Sporty Sam

It’s 25 years since Italy joined “the elite club” and turned it into the Six Nations Championship. The 2025 edition kicked off last weekend, when all six teams played.

    Key players [Photo Montage by World Rugby]    

France are no longer the bookies’ favourites to win the tournament, but Ireland are getting better and better in their quest to be champions for the third year in a row, a feat never before achieved in the history of the Six Nations.

Image courtesy of The Grainstore Brewery    

Friday - Italy v Wales in Rome

On Friday afternoon, Wales could only watch as Italy, the favourites, raced into a lead which Wales never looked like hauling back.

They gave away far too many penalties and had a man sent off.

That’s now 14 losses on the trot for the Welsh Dragons.

[Photo courtesy of Europa Press]    

Saturday - England v France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Favourites to win the match were bookies' choice France. Yet, they were sloppy and spurned so many chances to score tries that the half-time score was 7 – 7.

In the second half, debutant fly half Fin Smith (Harlequins) took control and had a great second half. It was "nip and tuck" with England aggressive and dominating the territory, yet France scored some great breakaway tries to keep in touch.

When full-back and goalkicker Marcus Smith missed two straightforward kicks at goal, his namesake Fin took over the goalkicking and displayed nerves of steel.

Daly try in the last minute [The Telegraph]    

With barely time left on the clock it looked as though England were about to lose yet again in the final moments of a match, until substitute Eliot Daly used his pace to score near the posts. Time was up and England needed the conversion to win by one point.

Pressure? Fin Smith popped the kick over and the team could celebrate a famous win.

The young fly half, on his first start for England, deservedly won Player of the Match.

England captain Maro Itoje [Photo: The Guardian]    

Sunday – Scotland v Ireland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Regarded as having a strong chance before the match, Scotland barely got a look-in. They were soundly beaten by an Ireland side back in top form.

Player of the Match was Sam Prendergast, Scotland’s new fly-half.

Final score 18 – 32. Ireland the new favourites to win the Championship.

Photo of Sam Prendergast by Six Nations Rugby

Remaining Six Nations fixtures and kick-off times

Matches are subject to late changes, so details may differ from this page. All times are GMT. Kick-off times in brackets.

   [Image by Charlie Ps]

Saturday, 22 February

Wales v Ireland (14:15) - BBC One from 13:15-16:30 & listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Sport website and app

England v Scotland (16:45) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 23 February

Italy v France (15:00) - ITV & updates on BBC Radio 5 Live

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

Saturday, 8 March

Ireland v France (14:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Scotland v Wales (16:45) - BBC One from 16:00-19:00 & BBC Radio 5 Live or Sports Extra TBC

Sunday, 9 March

England v Italy - ITV & listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Sport website and app

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:30-19:30

Saturday, 15 March

Italy v Ireland (14:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Wales v England (16:45) - BBC One from 16:00-19:00 - BBC Radio 5 Live

France v Scotland (20:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 16 March

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

© Sporty Sam

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áéíóú

It’s 25 years since Italy joined “the elite club” and turned it into the Six Nations Championship. The 2025 edition kicked off last night with France thrashing Wales 43 – 0 in Paris.

Key players [Photo Montage by the BBC]    

So, France remain the bookies’ favourites to win the tournament, but Ireland are keen to win it for the third year in a row, and they play an improving England this evening.

Scotland v Italy at Murrayfield, Edinburgh

On Saturday afternoon, Scotland survived a scare, as they watched Italy pull back from 29 – 6 to 29 apiece early in the second half.

Then, Scotland scored two more tries to run out winners 41 – 29.

Huw Jones scored a hat-trick and deservedly won Man of the Match.

    Huw Jones scores his hat-trick try [BBC]

Ireland v England at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Favourites to win the match are Ireland, yet 12 months ago England beat the men in green at Twickenham to prevent an Ireland Grand Slam, although they still won the Championship.

England are fast out of the blocks and looking full of intent. They score a try through new boy Caden Murley. Soon after, following a period of Irish pressure, they "score", but following an intervention by the TMO it is chalked off. One of the new tweaks to the laws has "saved England's bacon".

The game is fast and exciting, but there are a lot of handling errors by Ireland and defensive penalties conceded by England. Fly half Marcus Smith is shown a yellow card and goes to the bin for ten minutes.

