France are chasing a hat-trick of Six Nations titles when the 2027 championship kicks off on Friday 5 February. Back-to-back winners in 2025 and 2026, les Bleus enter this edition as the team every other side has circled on their calendar — but the gap between France and the chasing pack is genuinely narrow. Ireland open with a heavyweight Friday night clash against England in Dublin. Scotland are at home to Italy on Saturday. And Wales face France away in the opening weekend. Right from round one, the Six Nations 2027 fixtures promise fireworks.
Before the February fixtures arrive, the Nations Championship autumn window is already shaping each squad’s preparation and confidence. The Autumn Rugby Internationals 2026 preview covers England, Scotland and Wales through the November window in full. The Welsh Sport Winter Guide adds the broader Welsh sporting context, while the Premiership Rugby 2026-27 standings track how English clubs are performing around the international breaks.
All Six Nations 2027 Fixtures
The 2027 Men’s Six Nations runs from Friday 5 February to Saturday 13 March. All 15 fixtures are shown across the BBC and ITV under a deal agreed in 2025 to keep the tournament free-to-air until 2029.
Round 1 (5-6 February 2027)
- Ireland v England — Friday 5 February, 8:10pm GMT
- Scotland v Italy — Saturday 6 February, 2:10pm GMT
- France v Wales — Saturday 6 February, 4:40pm GMT
Round 2 (13-14 February 2027)
- Italy v Ireland — Saturday 13 February, 2:10pm GMT
- Scotland v Wales — Saturday 13 February, 4:40pm GMT
- England v France — Sunday 14 February, 3:10pm GMT
Round 3 (20-21 February 2027)
- Wales v Ireland — Saturday 20 February, 2:10pm GMT
- England v Italy — Saturday 20 February, 4:40pm GMT
- France v Scotland — Sunday 21 February, 3:10pm GMT
Round 4 (5-6 March 2027)
- Scotland v Ireland — Friday 5 March, 8:10pm GMT
- Italy v France — Saturday 6 March, 2:10pm GMT
- Wales v England — Saturday 6 March, 4:40pm GMT
Round 5 — Super Saturday (13 March 2027)
- Italy v Wales
- England v Scotland (Calcutta Cup)
- Ireland v France
The final day is a proper Super Saturday. England and Scotland in the Calcutta Cup bring a grudge match to close the championship, while Ireland and France settle the title in Dublin in what could again be the decisive game of the whole tournament.
France: Can They Make It Three in a Row?
France are the favourites. They won the 2026 championship, making it back-to-back titles, and early ante-post odds place them at the front of the market going into 2027. France have now won eight Six Nations titles since 2000 — more than any other nation — and the current generation carries genuine quality across every position.
That said, history warns against assuming a third consecutive title is routine. No team since the modern Six Nations era began in 2000 has found repeating that kind of run straightforward. France were pushed to the wire by England in the 2026 championship, winning 48-46 in a match that could have gone either way. England, Ireland and Scotland will all arrive in 2027 believing they can close that gap. Wales face France at the Stade de France on the opening weekend, a fixture that will test the rebuilt Welsh side immediately.
England: World Cup Year Adds Everything
England arrive in 2027 with a specific mission. The Rugby World Cup in Australia begins on 1 October 2027, which means the Six Nations is the final major preparation block before Borthwick names his squad. After finishing fifth in the 2026 championship — the worst result in their Six Nations history — the pressure on England to perform is real and immediate.
The opening fixture in Dublin against Ireland is a defining match from round one. Win there and England change the narrative. Lose and the World Cup preparation starts on the back foot. Players like Marcus Smith at fly-half and Henry Pollock in the back row are established now, and the autumn Nations Championship fixtures were always about building a coherent team around a settled spine ahead of February.
England’s 2026 Six Nations collapse came after an 11-match winning run. The coaching staff will have spent months understanding what went wrong. The Steve Borthwick contract extension beyond the 2027 World Cup reflects the RFU’s desire for stability — but it also means the Six Nations becomes the most visible stage for proving that confidence is justified. The Six Nations 2027 is also the Calcutta Cup year’s final act, with Scotland hosting England in round five.
Early ante-post odds place England at around 4.00 for the Six Nations title — third behind France and Ireland.
Ireland: Injury Concerns but Title-Level Quality
Ireland remain one of the two teams most likely to challenge France directly. They finished runners-up in 2026, winning their last four matches after an opening defeat in Paris. Had England held on against France in the final round, Ireland would have claimed a seventh title this century. Instead they wait for another shot.
