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Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scotland's Six Nations 2026 fixtures announced with significant change to tournament format added
Scotland's schedule for the 2026 Six Nations has been confirmed. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland now know what lies ahead for them in the 2026 Six Nations as the tournament organisers confirmed one major change. Gregor Townsend's side will kick off their competition with a trip to Rome as they face Italy on Saturday, February 7 before hosting England at Murrayfield seven days later. A visit to Wales and a home clash with France follow before the tournament wraps up with the return of 'Super Saturday' as Scotland's trip to Ireland and France's home clash with England sandwich Italy's visit to Wales. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, the major change in the 2026 Six Nations comes elsewhere as the first ever Thursday night fixture takes place when holders France face Ireland on Thursday, February 5. The official reason given for the earlier-than-expected start is to avoid clashing with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, which takes place in Milan just 24 hours later. That means the first Friday of next year's Six Nations has been left free with Scotland's trip to Italy and England's home game with Wales taking place on the first Saturday of February. Another change to next year's competition sees one of the two 'rest' weekends cut from the schedule with the first three rounds taking place on consecutive weeks before a solitary free weekend is followed by the final two rounds. What has been said about the 2026 Six Nations schedule change? A statement released on the official Six Nations website read: 'The full fixture list for the 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations has been confirmed, with the Championship set to kick off on Thursday 5th February as France host Ireland in a blockbuster opening clash. 'It will be the first time a Championship match has been played on a Thursday since 1948, when it was the Five Nations and Ireland claimed a rare win on French soil on New Year's Day. France will have three home fixtures in 2026, hosting Italy in Round Three and England in Round Five, with 'Le Crunch' serving as the final fixture of Super Saturday, on March 14th. Rugby fans in France can look forward to being part of the opening and closing acts of what is set to be another unmissable edition of rugby's most loved annual occasion.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What are the fixtures for the 2026 Six Nations? Blair Kinghorn points the way to the tryline as Huw Jones scores for Scotland against Italy in this year's Six Nations. The centre bagged a hat-trick in the game. | SNS Group / SRU Round One: France v Ireland (Thursday 5 February - 8.10pm) Italy v Scotland (Saturday 7 February - 2.10pm) England v Wales (Saturday 7 February - 4.40pm) Round Two: Ireland v Italy (Saturday 14 February - 2.10pm) Scotland v England (Saturday 14 February - 4.40pm) Wales v France (Sunday 15 February - 3.10pm) Round Three: England v Ireland (Saturday 21 February - 2.10pm) Wales v Scotland (Saturday 21 February - 4.40pm) France v Italy (Sunday 22 February - 3.10pm) Round Four: Ireland v Wales (Friday 6 March - 8.10pm) Scotland v France (Saturday 7 March - 2.10pm) Italy v England (Saturday 7 March - 4.40pm) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Round Five: Ireland v Scotland (Saturday 14 March - 2.10pm) Wales v Italy (Saturday 14 March - 4.40pm) France v England (Saturday 14 March - 8.10pm) Your next Scotland Rugby Union read: Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland duo celebrate British and Irish Lions call-up for Australia tour
Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Henry Pollock meets his match at British & Irish Lions get together
The British & Irish Lions met for the first time on Sunday in a blur of kit fittings, sponsor appearances and flat white coffees. Having been selected for the touring party on May 8, Andy Farrell's chosen 38 men met at Richmond Hill on Sunday morning, bar Marcus Smith, who joined up in the evening after playing for Harlequins against Exeter Chiefs down the road at Twickenham, and Jac Morgan, who was returning from Ospreys' trip to South Africa. The Scotland full back Blair Kinghorn, minus his knee brace, came in from Toulouse, while the Northampton Saints four of Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith and Henry Pollock shared a taxi and arrived together, to be met by the 12 Leinstermen they had humbled in
Scotsman
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Australia legend shocked as Scotland stars fail to make British and Irish Lions squad
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now There are eight Scotland internationals in the British and Irish Lions squad that will tour Australia this summer. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Australia rugby union legend David Campese admitted he 'can't work out' why one current Scotland star has failed to make the British and Irish Lions squad that will tour down under this summer. The is an eight-strong contingent of Scots that have been named in Andy Farrell's initial selection with Glasgow Warriors quartet Scott Cummings, Zander Fagerson, Huw Jones and Sione Tuipuloto leading the way. Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn and Bath Rugby's Finn Russell look set to be handed key roles in the three-test series and they are joined by Edinburgh Rugby duo Pierre Schoeman and Duhan van der Merwe, who both gave emotional responses when their selections were confirmed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Edinburgh's Darcy Graham was left out of the Lions squad to tour Australia. | SNS Group However, the absence of a third Edinburgh star has provoked a bemused reaction from Campese after he queried why wing star Darcy Graham had failed to make the cut and believes the decision means the Lions options out wide are 'short of where he'd like to see them' ahead of the tour. He told Planet Rugby: 'In the backline, one selection that really surprised me was Mack Hansen, pretty much regarded as a plodding journeyman over here, and a man with an average strike rate at Test level, has been selected over Darcy Graham. I can't work that out, and despite what I've said about a side with speed, I do think that the wings are one real gas flyer short of where I'd like to see them. Notwithstanding that, Freeman and one of Duhan van der Merwe or James Lowe on the wings will cause havoc, especially if, as I suspect, we see the brilliance of Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn at 15.' Desperately unlucky Jamie Ritchie, left, pictured with Rory Darge, started four of Scotland's five Six Nations matches. | SNS Group / SRU There was further disappointment for a number of Scotland internationals hoping to land a place in Farrell's initial squad. Despite some eye-catching performances for club and country, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge were all absent when the squad was announced last week - and Campese believes there is a chance the trio could yet make the standby list and have a chance to make the final tour squad. He added: 'I would have been minded to get Fraser Dingwall in there in the initial selection. He's a glue player alongside Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell and I feel he's been hugely unlucky not to get in – but I wouldn't have picked him over and above any of the centres Farrell has taken. I do think, however, Dingwall will get on the tour at some point as injuries have a nasty habit of changing Lions. Others that I think will be on standby include the marginal calls I've mentioned, together with perhaps Scots Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge, all desperately unlucky to miss out.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Where and when do the British and Irish Lions play on their tour of Australia? 20/06/2025 - The Lions v Argentina (Aviva Stadium, Dublin) 28/06/2025 - Western Force v The Lions (Optus Stadium, Perth) 02/07/2025 - Queensland Reds v The Lions (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) 05/07/2025 - NSW Waratahs v The Lions (Allianz Stadium, Sydney) 09/07/2025 - ACT Brumbies v The Lions (GIO Stadium, Canberra) 12/07/2025 - Invitational AU & NZ v The Lions (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide) 19/07/2025 - Wallabies v The Lions (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) 22/07/2025 - First Nations & Pasifika XV) v The Lions (Marvel Stadium, Melbourne) 26/07/2025 - Wallabies v The Lions (MCG, Melbourne) 02/08/2025 - Wallabies v The Lions (Accor Stadium, Sydney) Your next Rugby Union read: Former Scotland and British & Irish Lions great Sir Ian McGeechan confirms prostate cancer diagnosis
Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
The nine big calls that define Andy Farrell's Lions squad
Andy Farrell has now named his British and Irish Lions squad, and there were plenty of big calls. Here are the ones that will define the tour to Australia. Kinghorn only France-based player The logistical challenges of the French club calendar was laid bare in how only Blair Kinghorn has been picked. Kinghorn is predominantly a full-back, but his versatility is bound to be valuable – particularly in the era of six-two (and seven-one) bench splits. He covers wings and even fly-half at a push, which will clearly help him push into the Test side out in Australia when his Toulouse commitments are over. Arriving late, and as one of only 17 backs, he obviously has a strong chance. Competition among back-five forwards has scuppered Jack Willis and Courtney Lawes, while Tomos Williams evidently edged out Ben White. Daly covering several bases He is a curiously divisive topic for supporters, but Daly has plenty going for him. This will be the 32-year-old's third Lions tour, having emerged on the trip to New Zealand in 2017 and travelled to South Africa for the Covid series against the Springboks. A tally of five Tests is not to be sniffed at, and Daly covers three positions – full-back, wing and outside centre – to a high standard. His booming left boot remains a weapon and it is easy to forget that he had fought his way back into England's starting line-up by the end of the Six Nations, wearing 15 and 11 against Italy and Wales, respectively. Tours can be manic as combinations gel. Daly's experience and intuition will help combinations settle and help navigate a tough schedule. Tom Jordan and Jamie Osborne were two other potential utility men, but Daly won out. Marcus Smith over Ford and Farrell An alphabetical announcement made the backline section rather dramatic. The jump between Daly and Tommy Freeman made it apparent that Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Owen Farrell and George Ford had all been omitted. Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast were also overlooked, leaving a couple of Smiths and Finn Russell as the fly-half cohort. Johnny Sexton will have to patch things up with the latter, while Fin Smith cannot have delivered a more convincing audition than his display against Leinster. He will follow his grandfather, Tom Elliot, to become a Lion, and his emotion was palpable in a video released by Northampton Saints: Unbelievable moments 🦁 Watch as our boys found out they are going on the @lionsofficial tour together 🖤💚💛 — Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) May 8, 2025 The inclusion of Marcus Smith is a fascinating endorsement of the Harlequins' running threat; both when taking the ball flat and when returning opposition kicks. His secondment to full-back has worked out and it was telling that he and Henry Pollock received the biggest cheers at The O2 Arena. Beset by injury since joining Racing 92 from Saracens, Owen Farrell simply has not shown enough in a struggling team. Having rediscovered his form with Sale Sharks, it feels like Ford is unfortunate. His consolation prize will be winning a 100th cap, possibly as England captain, in Argentina. Graham edged out Among the unluckiest players around Britain and Ireland is Darcy Graham. The scampering Scotland wing pops up all over the pitch and poses unconventional problems for defences around the breakdown with electric footwork and deceptive strength. He is also an