Caden Murley scores the first try [Getty Images]

England are under pressure for the whole of this period and concede a try towards the end of it. Sam Prendergast missed the conversion.

England get a penalty in front if the posts.

Half-time 5 - 10 in England's favour. England on top.

What happened in the break?

In the second half, England didn't turn up. With 10 minutes to go Ireland were winning the half 22 - 0.

With 3 minutes to go, Tom Curry touched down for England after a good move. Then, in the final minute winger Tommy Freeman finished off a break by Theo Dan to win a losing bonus point and make the score respectable at 27 - 22

I am very disappointed. I think the match was there for the taking by England. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Dan Sheehan scores a try for Ireland [The Irish Times]

Remaining Six Nations fixtures and kick-off times

Matches are subject to late changes, so details may differ from this page. All times are GMT. Kick-off times in brackets.

Sunday, 2 February

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

   [Image by Wikipedia]

Saturday, 8 February

Italy v Wales (14:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

England v France (16:45) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 9 February

Scotland v Ireland (15:00) - BBC One from 14:20-17:10 & BBC Radio 5 Live

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

Saturday, 22 February

Wales v Ireland (14:15) - BBC One from 13:15-16:30 & listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Sport website and app

England v Scotland (16:45) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 23 February

Italy v France (15:00) - ITV & updates on BBC Radio 5 Live

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

Saturday, 8 March

Ireland v France (14:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Scotland v Wales (16:45) - BBC One from 16:00-19:00 & BBC Radio 5 Live or Sports Extra TBC

Sunday, 9 March

England v Italy - ITV & listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Sport website and app

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:30-19:30

Saturday, 15 March

Italy v Ireland (14:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Wales v England (16:45) - BBC One from 16:00-19:00 - BBC Radio 5 Live

France v Scotland (20:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 16 March

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

© Sporty Sam

Photos:

BBC, Getty Images, Irish Times

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áéíóú

It’s 25 years since Italy joined “the elite club” and the Five Nations Championship was no more.

Favourites to win the tournament are France, but Ireland are keen to win it for the third year in a row, which would be unprecedented.

[Image courtesy of Wikipedia]    

England are a young and improving side. Scotland are playing well. Italy continue to get better, but Wales have lost their last 12 tests, including every game in last year’s Six Nations.

    Championship winners Ireland [The Telegraph]          Championship hopefuls England [Radio Times]

The first match, on Friday night, is France v Wales at Stade de France in Paris.

On Saturday Scotland take on Italy at Murrayfield, Edinburgh and Ireland host England at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

Six Nations fixtures and kick-off times

Matches are subject to late changes, so details may differ from this page. All times are GMT. Kick-off times in brackets.

Friday, 31 January

France v Wales (20:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Live

    The Six Nations captains 2025 [Guardian]

Saturday, 1 February

Scotland v Italy (14:15) - BBC One from 13:15-16:30 & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Ireland v England (16:45) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 2 February

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

Saturday, 8 February

Italy v Wales (14:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

England v France (16:45) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 9 February

Scotland v Ireland (15:00) - BBC One from 14:20-17:10 & BBC Radio 5 Live

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

Saturday, 22 February

Wales v Ireland (14:15) - BBC One from 13:15-16:30 & listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Sport website and app

England v Scotland (16:45) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 23 February

Italy v France (15:00) - ITV & updates on BBC Radio 5 Live

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

Saturday, 8 March

Ireland v France (14:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Scotland v Wales (16:45) - BBC One from 16:00-19:00 & BBC Radio 5 Live or Sports Extra TBC

Sunday, 9 March

England v Italy - ITV & listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Sport website and app

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:30-19:30

Saturday, 15 March

Italy v Ireland (14:15) - ITV & BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Wales v England (16:45) - BBC One from 16:00-19:00 - BBC Radio 5 Live

France v Scotland (20:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Sunday, 16 March

Highlights - Six Nations Rugby Special - BBC Two from 18:00-19:00

Stop Press:

France 43 : Wales  0

Wales have now stretched their losing streak to 13 games on the trot.

France ran in seven tries against the hapless “taffies”. As an Anglo-Welshman, I am gutted.

Attissogbe scores a try for France [Getty Images]    

© Sporty Sam

Photos:

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