Rugby fans are rarely the first group of people to be considered when fixtures are arranged, in fact they are often the last.

For many years, Six Nations matches taking place on a Sunday or indeed a Friday night have made life difficult for the thousands of loyal followers that fork out hundreds of pounds and euros to support their national team.

Whether it be attempting to catch one of the ethereal non-existent post-match trains from Cardiff Central, or the last midnight metro from Stade de France, the logistics are a fraught stressful energy sapping experience that can ruin your entire day.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, the 2026 Guinness Six Nations kicks off on a Thursday night… yes, a Thursday night in Paris and with a post 9pm kick off on February 5th.

Television rules the rugby roost I guess, so you may wonder what the programme schedulers had in mind when they pushed for this “prime” slot ?

Well, the reason the match was moved back a day from the originally scheduled Friday to Thursday was apparently due to a clash with the Winter Olympics starting in Cortina on the Friday, although I’m sure both events could be accommodated perfectly well.

Having said all that, France v Ireland is a mouth watering opening fixture irrespective of which day of the week it takes place and should ensure the 2026 Guinness Six Nations tournament hits the ground running.

France Guinness Six Nations squad has been affected by a bit of a number nine crisis it appears a neuf isn’t a neuf with Maxime Lucu, Nolann Le Garrec and Baptiste Juneau all injured.

This news is of course tempered by the return of Antoine Dupont who is scheduled to make his first international appearance for eleven months.

Elsewhere, Romain Ntamack will miss the early rounds of the tournament with a kidney injury which allows the in form Mathieu Jalibert to step in at fly half and spare coach Fabian Galthie the unenviable task of having to decide between the two wonderfully gifted tens.

And perhaps the biggest shock of all is the dropping of record try scorer Damian Penaud and former captain Gregory Alldritt, only the French with their depth of talent could perform such an act of high treason.

That big Thursday night in Paris can’t come soon enough.

FRANCE SIX NATIONS SQUAD