2026 Six Nations kickoff: Can England break the France-Ireland stronghold?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
Steve Borthwick eyes first title for England since 2020
England ended 2025 in incredible form and kicks off the 2026 Six Nations riding a stunning 11-match win streak that dates back almost exactly a year to when they were beaten in the opener of the 2025 edition of this competition by Ireland.
After racking up victories over Australia (25-7), Fiji (38-18), New Zealand (33-19) and Argentina (27-23) during the Autumn Nations Series, the Red Rose moved up to third place in the world rankings with 89.41 points, only behind leaders South Africa (93.94) and the All Blacks (90.33).
As a result, there is a growing belief among English fans that this is their year to reclaim the Six Nations title and bring an end to the dominance of Ireland and France, which have shared the title over the past four years. Check out our 2026 Six Nations predictions.
In the lead-up to the tournament, Steve Borthwick was quietly confident in his side’s chances of winning their first title since 2020. He also urged the nation’s supporters to rally behind the team and follow them across the Channel on the final week, where they could be playing to claim their seventh crown.
England’s progress since the 2023 Rugby World Cup
Much of the confidence behind England heading into the 2026 Six Nations comes from the progress the team has made since their heartbreaking defeat to South Africa in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, where they were beaten by the eventual world champions by a single point.
The core of the squad that stepped out at the Stade de France that day has largely been retained, with the likes of Ellis Genge, Jamie George, skipper Maro Itoje and George Ford still firmly a part of the team’s best 15.
However, Borthwick has also brought through several youngsters that have made an immediate impact, such as Guy Pepper, who has not put a foot wrong since earning his call-up, while Henry Pollock has already earned himself a spot in the British & Irish Lions squad.
The rise of Pepper and Sam Underhill, along with impressive performances by Alex Coles and Ollie Chessum during the Autumn Nations Series, also provides Borthwick with the luxury of holding Tom Curry and Itoje back from the starting XV this weekend against Wales as they reinforce the aptly named “Pom Squad.”
Why is the 2026 Six Nations starting on a Thursday?
This year marks the first time that the Six Nations will kick off on a Thursday night, but a packed house is still expected to turn up at the Stade de France for the blockbuster opener between defending champions France and Ireland. You can follow the match in real-time via our Six Nations livescores.
The decision to start the 2026 Six Nations on a Thursday was taken to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan. However, a carnival atmosphere is expected in Saint-Denis, with global superstars Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli both providing live performances on the opening night.
Coincidentally, the only previous time the tournament started on a Thursday was when it was still the Five Nations, and it happened to be contested between France and Ireland in Paris on New Year’s Day. Ireland won the match 13-6 and went on to win the Grand Slam that year.
2026 Six Nations: Week 1 fixtures
- Thursday 5 February: France v Ireland - Stade de France (20:10 GMT)
- Saturday 7 February: Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome (14:10 GMT)
- Saturday 7 February: England v Wales - Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (16:40 GMT)
