2026 Six Nations predictions, odds and betting tips

Always a highlight of the sporting calendar, this year’s Six Nations has been planned to start and end with a bang – and it should be pretty tasty in between as well.

The reigning champions France are clear favourites, but England are expected to run them close. When the two old enemies meet in the final match of the tournament, the championship – and possibly a Grand Slam – could be up for grabs.

Ireland and Scotland will be keen to upset the apple cart yet both have issues to deal with after unconvincing performances in the Autumn Internationals. Italy has avoided the wooden spoon in the last two years and will want to do so again. Meanwhile, Welsh rugby remains in an appalling slump.

It all kicks off with a mouthwatering clash between France and Ireland on Thursday 6th February at 8.10pm.

2026 Six Nations Championship odds

• France – 4/6
• England – 5/2
• Ireland – 6/1
• Scotland – 12/1
• Wales – 150/1
• Italy – 150/1

Here are the latest tournament odds from BoyleSports

2026 Grand Slam Odds

• No Grand Slam winner – 11/8
• France – 6/4
• England – 4/1
• Ireland – 14/1
• Scotland – 33/1
• Wales – 300/1
• Italy – 500/1

Here are the latest odds from Betfred

Tournament history

The tournament became the Six Nations Championship when Italy were invited to participate in 2000. England won three of the first four editions and has claimed seven in total.

France registered its own seventh success last year to lift it clear of Wales and Ireland on six wins. Scotland landed the final Five Nations title in 1999, but they are yet to enjoy Six Nations success. Italy has never come close to winning the title.

The nations

France

It’s a case of out with the old and in with the new for the French coach Fabien Galthie whose provisional squad for the championship didn’t include all-time top tryscorer Damien Penaud, last year’s captain Gregory Alldritt, or the veteran back Gael Fickou.

Eleven of the 17 backs selected are yet to play 10 times for their country. There’s an element of risk involved, but the new boys will be guided by the world’s best player as superstar Antoine Dupont returns from injury.

England

England defeated last year’s championship winners France, but a first weekend loss to Ireland cost them the championship.

Excellent victories against New Zealand and Australia in the autumn suggested that they are heading in the right direction, hooker Jamie George has vowed to win a Grand Slam before he retires in 18 months, and the team has pledged to rally around captain Maro Itoje as he grieves the death of his mother.  

Ireland

Defeat to the All Black and Springboks hurt Ireland in the Autumn Internationals, and a victory over Australia didn’t make up for it.

The quality of the squad remains, but there was a sense that the team was struggling for identity after the return of head coach Andy Farrell.

A long injury list and continuing debate over who should play at fly-half are his key problems. 

Scotland

There’s absolutely no doubt that the Scottish A game is championship material. Their B game is not up to scratch, however, and their consistency is woeful.

Coach Gregor Townsend has been granted plenty of time by those in charge, but the pressure is rising as a talented generation continues to discover ways in which to shoot themselves in the foot. 

Wales

The good news is that the rapid winger Louis Rees-Zammit has returned from the NFL. But that’s about it. Everything else is not just bad news – it’s close to catastrophic.

The domestic game is chaotic, its teams are under threat, the administrators have lost control, the players have been let down, and they face further humiliation. Yes, it really is that bad. 

Italy

The 2024 championship, Italy’s 25th, was their best yet. They nearly beat England, drew with France and beat both Wales and Scotland.

As a consequence, the fact that they beat only Wales last year counted as a letdown. But, after defeating Australia in November, hopes will be high of another strong showing. 

Fixtures

• Week 1 – France vs Ireland, Italy vs Scotland, England vs Wales
• Week 2 – Ireland vs Italy, Scotland vs England, Wales vs France
• Week 3 – England vs Ireland, Wales vs Scotland, France vs Italy
• Week 4 – Ireland vs Wales, Scotland vs France, Italy vs England
• Week 5 – Ireland vs Scotland, Wales vs Italy, France vs England

Predictions and bets

England to win the Grand Slam at 4/1 with Betfred

We landed the winner in the championship market last year with the French, and it has to be said that they are entirely deserving of favouritism this time around.

Not only do they have the best championship form, the schedule also gives them a huge boost because they start the tournament at home against the Irish and end it back at home against the English. 

The return of Dupont is also a boost. However, they lost 3-0 to the All Blacks in the summer, and South Africa beat them in the autumn. They are not infallible, and their prices are short. The better value is with England who, after getting involved in far too many tight matches, appear to be finding match savvy and a pattern under Steve Borthwick.

The schedule should allow them to build momentum and, as mentioned above, they have the bit between their teeth regarding motivation. 

Wales to finish bottom at 4/5 with bet365

This could be a very bruising spring for the Welsh, and the fans know it: ticket sales are low because who wants to watch a bloodbath? The opening game is against an in-form England at Twickenham, and there will be no respite in the second game when France visit Cardiff.

It’s a brutal start, and playing resources, never mind confidence, is likely to plunge. They are deserved favourites to pick up the wooden spoon and should be shorter.

2026 Six Nations Championship Top Tryscorer odds

• Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France) – 6/4
• Dan Sheehan (Ireland) – 4/1
• Tommy Freeman (England) – 6/1
• Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England) – 6/1
• Theo Attissogbe (France) – 15/2
• Gael Drean (France) – 8/1
• Henry Arundell (England) – 10/1
• Darcy Graham (Scotland) – 10/1
• James Lowe (Ireland) – 12/1
• Henry Pollock (England) – 12/1

Here are the latest tournament odds from bet365

Louis Bielle-Biarrey to be France’s top try-scorer at 5/4 with Skybet

Take a look at that price again. Skybet rates the flying winger 5/4 to score more tries than his team mates, but he’s also 6/4 to score more than every other player in the tournament.

That, in itself, is eyebrow-raising. But he is also odds on at other books – another tick. In yet more good news, he is defending the title after crossing the white line eight times in last year’s championship but we’ll stick with this bet based on French performance alone because remember that the French back line has many youngsters in it.

We can expect changes through the championship while Bielle-Biarrey will play every week barring injury. The clincher is the return of Dupont who loves to set up a fast winger.

How to watch the 2026 Six Nations Championship

• Locations: Allianz Stadium, London; Stade de France, Paris; Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille; Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh; Aviva Stadium, Dublin; Stadio Olimpico, Rome; and Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
• Dates and Times: 5th/7th February, 14th/15th February, 21st/22nd February, 6th/7th March and 14th March.
• How to watch: Full coverage on BBC and ITV in the UK (S4C in Wales) and on RTÉ and Virgin Media in Ireland.

About the author

Matt Cooper

Matt Cooper has been a golf journalist for 15 years. He’s worked for, among others, Golf365, SkySports, ESPN, NBC, Sporting Life, Open.com and the Guardian. He specialises in feature writing, reporting and tournament analysis. He’s covered numerous Opens, Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups, and travelled to golfing destinations as varied as Kazakhstan, South Korea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Find Matt on Twitter @MattCooperGolf

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