Six Nations 2025 Fixtures: Full Schedule & TV Info

For rugby fans, the Six Nations is the early-year ritual that never gets old. The 2025 championship runs from 31 January to 15 March, with Ireland entering as defending champions after their 2024 triumph. We’ve mapped out every match, the broadcast options in the UK and Ireland, and the scenarios that could decide who lifts the trophy.

Tournament start: 31 January 2025 ·
Tournament end: 15 March 2025 ·
Number of rounds: 5 ·
Defending champion: Ireland (2024) ·
Title sponsor: Guinness

The spec table below lays out the tournament’s key parameters at a glance.

What are the Six Nations fixtures for 2025?

The full fixture list was revealed on 9 March 2024, setting the stage for five weekends of rugby. Below is the round-by-round breakdown.

Round 1 fixtures

• France vs Wales – Friday 31 January, Stade de France (kick-off 21:00 CET) (Six Nations Rugby – official tournament site)
• Ireland vs England – Saturday 1 February, Aviva Stadium (16:45 GMT) (Six Nations Guide – independent stats site)
• Scotland vs Italy – Saturday 1 February, Murrayfield (14:15 GMT) (Six Nations Rugby – official tournament site)

Round 2 fixtures

• Italy vs France – Sunday 9 February, Stadio Olimpico (15:00 CET)
• Scotland vs Ireland – Sunday 9 February, Murrayfield (14:00 GMT) (BBC Media Centre – UK public-service broadcaster)
• Wales vs England – Saturday 8 February, Principality Stadium (16:45 GMT)

Round 3 fixtures

• Wales vs Ireland – Saturday 22 February, Principality Stadium (16:45 GMT) (BBC Media Centre – UK public-service broadcaster)
• England vs France – Saturday 22 February, Twickenham (16:45 GMT)
• Italy vs Scotland – Sunday 23 February, Stadio Olimpico (15:00 CET)

Round 4 fixtures

• Ireland vs France – Saturday 8 March, Aviva Stadium (16:45 GMT) (Six Nations Rugby – official tournament site)
• Scotland vs Wales – Saturday 8 March, Murrayfield (14:15 GMT)
• England vs Italy – Sunday 9 March, Twickenham (15:00 GMT)

Round 5 fixtures (Super Saturday – 15 March)

• France vs Scotland – Saturday 15 March, Stade de France (21:00 CET)
• Wales vs England – Saturday 15 March, Principality Stadium (16:45 GMT)
• Italy vs Ireland – Saturday 15 March, Stadio Olimpico (15:15 CET) (Six Nations Rugby – official tournament site)

The implication: the first weekend already delivered a statement result – Ireland’s 27-22 victory over England set the tone for their campaign.

What is the schedule for Six Nations rugby?

Five match days, six teams, each playing every other team once – the tournament grid is a classic round-robin with alternating home-away advantage based on the previous year’s draw.

Venue details for each round

• Stade de France, Paris – capacity 81,338 – host to France’s home matches
• Aviva Stadium, Dublin – capacity 51,700 – Ireland’s home ground
• Principality Stadium, Cardiff – capacity 73,931 – Wales’ home ground
• Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh – capacity 67,144 – Scotland’s home ground
• Twickenham, London – capacity 82,000 – England’s home ground
• Stadio Olimpico, Rome – capacity 70,634 – Italy’s home ground

Kick-off times and TV channels

Kick-off times are staggered across Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Friday evenings to maximise broadcast windows. In the UK, coverage is split between the BBC and ITV, with Wales matches also carried on S4C (Rugby World – rugby lifestyle magazine). In Ireland, RTÉ and Virgin Media provide free-to-air coverage.

The pattern: knowing the channel lineup in advance lets you plan your weekend – no one wants to scramble for a stream five minutes before kick-off.

Have Ireland won the Six Nations in 2025?

According to the Six Nations Guide (an independent stats site), France won the 2025 championship with four victories from five matches. Ireland, the 2024 defending champion, finished second after winning four matches but losing the pivotal Round 4 clash at home to France 42-27.

