Six Nations Rugby 2026 Championship Preview: Predictions, Odds, & Picks

France (-160)

France entered last season with the second-best odds to win the 2025 Six Nations Championship. At +200, they trailed pre-tournament favorite Ireland but ultimately finished on top.

While France didn’t complete the Grand Slam, they still claimed the Six Nations title. Les Bleus went 4-0-1, with their only blemish a 26-25 thriller against England. They responded to that defeat in emphatic fashion, routing Italy 73-24, Ireland 42-27, and Scotland 35-16.

They were overlooked by many bettors but proved to be the value side once the tournament wrapped up. Looking ahead to 2026, France may have an even stronger chance to complete the Grand Slam and sweep all five opponents. Antoine Dupont, who missed the last Six Nations through injury, is set for his first full campaign since 2023.

Here it is then: Antoine Dupont against La Rochelle 👑

59 minutes
64 metres
57 passes
15 carries
13 kicks 🥇
12 defenders beaten 🥇 (insane)
4 offloads
3 line breaks
2 tries
2 try assists 🥇
0.25 carries per minute 🥇
0 penalties conceded

Also this totally ridiculous 50:22 🫠 pic.twitter.com/U8sHjonDRT

— Parlez-Vous French Rugby (@RugbyVous) December 29, 2025

The captain is finally back to 100% and should thrive alongside Matthieu Jalibert. Still, the roster did not come without controversy. Three notable names, Damian Penaud, Gaël Fickou, and Grégory Alldritt, were left off and can fairly be labeled snubs.

Penaud is the most surprising omission, but France remains stacked with depth across the board. Being able to exclude players of that caliber is a luxury most other nations simply don’t have. Emerging talent like fullback Théo Attissogbe gives France additional lineup flexibility and strengthens the lower end of the depth chart.

Despite the debate around the dropped trio, Fabien Galthié still had an embarrassment of riches to choose from. Unsurprisingly, the Six Nations Rugby 2026 odds now lean heavily toward France going back-to-back as champions.

England (+240)

England returns to the Six Nations with a strong intent on going one better than last year. Despite beating France, they ultimately fell just short, finishing on 20 points to France’s 21 after the five rounds. Their +79 point differential was also second-best in the competition, but it still couldn’t match France’s remarkable +125.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ENGLAND HAVE DONE IT! A STUNNING LATE TRY SEALS FRANCE'S DEFEAT! #ENGvFRA pic.twitter.com/j0J5cQ31lE

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) February 8, 2025

This year, England’s focus is on closing that gap. According to the latest Six Nations odds, they are viewed as the most likely side to halt France’s bid for back-to-back titles.

It has now been six years since England last lifted the Six Nations trophy, and the pressure is mounting. They are running out of excuses and, at this point, simply have to deliver. One World Cup final appearance in that span is not enough for a team with such lofty expectations.

They’ll be down three frontline props at the Six Nations, including Will Stuart, Asher Opoku-Fordjou, and recently, it was confirmed that Fix Baxter wouldn’t be able to make it with surgery on his foot scheduled soon. No matter how you look at England’s outlook, they are going to be thin on props for this event.

England still has plenty of firepower and is certainly not heading into the Six Nations short on talent. The main concern remains in the front row, though, where uncapped props Billy Sela and Emmanuel Iyogun will need to develop quickly. If they can help offset the loss of those three experienced props, England should still be in solid shape.

In the backs, Tommy Freeman will also need to step up and build quick chemistry with center Max Ojomoh. If that partnership settles smoothly and the new faces in the pack find their feet, everything could come together for England at just the right time. Should that happen, their Six Nations ambitions are entirely realistic, even if a number of questions still need answering.

Ireland (+600)

Following a disappointing campaign last year, Ireland is seeking a much stronger showing this time around. Their Six Nations Championship odds have lengthened since they entered last year’s tournament at +160.

Simon Easterby stepped in as interim head coach for the 2025 Six Nations, while Andy Farrell was away. Farrell has now returned to lead the side, but the overall squad situation hasn’t improved. Last season, Ireland was hit hard by injuries, including to scrum-half Sean Casey, and Tom O’Toole also served a two-game suspension during the tournament.

A year on, many of the same concerns remain. Farrell will be back on the touchline, but he’s still dealing with several key absences. It’s unclear whether he can solve those issues in time. I’m not convinced he’ll be able to work his magic and get this group fully fit over the next month.

Tadhj Furlong is the latest name to join a long list of injured players on Ireland’s roster. Fullback Hugo Keenan is clinging on to hope that he can be ready, but his Six Nations campaign is in doubt after undergoing surgery for a broken thumb.

Ireland's injuries/absentee list just keeps growing 😟

That doesn't included guys overlooked like Herring, Henderson, Coombes or McCann 😲 pic.twitter.com/AQtrVIMAnk

— Caolán Scully (@Caolan_Scully) January 28, 2026

Joining Furlong and Keenan on the injury list are Robbie Henshaw, Ryan Baird, Andrew Porter, Bundee Aki, Paddy McCarthy, and Mack Hansen. With so many key players sidelined, it will be difficult for Ireland to match France’s depth in any area of the pitch.

There’s also the risk of further injuries during the Six Nations, which only adds to the uncertainty surrounding this Irish side right now.

Scotland (+1200)

With Wales and Italy facing nearly impossible odds, you can safely rule them out. That leaves Scotland as a strong value option for your Six Nations Rugby 2026 picks.

Last season, Scotland went 2-0-3 and finished fourth in the table with 11 points, Now, with Ireland’s squad banged up just days before their opening match, Scotland may have a realistic chance to close the gap.

Overtaking England and France won’t be easy, but England’s lack of prop depth is a concern. In 2025, Scotland were hit hard by injuries and lost three matches. This year they’re healthier and have continuity on their side, with more than 20 players coming from the Glasgow Warriors setup.

That familiarity should translate into strong on-field chemistry, which is a major edge in a short tournament. At +1200, Scotland looks worth a small speculative bet to win the 2026 Six Nations Rugby Championship.