The 2025 Males’s Six Nations begins this Friday (January 31) with Eire looking for to win three championship titles in succession.
Twenty-five years for the reason that event expanded to incorporate Italy, 15 matches will happen throughout 5 match rounds within the 2025 version culminating in ‘Tremendous Saturday’ on March 15.
The event once more kicks off on a Friday night, with France returning to Stade de France after a 12 months’s absence, attributable to Olympics preparations, to host the 2025 opener in opposition to Wales – who can be decided to place final 12 months’s Wood Spoon woes behind them.
Defending champions Eire, in the meantime, kick off at dwelling in opposition to England in a blockbuster encounter on the opening weekend on Saturday February 1.
It’s the first time since 1997, when often called the 5 Nations, that the competitors has began with a January fixture.
The 2025 Males’s Six Nations fixtures
Friday January 31
France vs Wales (8.15pm)
Saturday February 1
Scotland vs Italy (2.15pm)
Eire vs England (4.45pm)
Saturday February 8
Italy vs Wales (2.15pm)
England vs France (4.45pm)
Sunday February 9
Scotland vs Eire (3pm)
Saturday February 22
Wales vs Eire (2.15pm)
England vs Scotland (4.45pm)
Sunday February 23
Italy vs France (3pm)
Saturday March 8
Eire vs France (2.15pm)
Scotland vs Wales (4.45pm)
Eire beat Scotland in Dublin to safe the trophy final 12 months
Sunday March 9
England vs Italy (3pm)
Saturday March 15
Italy vs Eire (2.15pm)
Wales vs England (4.45pm)
France vs Scotland (8pm)
Who’re the defending champions?
Having claimed the Grand Slam in 2023 after which retained their title, albeit after dropping one match, in 2024, Eire are aiming for an historic hat-trick this 12 months. No nation has beforehand received the championship outright in three consecutive seasons for the reason that authentic Residence Nations launched in 1883.
However they are going to have to take action with out head coach Andy Farrell, who’s absent from this 12 months’s Six Nations attributable to his secondment to the British and Irish Lions as their head coach for the tour of Australia, which is completely reside on Sky Sports activities from June 28.
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We have a look again at an unforgettable second for Alex Cuthbert as he sliced for the Australian defence to say his fourth strive of the 2013 Tour for the British and Irish Lions.
Defence coach Simon Easterby has been positioned interim cost in Farrell’s absence.
What else occurred in 2024?
Wales completed with the Wood Spoon for the primary time since 2003 amid a dismal marketing campaign for Warren Gatland’s aspect which noticed them lose all 5 of their matches, together with a 21-24 dwelling defeat to Italy on the ultimate day.
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Wales head coach Warren Gatland speaks to Sky Sports activities Information explaining that the aim is to construct in direction of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Certainly, Italy completed off the foot of the desk for the primary time since 2015 after they completed the marketing campaign with a flourish having overwhelmed Scotland at dwelling within the penultimate spherical and drawn with France in week three.
Scotland completed fourth, with England third behind runners-up France.
When did England final win the event?
England had been final champions in 2020, whereas their final Grand Slam success got here underneath Eddie Jones in 2016.
New captain Maro Itoje will look to steer Steve Borthwick’s aspect to glory this time.
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Maro Itoje has changed Jamie George as England captain forward of their upcoming Six Nations marketing campaign.
What is the Grand Slam?
A staff achieves a Grand Slam in the event that they beat all of the others within the competitors throughout a single marketing campaign, a feat which has been achieved 42 occasions within the historical past of the 5/Six Nations with Eire the final aspect to take action in 2023.
What is the Triple Crown?
Contested between the Residence Nations of England, Wales, Scotland and Eire, the Triple Crown is secured by a staff in the event that they beat the three different groups in the identical event. Eire had been the latest aspect to take action, in 2022 and 2023.
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Wales head coach Warren Gatland speaks to Sky Sports activities Information explaining that the aim is to construct in direction of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
What is the Calcutta Cup?
The bespoke trophy awarded to the winners of the annual England vs Scotland match within the Six Nations. The Calcutta Cup is the oldest trophy contested between two worldwide rugby sides, with England successful it on 82 events and Scotland 48 – together with the final 4 in a row.
England will bid to finish Scotland’s successful run within the fixture at Allianz Stadium on February 22.