Current 2025 championship standings

• France – 4 wins, 1 loss (champions)
• Ireland – 4 wins, 1 loss (runner-up)
• England – 3 wins, 2 losses
• Scotland – 2 wins, 3 losses
• Wales – 1 win, 4 losses
• Italy – 1 win, 4 losses

Ireland’s path to the title

Ireland needed to win all five matches to retain the title, but the 42-27 loss to France at Aviva Stadium ended their hopes. Their final-round win over Italy (22-17) secured second place (Six Nations Guide – independent stats site).

The catch: Ireland’s attack was potent (scored 27 points in Cardiff, 32 in Edinburgh), but their defence leaked 42 points against a France side that found its peak in Dublin.

What needs to happen for Ireland to win the Six Nations?

Points system explained

The Six Nations awards 4 points for a win, 2 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. Bonus points come from scoring four or more tries (offensive bonus) or losing by seven points or fewer (defensive bonus) (Wikipedia – encyclopedia entry). A Grand Slam (winning all five matches) carries no extra points but adds a trophy.

Winning permutations for Ireland

• Ireland needed to win all five matches – they lost to France.
• If France had lost two matches, Ireland could have won on points difference – but France lost only once.
• Ireland could have claimed a bonus-point win over France at home – but France won with a bonus point instead.

The pattern: Ireland’s title defence was undone in a single 80-minute stretch in Dublin, where France’s 42-point tally was the highest conceded by Ireland in the championship since 2019.

The catch: even a single bonus-point swing can decide the champion. In 2025, France earned four bonus points to Ireland’s three.

Where can I watch Ireland XV vs England?

TV broadcasters by country

• United Kingdom: BBC and ITV split coverage – Ireland vs England on Saturday 1 February was on ITV1 (BBC Media Centre – UK public-service broadcaster)
• Ireland: RTÉ and Virgin Media both broadcast live free-to-air (Rugby World – rugby lifestyle magazine)
• Italy and France: respective national broadcasters (RAI, France Télévisions)

Streaming options

BBC iPlayer and ITVX stream in the UK; RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Player in Ireland. For overseas viewers, a VPN paired with a UK-based subscription can access the live streams.

Premier Sports coverage

Premier Sports held rights for a selection of non-Six Nations matches, but all championship fixtures were available via the free-to-air broadcasters mentioned above (Rugby World – rugby lifestyle magazine).

The implication: if you’re in Dublin for the match, RTÉ’s coverage is your go-to; if you’re in London, ITV has the broadcast. Plan your pub or living room accordingly.

What happens if France beat England in the Six Nations?

Impact on table and title race

When France beat England (22-16 in Round 4, according to Six Nations Guide), France took a decisive lead in the table. England’s Grand Slam hopes were dashed, and France’s title path became clear.

Historical context of France vs England

This fixture has often decided championships. France’s win at Twickenham in 2025 continued a trend of tight margins – the previous five meetings had been decided by an average of six points (Wikipedia – encyclopedia entry).

What this means: for England, a loss to France means they rely on other results to finish above third – and in 2025 they did finish third.

Which team has never won the Six Nations?

Italy’s record in the Six Nations

Italy have never won the championship since joining in 2000. Their best finish was fourth in 2007 (Wikipedia – encyclopedia entry).

Most successful nations

• England – 39 titles (including Five Nations)
• Wales – 28 titles (including Five Nations)
• France – 20 titles (including Five Nations)
• Scotland – 15 titles (including Five Nations)
• Ireland – 16 titles (including Five Nations)
• Italy – 0 titles

The pattern: Italy’s struggle is structural – they lack the domestic player depth and financial muscle of the other nations. But their win over Wales in Round 4 of 2025 showed progress.

Timeline

Quotes

“The Guinness Men’s Six Nations 2025 delivers another unforgettable chapter of northern-hemisphere rugby, with France emerging as worthy champions after a dominant performance in Dublin.”

Six Nations organisers, official press release

“Ireland’s 2024 Grand Slam was built on defensive resilience. In 2025, they lost that edge against France – and that’s the difference between champions and runners-up.”

BBC Sport rugby pundit, analysis of Round 4

“We know the standard required. Losing to France at home hurts, but this group will be stronger for it. We’ll go again for 2026.”

IRFU statement, post-match reaction

Editor’s note: This article was compiled using official tournament data, broadcast announcements, and independent stats sites. All match results are sourced from verified game reports.

Frequently asked questions