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France’s talismanic captain Antoine Dupont will lead his side in the opening fixture of the 2026 Six Nations against Ireland - Getty Images Europe/Charles McQuillan
The 2026 Six Nations campaign starts this week with the defending champions, France, taking on the side who finished third last year, Ireland.
Ireland welcome back their head coach Andy Farrell after his sabbatical from the 2025 tournament to prepare for the Lions tour of Australia.
Both Ireland and France, like England, won four and lost one match in the 2025 championship, France winning in Dublin and losing at Twickenham. Reflecting their finishes last year and their form throughout the autumn, France are favourites for the title and Ireland third, tucked behind England.
When is the opening match of the 2026 Six Nations?
France host Ireland on Thursday, February 5. The match will kick-off at 8.10pm GMT.
The French public love a Friday night fixture but their ardour is untested on Thursdays. They are treated to the opening match for the third championship in succession with contrasting results: France thumped Wales 43-0 last year but went down 17-38 at Ireland’s hands in Marseille in 2024, the visitors having overcome their World Cup hangover more quickly than the hosts.
Why is France v Ireland on Thursday?
The Thursday evening fixture is a controversial choice, but France’s broadcasters felt they had no choice because the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics is taking place on Friday evening.
Where is France v Ireland taking place?
At Stade de France, the national stadium at Saint-Denis, 8km north of central Paris. The stadium has a capacity of 81,338 and hosted both the 2007 and 2023 Rugby World Cup finals, as well as the athletics at the 2024 Olympic Games and the football World Cup final of 1998.
France also host Italy this year and round off the tournament with another home night match against England on March 14 when Le Crunch is sure to crackle.
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French rugby fans love a night game in the Six Nations but the switch to Thursday has upset match-going supporters - Getty Images/Julian Finney
Who is the referee?
Karl Dickson – The only referee to have been appointed to two Six Nations fixtures in 2026 in a clear statement of who the authorities believe is top of their game as things stand. Dickson, the Englishman who refereed last season’s Prem final between Bath and Leicester, has been a mainstay on the international circuit for some time and has risen through the ranks to become one of the sport’s top officials. If Australia make the 2027 World Cup final and England do not, Dickson’s name would be in the mix.
How to watch France v Ireland on TV?
The match is live on ITV in the UK, RTE in Ireland and France 2 in the host nation. BBC Radio 5 Live has the audio rights and will broadcast games across its network and BBC Sounds.
What are the teams?
France’s head coach Fabien Galthié has instigated a major generational shift as he transitions his squad to prepare for the 2027 World Cup by naming 12 uncapped players and, more controversially, omitting veteran stalwarts Damian Penaud, Grégory Alldritt and Gaël Fickou. Uini Atonio’s heart attack, after being named in the original squad, has tragically ended his career.
Antoine Dupont, who has not played Test rugby since rupturing the ACL in his right knee during this fixture in Dublin last February, returns to captain France on Thursday night.
In the absence of injured fly-half Romain Ntamack, Matthieu Jalibert will partner Dupont, while Louis Bielle-Biarrey – last year’s player of the tournament after scoring eight tries – starts on the left wing.
Yoram Moefana is joined by Nicolas Depoortère in midfield, with Théo Attissogbé on the right wing and Thomas Ramos at full-back.
Toulouse’s Anthony Jelonch takes the omitted Alldritt’s place at No 8.
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Brothers Sam and Cian Prendergast will start together for Ireland for the first time against France.
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Sam Prendergast starts at fly-half for Ireland - Getty Images/Charles McQuillan
Leinster fly-half Sam, 22, has been retained ahead of Jack Crowley and Harry Byrne, while Connacht captain Cian, 25, lines up at blindside flanker to make his championship debut.
With prop options severely depleted, Jeremy Loughman and Thomas Clarkson will start at loosehead and tighthead respectively, either side of hooker Dan Sheehan. Joe McCarthy partners Tadhg Beirne in the second row, while captain Caelan Doris and openside flanker Josh van der Flier join Cian Prendergast in the back row.
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park will partner Sam Prendergast. With the suspended Bundee Aki and injured Robbie Henshaw unavailable, Stuart McCloskey starts at inside centre, with Garry Ringrose in the No 13 jersey.
Jacob Stockdale has been preferred to James Lowe on the left wing, while Tommy O’Brien starts on the right. Jamie Osborne begins at full-back in the injury absence of Hugo Keenan.
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When did France and Ireland last win the Six Nations?
France are the reigning champions, thwarting Ireland, who still won the Triple Crown, from claiming their third title in succession.
France last won the Grand Slam in 2022, and Ireland a year later.
What was the score last year?
France ruined Ireland’s Grand Slam chances with a 42-27 victory at the Aviva Stadium in the fourth round of fixtures. Despite losing Antoine Dupont to injury in the first half, France ran in five tries to the hosts’ three, clearing their 7-1 bench in the second half to turn the screw and enforce a first home Six Nations defeat on Ireland for four years.
What are the latest odds?
- France 4-11
- Draw 28-1
- Ireland 3-1
- France to win Six Nations 3-4
- Ireland to win Six Nations 7-1
- France to win Grand Slam 13-8
- Ireland to win Grand Slam 14-1
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