Friday night fixture retained for Six Nations

Grand Slam champions Ireland will start their Six Nations title defence at home to Italy on Saturday, February 6, it has been announced.

There will follow make-or-break, back-to-back away appointments in France and England, before a return home against Wales and Scotland.

Tournament organisers have decided to repeat their Friday night experiment after deeming this year’s groundbreaking fixture a major success.

France’s thrilling 21-16 victory over Wales in Paris drew the largest television audience of the championship in the host country and the second highest average audience of all 15 games in the tournament.

The tournament will climax in another ’Super Saturday’, with Wales hosting Italy, Ireland against Scotland and England travelling to France for an evening kick-off.

RBS 6 Nations Championship 2010 fixture schedule (Irish times):

Week 1:

Saturday, February 6

2:30pm - Ireland v Italy

5pm - England v Wales

Sunday, February 7

3pm - Scotland v France

Week 2

Saturday, February 13

2pm - Wales v Scotland

4:30pm (5:30pm local) - France v Ireland

Sunday, February 14

2.30pm (3:30pm local) - Italy v England

Week 3

February 20/21 - Rest Weekend

Week 4

Friday, February 26

8pm - Wales v France

Saturday, February 27

1:30pm (14:30pm local) - Italy v Scotland

4pm - England v Ireland

Week 5

6/7 March - Rest Weekend

Week 6

Saturday, March 13

2:30pm - Ireland v Wales

5pm - Scotland v England

Sunday, March 14

2:30pm (3.30pm local) - France v Italy

Week 7

Saturday, March 20

2:30pm - Wales v Italy

5pm - Ireland v Scotland

7:45pm (8:45pm local) - France v England