Thursday night clash for Six Nations opener with reigning champions France hosting Ireland

Ireland will take on Italy, Wales and Scotland at home while making trips to France and England. 

SIX NATIONS 2026: Ireland will kick off their 2026 Guinness Six Nations campaign with a Thursday night trip to reigning champions France next February, the championship organisers announced on Monday. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Ireland will kick off their 2026 Guinness Six Nations campaign with a Thursday night trip to reigning champions France next February, the championship organisers announced on Monday.

Next season’s competition starts on the same weekend as the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina in northern Italy and the Six Nations have avoided a clash by opening the 2026 championship 24 hours earlier.