The 2025 Men's Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Men's Six Nations for sponsorship reasons and branded as M6N) is a rugby union competition, taking place between January and March 2025, featuring the men's national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It is the 131st season of the competition (including its incarnations as the Home Nations Championship and the Five Nations Championship), but the 26th since it expanded to become the Six Nations Championship in 2000. It started on 31 January 2025 with a Friday night match between France and Wales, and is scheduled to end with France against Scotland on 15 March.[1]Ireland entered the tournament as two-time reigning champions, aiming to become the first team to win the Championship outright three years in a row. France returned to their normal home venue, the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, after a year away while the stadium was being prepared for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
1 2 Rory Darge and Finn Russell were named as co-captains of the Scotland team, after original captain Sione Tuipulotu was ruled out of the competition due to a rib injury.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000013-QINU`"''"`UNIQ--ref-00000014-QINU`"'
A bonus point is awarded to a team that scores four or more tries, or loses by seven points or fewer. If a team scores four or more tries, and loses by seven points or fewer, they are awarded both bonus points.
Three bonus points are awarded to a team that wins all five of their matches (a Grand Slam). This ensures that a Grand Slam-winning team would top the table with at least 23 points, as there would otherwise be a scenario where a team could win all five matches with no bonus points for a total of 20 points and another team could win four matches with bonus points and lose their fifth match while claiming one or more bonus points giving a total of 21 or 22 points.
Tiebreakers
If two or more teams are tied on table points, the team with the better points difference (points scored less points conceded) is ranked higher.
If the above tiebreaker fails to separate tied teams, the team that scores the higher number of total tries (including penalty tries) in their matches is ranked higher.
If two or more teams remain tied after applying the above tiebreakers then those teams will be placed at equal rank; if the tournament has concluded and more than one team is placed first then the title will be shared between them.
France kept a clean sheet against Wales for the first time since the 1998 Five Nations.[11]
This was France's largest winning margin against Wales at home, surpassing the 33-point margin set in 1991.[12]
This was the first time Wales had failed to score a point in a Six Nations match, and the first time in any match since they lost 31–0 to Australia in 2007.[13]
This was Wales' 13th defeat in a row, which is now their longest losing streak.[14]
Italy recorded back-to-back victories over Wales for the first time, and their first home win against the nation since 2007.[23]
With this defeat, Wales dropped to 12th place in the World Rugby Rankings – their worst position since the rankings were established in 2003.[24]
This was Warren Gatland's last match as Wales head coach, as he left the role by mutual consent on 11 February. He was replaced by Matt Sherratt from 17 February.[25]
Mack Hansen (Ireland) was originally named in the starting line-up, but withdrew the day before the match due to a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Calvin Nash.[29]
This was Ireland's 11th consecutive victory over Scotland.[30]
Cian Prendergast (Ireland) was originally named among the replacements but was ruled out due to illness; he was replaced on the bench by Ryan Baird.[33]
George Martin (England) was originally named among the replacements, but was ruled out with a knee injury; he was replaced on the bench by Ted Hill.[37]
Rory Sutherland (Scotland) was originally named among the replacements, but was ruled out with a back injury; he was replaced on the bench by Jamie Bhatti.[38]
1 2 The suspension is reduced by one match, subject to the player's completion of the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000089-QINU`"'
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Ireland (14th title)
Tommaso Allan (38)
Louis Bielle-Biarrey (5)
