The 2027 Guinness Men’s Six Nations opens on Friday 5 February 2027 with Ireland hosting England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin under Friday Night Lights. The rest of Round 1 is played on Saturday 6 February, with Scotland hosting Italy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in Edinburgh and France welcoming Wales to the Stade de France in Paris. Round 1 marks the start of six weeks of international rugby union between the six northern-hemisphere nations.
What is the Six Nations?
The Six Nations Championship is the premier international rugby union tournament in the northern hemisphere. Contested annually between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, it runs across five rounds from early February to mid-March. The tournament began in 1883 as the Home Nations Championship between the four British unions, expanded to include France in 1910 (becoming the Five Nations) and to its current format in 2000 with Italy’s inclusion.
Each team plays five matches, one against each other nation, with venues alternating year by year. A win is worth four points, a draw is worth two and a loss is worth zero. Bonus points are awarded for scoring four or more tries and for losing by seven or fewer points. The team with the most points wins the Championship, while a team winning all five matches achieves the Grand Slam. A British or Irish team winning all three of its matches against the other three British or Irish nations earns the Triple Crown.
When is Six Nations Round 1 2027?
Round 1 runs across Friday 5 February and Saturday 6 February 2027. The opening fixture, Ireland v England, kicks off at 8pm GMT on Friday 5 February at the Aviva Stadium. On Saturday 6 February, Scotland v Italy kicks off at 2:15pm GMT at Scottish Gas Murrayfield and France v Wales follows at 4:45pm GMT at the Stade de France. Kick-off times are staggered to allow broadcasters to carry each match without clashes.
Where is Six Nations Round 1 2027?
Three venues host Round 1 fixtures. The Aviva Stadium in Dublin’s Lansdowne Road district (capacity approximately 51,700) stages Ireland v England. Scottish Gas Murrayfield in Edinburgh (capacity approximately 67,000) is the venue for Scotland v Italy. The Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris (capacity approximately 80,000), hosts France v Wales. All three are purpose-built international rugby and multi-sport arenas with full indoor facilities and strong transport links.
Key Contenders
Ireland and France are the two dominant sides of the modern Six Nations era. Ireland have won four of the last seven Championships and arrive in 2027 hunting a fifth title under head coach Andy Farrell. France, fired by Antoine Dupont and a strong pack built on the Top 14, have won two recent titles and remain one of the world’s best teams. Both sides meet in Dublin in Round 5 in what is often a title-decider.
England, rebuilt under Steve Borthwick, are rebuilding with young forwards and an expanded attacking game plan. Their opening fixture in Dublin is a major early-season test. Scotland aim to challenge the top two after a promising 2026 campaign, Wales enter under a new coaching setup after a difficult recent cycle, and Italy continue to build on their first Six Nations win in more than a decade at the 2024 Championship.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, Six Nations matches involving home nations are broadcast free-to-air on BBC and ITV. BBC Sport carries Ireland, Scotland and Wales home fixtures, while ITV Sport holds the rights to England home matches plus selected away games. In Ireland, RTE and Virgin Media Television share coverage. France 2 carries French matches on free-to-air television. Italy’s matches are on Sky Italia and TV8. In the United States and Canada, Peacock and CBC carry coverage. Australia and New Zealand access fixtures via Stan Sport and Sky Sport NZ respectively.
History and Records
Since the Six Nations began in 2000, England have won seven titles, France six, Wales six and Ireland eight, with Italy and Scotland yet to win the expanded tournament. Ireland’s Johnny Sexton is the all-time leading points scorer in Six Nations history, while Wales wing Shane Williams held the try-scoring record for many years before Brian O’Driscoll overtook him.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for Round 1 matches are sold through the home union’s official ticketing partner, typically via a members’ ballot followed by general sale. Prices at the Aviva Stadium, Murrayfield and the Stade de France range from around 45 to 200 pounds or euros depending on seating category. Hospitality packages are offered through official partners such as Keith Prowse and the Six Nations’ own hospitality programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Six Nations 2027 Round 1?
Friday 5 February and Saturday 6 February 2027.
Where are Round 1 matches held?
Aviva Stadium Dublin (Ireland v England), Scottish Gas Murrayfield Edinburgh (Scotland v Italy) and Stade de France Paris (France v Wales).
How can I watch Six Nations Round 1?
On BBC and ITV in the UK, RTE in Ireland, France 2 in France and Peacock in the United States.
Who won the last Six Nations?
The 2026 Six Nations champions enter the tournament as defending title holders.