England end round one of the 2026 Six Nations sitting top of the table after thrashing Wales. Steve Borthwick’s confident side scored seven total tries during a 48-7 demolition of their woeful rivals at Twickenham, their 12th consecutive Test win, where a total of five yellow cards were brandished.

France began the defence of their Six Nations title with a titanic showdown against Ireland in Paris.

IRELAND’S Under-20s will be hoping to make a better start to their Six Nations campaign than their senior counterparts did on Thursday evening. Irish rugby fans en masse are still licking

And they said that Antoine Dupont and Matthieu Jalibeart couldn’t play together; consider that notion most definitively dismissed. On a night of real Gallic charm, France laid down a Six Nations marker with a display of ambition and attacking skill to rival any that they have produced during the recent restoration of the French monarchy in this competition.

Matthieu Jalibert, Charles Ollivon and Theo Attissogbe score tries as France secure comfortable victory over Ireland on the Six Nations opening night; Andy Farrells visitors prove abject in opening 50

The northern hemisphere's showpiece annual rugby union tournament gets underway, with France looking to defend its crown.