The injury concerns that built up through the 2026 Nations Championship are the main subplot. Ireland went into the summer series with significant absentees, and if that pattern continues into February, depth and squad management become critical. When Ireland are at full strength, they have the game plan, the set piece and the individual quality to beat anyone.
The fixture list offers Ireland an ideal closing run. They travel away to Italy in round two, host Scotland in round four, and then — in what could be the title decider — host France in Dublin on Super Saturday, 13 March. That final-day fixture is the same matchup that nearly decided the 2026 championship. Expect it to matter just as much in 2027.
Early ante-post odds put Ireland at approximately 3.75 for the title.
Scotland: Genuine Title Outsiders?
Scotland arrive in 2027 with more confidence than at any point in recent memory. They beat England 31-20 in the 2026 Six Nations and scored seven tries in a 50-40 win over France at Murrayfield during the same championship. That France win, in particular, showed that Scotland’s attacking game, when firing, can trouble the very best.
Their fixture list gives them two home matches in the opening four rounds — Italy in round one and Ireland in round four — plus the Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham against England on Super Saturday. The Gregor Townsend era has built real momentum. If Scotland can find the consistency they sometimes lack, a genuine title challenge is not out of the question. Early odds place Scotland at around 8.00.
Wales: Wooden Spoon to Respectability?
Wales finished last in the 2026 Six Nations with five defeats and 200 points conceded across the championship. That is the starting point. The question for 2027 is whether the rebuilding process has moved far enough. Steve Tandy’s 39-man autumn squad suggests a coach actively expanding his options. The Wales bosses have also been lobbying UEFA to expand the Women’s Euros, which points to an organisation with ambition across every level.
Wales face France away in round one — as tough an opener as the draw could possibly produce. From there, the fixtures include Scotland away in round two, Ireland away in round three, and England away in round four. Their only home match in the first four rounds is against France, and then England visit Cardiff in round four. For Wales, improvement over the Wooden Spoon is the minimum goal. Any win against one of the top four sides would be treated as a significant marker of progress.
Early odds reflect the challenge: Wales are out at approximately 101.00 for the title.
Italy: Quietly Competitive
Italy have been building quietly. Their 2026 campaign included a 23-18 win over England in Rome — the result that contributed to England’s worst-ever Six Nations finish. They face Ireland in round two and France in round four, which are the matches that will tell you most about where Gonzalo Quesada’s side genuinely are. Italy are no longer easy points for anyone, and their development through this generation of players has changed the competitive balance of the whole tournament.
Key Takeaways
- France favourites: Chasing a hat-trick of Six Nations titles with early ante-post odds of around 2.38.
- Super Saturday final day: England v Scotland (Calcutta Cup) and Ireland v France in Dublin on 13 March are the two headline fixtures of the closing round.
- England’s mission: After the worst Six Nations finish in their history in 2026, the 2027 championship doubles as World Cup preparation with the tournament starting 1 October 2027.
- Ireland contenders: Runners-up in 2026 and at approximately 3.75 in early markets, with a final-day home clash against France as the potential title decider.
- Scotland belief: A 50-40 win over France and a 31-20 win over England in 2026 has changed how this Scotland side is perceived heading into 2027.
FAQs
When does the Six Nations 2027 start?
The 2027 Men’s Six Nations starts on Friday 5 February with Ireland v England in Dublin.
Who are the early title favourites for the Six Nations 2027?
France are the favourites, followed by Ireland and then England in the early ante-post markets.
How many Six Nations titles have France won since 2000?
France have won eight Six Nations titles since 2000, the most of any nation in that period.
Where is the 2027 Calcutta Cup played?
England v Scotland in the 2027 Calcutta Cup takes place at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in round five on Super Saturday 13 March.
Is the Six Nations 2027 on free-to-air television?
Yes. All 15 fixtures are broadcast across the BBC and ITV under a deal agreed in 2025 keeping the tournament free-to-air until 2029.
Conclusion
The Six Nations 2027 arrives at the most meaningful moment for several of these nations in years. For England, it is the last real audition before the World Cup squad is announced. For Ireland, it is a second shot at a title that almost came in 2026. For Scotland, it is a chance to show the 2026 performances were a beginning rather than a peak. And for France, it is the opportunity to join the short list of nations who have won three consecutive Six Nations titles. The fixtures are set, the competition format is the same, and the interest has never been higher. Mark 5 February in your calendar.
