt); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri, Ollivon, Guillard, Cros, Jegou, Jelonch.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Montagne, Auradou, Meafou, Nouchi, Serin, Gourgues.
Ireland: Osborne; O'Brien, Ringrose, McCloskey, Stockdale; S Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Beirne, C Prendergast, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: Kelleher, Milne, Bealham, Ryan, Conan, Timoney, Casey, Crowley. |
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 05 Feb 2026 at 12:43 |
Scotland leave out Van der Merwe, Kinghorn & Graham
Scotland side to face Italy
Jordan (Bristol); Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu (c), Dobie (all Glasgow); Russell (Bath), White (Toulon); Schoeman (Edinburgh), Ashman (Edinburgh), Z Fagerson (Glasgow), Cummings (Glasgow), Gilchrist (Edinburgh); M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey (all Glasgow).
Replacements: Turner (Harlequins), McBeth (Glasgow), Millar-Mills (Northampton), Williamson, Brown, Horne, Hastings (all Glasgow), Graham (Edinburgh).
Italy team to play Scotland
Marin (Benetton); Lynagh (Benetton), Brex (Toulon), Menoncello (Benetton), Ioane (Lyon); P Garbisi (Toulon), Fusco (Zebre); Fischetti (Northampton), Nicotera (Stade Francais), Ferrari (Benetton); A Cannone (Benetton), Zambonin (Exeter); Lamaro, Zuliani, L Canonne (all Benetton).
Replacements: Di Bartolomeo (Zebre), Spagnolo (Benetton), Hasa (Zebre), Ruzza (Benetton), Favretto (Benetton), A Garbisi (Benetton), Da Re (Zebre), Pani (Zebre). |
Edited by Steve@Mose - 05 Feb 2026 at 15:23
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Steve@Mose
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Posted: 05 Feb 2026 at 15:28 |
Six Nations referees want foul play 'consistency'
Six Nations referees have vowed to achieve "greater consistency" around officiating of foul play in this year's tournament after a spate of controversial incidents in the autumn.
The November internationals were dogged by varying interpretations of what constitutes a red card, yellow card, and 20-minute red card.
Among the many incidents, South Africa's Franco Mostert was given a permanent red for a dangerous tackle against France, which was rescinded, while Ireland's Tadgh Beirne also had a 20-minute red card overturned.
On the eve of this year's Six Nations, World Rugby have clarified that full red cards will be reserved for "acts of tcurranty", with 20-minute reds given for "technical offences" for example in the tackle.
The game's governing body have admitted there was an "inconsistency of application" during the November window and have worked with the referees since then to improve the handling of foul play.
The 20-minute red cards were introduced as a way of sanctioning players without overly influencing the outcome and spectacle of a match.
The player who receives a 20-minute red card cannot return to the field of play, but can be replaced by another player after 20 minutes.
The on-field referee will initially give a yellow card, with the foul play review officer or "bunker official" making the call whether it should be upgraded.
Making head contact in the tackle and dangerous challenges in the air are offences which meet the threshold for a 20-minute red card.
"The 20-minute red card is for when a player gets it wrong in the tackle, an upright tackle, those kind of type of instances in the game," explained top referee Angus Gardner.
"The foul play review officer is the person who makes a decision whether the yellow card is upgraded to 20 minutes."
Gardner has also clarified that while permanent red cards can still be given for egregious acts of foul play, they can only be given by the on-pitch referee and cannot be given by the bunker official.
A permanent red card will be give for offences such as kicking, stamping, punching, making contact with the eye or deliberately targeting lower limbs in the ruck. |
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fatbear
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Posted: 05 Feb 2026 at 17:44 |
ITV will be showing 20 second adverts during the play, once in each half.........
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