Six Nations 2026 week one betting tips: France tipped to light up Paris in opener

Rugby fans will tell you that the Six Nations marks the start of brighter things to come, with the tournament beginning under pale or dark skies and progressing as the days get longer, culminating in Super Saturday on March 14.

The 2026 Six Nations begins with the first fixture to be played on a Thursday since the tournament was expanded to include Italy in 2000, and first in the Championship since 1948, as France host Ireland.

There are two more games on Saturday, with Scotland facing the Azzurri in Rome and England looking to make it 12 consecutive wins when they welcome Wales to Twickenham. The full Six Nations schedule can be found here.

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Six Nations 2026 week 1 tips

• France -13.0 @ 10/11
• Scotland -9.0 @ 10/11
• England -29.0 @ 37/40
• Full Six Nations betting odds and markets

No stopping Les Bleus

Ireland beat France 38-17 when the pair met in Marseille in 2024, but Les Bleus look ready to go ahead of this opener in Paris on Thursday night.

Fabien Galthie has excluded some big names from his squad, but the reigning champions still look remarkably strong and take on an Ireland team that won four out of five last year but lost momentum as the tournament progressed.

Their sole defeat was their penultimate weekend 42-27 loss to the French in Dublin, when Irish tries in the 77th and 80th minutes added some respectability to the score. 

Iconic scrum-half Antoine Dupont suffered a serious knee injury in that game and will captain France for the first time since that setback on Thursday.

The Toulouse man has scored tries on the last two occasions these teams have met at the Stade de France and is joined in the back-line by wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

Bielle-Biarrey registered eight tries in 2025 and both can help the hosts surpass a -13.5 handicap in Saint-Denis.

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Scots to avoid repeat Rome woe

Italy beat then-defending champions Scotland in their first-ever Six Nations game in 2000 and also won the last time the pair clashed in Rome, triumphing 31-29 in 2024, before beating Wales 24-21 the following week.

The Azzurri dominated this match two years ago, but lost focus in the closing stages, allowing their opponents a late converted score to secure both a losing and a four-try bonus point.

Italy have real depth, and aside from a 73-24 blowout against France, they were largely competitive in 2025 and beat Wales again.

The Italian’s plan is to use their physicality up front before putting on some shapes in attack, but the absences of Seb Negri and Ange Capuozzo may limit them in both facets.

The home team’s 11/4 is a tempting price, but Scotland have as strong a starting XV as anyone can remember.

With England and France set to visit Murrayfield, this looks like a chance for Scotland to push for a first title since 1999 and Gregor Townsend’s side can come through this awkward opening test.

Red Rose ready to see off Welsh

England tend to be sluggish starters in the Six Nations but should be far too good for a Wales side whose only victories since the 2023 Rugby World Cup have both come against Japan.

The noise around the domestic game can’t be helping Steve Tandy’s side, but they attacked well in the autumn and often raise themselves for trips to Twickenham.

However, England have won 11 in a row and Steve Borthwick has selected an ultra-attacking team, with Tommy Freeman in the centres to accommodate Henry Arundell on the wing, a mobile back-row and a stacked replacements bench.

A repeat of last year’s 68-14 victory in Cardiff might not be possible so early in the tournament but England’s physicality, skill and speed should help them secure a comfortable opening success. 

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