Rugby Six Nations 2026 Predictions & Betting Odds

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: February 3rd, 2026

The 2026 Six Nations Championship kicks off on 5 February, bringing together England, France, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales for five rounds of pure sports entertainment across Europe.

Reigning champions France are looking forward to winning back-to-back titles this year, and they don't get a gentle warm-up. Their tournament opens with a clash against the Republic of Ireland, who were champions in 2023 and 2024. With a shortened schedule this year, early momentum will matter more than before. In this article, you'll find the outright odds, team stats, and our Six Nations predictions for the 2026 championship.

The current champions lead the market at 1.66 and remain the team to beat. Seven-time Six Nations winners England sit second at 3.50. The team is in genuinely dangerous form at the moment, and can trouble France in 2026. Ireland and Scotland are further in the mix at 7.00 and 15.00, respectively. Wales and Italy remain a longshot opportunities at 126.00.

The Six Nations Championship follows a round-robin format, with each of the six teams playing five matches across five rounds. The competition will run from 5 February to 14 March, with 15 fixtures in total. Unlike previous editions, this year's championship is played over a shortened schedule, with one fewer rest week between rounds.

Round 1

5 February

• France vs. Ireland

7 February

• Italy vs. Scotland
• England vs. Wales

Round 2

14 February

• Ireland vs. Italy
• Scotland vs. England

15 February

• Wales vs France

Round 3

21 February

• England vs. Ireland
• Wales vs. Scotland

22 February

• France vs. Italy

Round 4

6 March

• Ireland vs. Wales

7 March

• Scotland vs. France
• Italy vs. England

Round 5

14 March

• Ireland vs. Scotland
• Wales vs. Italy
• France vs. England

France

Round 1 against Ireland feels pivotal for France. A win in Paris immediately will put The Blues in control of the title race. Antoine Dupont, the team's captain, will finally return to the national squad after his ACL injury. He has helped France win a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics playing rugby sevens, and now he'll lead the squad in their pursuit of back-to-back Six Nations titles. France showed strong form in the Autumn Internationals, losing only to South Africa, the world's highest-ranked side. Crucially, their campaign finishes at home against England, and this could be the match to decide it all. That said, we are predicting France to win the Six Nations this year.

England

England are in outstanding shape. Steve Borthwick's side are riding an 11-game winning streak, losing only once last year. They have a strong bench that allows them to maintain intensity late into matches. However, Will Stuart, who is considered one of the most reliable players in the team, will miss the tournament due to a ruptured achilles tendon. Last year, England showed they can go toe-to-toe with France when they won 26-25 in the second round of the Six Nations. This season, they have enough strength to trouble Ireland, Scotland and Wales for the Triple Crown.

Ireland

Ireland remain a dangerous side, but their performances can be unpredictable. One week they look brilliant, the next, they're guilty of errors in control. In addition to that, Ireland have a decent list of injured players, who won't make the pitch. Their strongest players are getting old, and the new generation needs more time to fill those shoes. Their opening match against France will ultimately show us how prepared they are and what to expect going forward. Last year, Ireland lost to the French side 42-27, but managed to beat England 27-22. This tim

Scotland

Scotland had a difficult spell in the Autumn Nations Series, and now they'll face a real test of durability. Defeats to Argentina and New Zealand in 2025 exposed some issues around their game management, which opponents will definitely try to use. Their schedule for this year's Six Nations is also a harsh one. Their opener comes away in Italy, followed by another trip to Wales in Round 3. These are the two sides Scotland would normally target, but playing both fixtures on the road makes the task far more awkward and demanding. We're going to risk it and say Scotland will lose its first game against Italy in Round 1.

Wales

Wales are in the process of rebuilding, as the new manager Steve Tandy took charge in September. Since then, Wales have played four matches in the Autumn Nations Series, losing three of them. The team will compete without their captain, Jac Morgan, due to his shoulder injury. Wales will try to avoid a third consecutive Wooden Spoon, but the reality is harsh. They are capable of competing against Scotland or Italy, but consistency over five rounds looks unlikely. There are signs of structure beginning to form, though. We expect Wales to finish bottom again, but with one hard-earned win.

Italy

Italy had an impressive autumn that hinted at a genuine step forward. They've defeated Chile and, more importantly, won against Australia. That win proved that the team is no longer an automatic Wooden Spoon candidate. Now there's a clear sense that Italy can trade punches with the top squads. Tommaso Menoncello provides power and quality in midfield, and the overall balance of the squad looks stronger than in previous campaigns. We believe that Italy can cause problems at home, so we're backing them to win over 0.5 games.

When betting on the Six Nations, it pays to look beyond outright winners and focus on how the tournament usually unfolds:

• Home advantage matters - Matches in Paris, Twickenham, and Dublin often swing tight contests, especially between top-tier teams.
• Target win totals and handicaps - Markets like over/under team wins or match handicaps can offer better value than outright odds.
• Watch early momentum - Results in Rounds 1-2 are crucial in a shortened schedule with fewer rest weeks.
• Be selective with underdogs - Italy and Wales can be competitive in specific fixtures, but consistency over five rounds is rare.

The 2026 Six Nations is shaping up as a head-to-head battle between France and England, with the title likely decided late on. Italy could reshuffle the bottom three. With every side showing signs of progress over the past year, this edition has the potential to unfold very differently from the last one, with far more volatility across the table.

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