Six Nations 2026 to start on Thursday to avoid Winter Olympics clash / Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA - AFP/File
-
Liverpool rocked by Brighton's late fightback
-
US stocks edge higher while dollar dips after Moody's downgrade
-
Rihanna, A$AP Rocky watch Denzel Washington award in Cannes
-
Actors' union sues Fortnite over AI Darth Vader
-
Trump signs bill outlawing 'revenge porn'
-
Top Brazil court hears landmark Bolsonaro coup case
-
CBS News boss resigns amid tensions with Trump admin
-
Eagles sign coach Sirianni to 'multi-year' extension
-
Trump seeks 'major' probe of celebs who backed Harris
-
Prosecutors focus on pattern of violence as Sean Combs trial continues
-
S.Africa says talks with Trump aim to salvage trade
-
After Putin call, Trump says Ukraine talks to start 'immediately'
-
Chile weighs future of charming German village with dark past
-
How Biden cancer diagnosis could have gone undetected
-
UEFA move to defuse anger over Infantino delay at FIFA Congress
-
Biden thanks supporters for 'love' after cancer diagnosis
-
Abhishek blitz knocks Lucknow out of IPL play-off race
-
After Putin call, Trump says Ukraine truce talks to start 'immediately'
-
Italian designer Piccioli named creative director at Balenciaga
-
US top court allows lifting of legal protections for Venezuelans
-
Six Nations 2026 to start on Thursday to avoid Winter Olympics clash
-
El Salvador arrests rights lawyer helping deported migrants
-
Biden cancer diagnosis fuels Trump team's cover-up claims
-
Bolsonaro's trial on coup charges to begin in Brazil
-
Young Cameroonians face prospect of new bid by 92-year-old leader
-
Ex-Tour champion Vingegaard against 'stressful' Montmartre inclusion
-
Cairo-set Cannes thriller takes aim at Egypt's president
-
Nigeria needs good fathers, says director who made Cannes history
-
WHO guiding body gets to grips with budget beset by US pullback
-
Trump targets Beyonce in rant about endorsing Kamala Harris
-
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
-
Monkeys kidnap babies of another species in weird 'fad'
-
Trump calls Putin in push for Ukraine ceasefire
-
ICJ backs E.Guinea in spat with Gabon over oil-rich islands
-
UK man gets two-year suspended term for gold toilet theft
-
The battle by Chile torture site dwellers to remain
-
ICJ sides with E.Guinea in spat with Gabon over oil-rich islands
-
Kevin Spacey to get charity award in Cannes despite new scandal
-
Pope meets Vance ahead of Ukraine ceasefire push
-
How serious is Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis?
-
Perrier scandal bubbles up as French parliament slams cover-up
-
Gary Lineker: England's World Cup hero turned BBC's 'defining voice'
-
Failure means Man City would not 'deserve' Champions League: Guardiola
-
Joe Biden thanks supporters for 'love' after cancer diagnosis
-
Portugal's far-right party gains as premier holds on
-
Three things we learned from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
-
Gary Lineker to leave BBC after antisemitism row
-
Serie A title deciders to be played Friday
-
Russian ballet patriarch Yuri Grigorovich dies at 98
-
Gary Lineker to leave BBC after social media 'error'
NYSE - LSE
Six Nations 2026 to start on Thursday to avoid Winter Olympics clash
Champions France will host Ireland in the opening game of next year's Six Nations with the first match of the tournament being held on a Thursday for the first time since 1948, organisers announced on Monday.
The competition decided against holding the game on Friday, February 6 to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The game is set to be held at the Stade de France, Paris while the French rugby federation told AFP Les Bleus' two other home games, against Italy and England, could be played in different cities.
Ireland will welcome Wales on a Friday in round four, a first time for a game to be held in that slot in Dublin.
In a change from recent years, there will be just one weekend off, instead of two for next season's edition.
Six Nations 2026 fixtures (times GMT):
Round one
February 5: France v Ireland (2010)
February 8: Italy v Scotland (1410), England v Wales (1640)
Round two
February 14: Ireland v Italy (1410), Scotland v England (1640)
February 15: Wales v France (1510)
Round three
February 21: England v Ireland (1410), Wales v Scotland (1640)
February 22: France v France (1510)
Round four
March 6: Ireland v Wales (2010)
March 7: Scotland v France (1410), Italy v England (1640)
Round five
March 14: Ireland v Scotland (1410), Wales v Italy (1640), France v England (2010)
Th.Berger--AMWN