excellent breakdown scrapper in defence. Mack Hansen of Ireland, a roaming playmaker capable of shifting across to full-back, probably prevailed in a head-to-head with Graham. Scott Cummings and James Ryan locked in Six possible locks featured among the 21 forwards. Maro Itoje, Tadhg Beirne felt like shoo-ins, with Joe McCarthy and Ollie Chessum not too far behind those two. From there, the pecking order was less clear. John Dalziel may well have been instrumental in ensuring the selection of Scott Cummings, who is only just fit again following the fractured arm he suffered in January. Cummings is an exceptional maul destroyer, which will be handy against an Australia team that may pick Will Skelton. James Ryan has not appeared for Leinster since the Six Nations, but gets the nod as a line-out leader who grafts relentlessly. Both he and Cummings are specialist locks who whack things. Beirne and Chessum may slip to blindside flanker, so out-and-out second-rows will help to balance out packs. Pollock carves into crowded back-row mix… Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie, Ben Curry, Sam Underhill, Ryan Baird, Aaron Wainwright; the list of back-rowers to have been overtaken by Henry Pollock is distinguished. Few could argue with much conviction that he does not deserve it, though, and the 20-year-old's has generated genuine excitement. Now to see how the Lions coaches can use Pollock's speed to elevate the Lions. …and an Conan-Earl production at No 8? Resisting any urge to call upon either Taulupe Faletau or Tom Willis after the shoulder injury to Caelan Doris, Farrell looks to be prioritising pace and mobility at the base of the scrum. Jack Conan, who started all three Tests at No 8 in 2021, is named despite usually beginning on the bench when Doris has been around. Ben Earl is another option, which may require a hybrid lock-flanker at blindside. The absence of Ritchie, who must have been close, earmarks Tom Curry as a potential number six, with Jac Morgan able to move around. Pollock has had a few outings at No 8 for Northampton, which will have aided his cause, because flexibility is king on these tours. The Lions will load up on all-action breakdown scrappers and figure out positional responsibilities from there. Cowan-Dickie preferred to Jamie George Six props and three hookers will challenge the durability of these front-rowers. Until Leinster's wobble against Northampton on Saturday, Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher always seemed on course to be a one-two punch. Unless Farrell was going to add a fourth hooker, that was likely to put a squeeze on another spot. Luke Cowan-Dickie, he of three Test appearances for the Lions in South Africa four years ago, has ousted Jamie George. Cowan-Dickie started four of five Six Nations games for England and is a ferocious defender who is regarded as a strong scrummager. George still offers exceptional throwing accuracy and deft link play, but those assets have not been enough for him to make a third tour. Sale suffocated Saracens a fortnight ago and are rumbling to the Premiership play-offs, with Cowan-Dickie to the fore. Credit in the bank Cummings, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones have been entrusted to return to match fitness on the back of their injuries and there is a strong suggestion that Farrell – as well as other Ireland coaches on the ticket such as John Fogarty, Simon Easterby, Johnny Sexton and Andrew Goodman – is leaning into familiarity to some degree. This approach will have worked in the favour of Marcus Smith too, though, because memories of his dazzling autumn are clearly undimmed.
Scotsman
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
British and Irish Lions squad announcement: Where and when to watch live
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now A number of Scotland players will hope to be named in the British and Irish Lions squad that will tour Australia this summer. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The anticipation is growing as the announcement of the British and Irish Lions squad that will tour Australia this summer draws ever closer. Several Scotland players are firmly in contention to land a spot in Andy Farrell's squad for the trip down under and it would be a shock if the likes of Blair Kinghorn, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White and Finn Russell do not make the cut after making themselves integral figures within Gregor Townsend's ranks in recent years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Head coach Andy Farrell (centre, front) and his British and Irish Lions coaching staff (from left) Richard Wigglesworth, England; Simon Easterby, Ireland; John Dalziel, Scotland; Andrew Goodman, Ireland; and John Fogarty, Ireland. (Photo by) | Getty Images With the focus now switched from what was an underwhelming Six Nations campaign, a number of Scotland stars will be nervously waiting as Lions head coach Farrell waits to reveal his squad, which is expected to contain around 36 players, at around 1.30pm on Thursday. Sky Sports are to cover the live announcement at Indigo at the O2 in London and 540 tickets had been released free via a ballot for an event that will also see several guests appear to give instant reaction to the selections as the names are read out. What has been said about the British and Irish Lions squad announcement? Australian referee Nic Berry, with arm raised, and his assistant Ben O'Keeffe, from New Zealand, speak to Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones during the first Test against South Africa. Picture:Former Wales captain Alan Wyn Jones, who skippered the Lions during their tour at South Africa, said: 'There is no greater honour than being selected for the British & Irish Lions and as a player you find it tough to sleep the night before as the anticipation builds. I was fortunate to go on three Lions Tours and I found out via a letter, a telegram and Ceefax. This squad announcement, in front of our loyal fans, will be so memorable in its own way too. There is a lot of rugby to be played between now and May, and Andy and his coaching team will have some extremely tough decisions to make ahead of the tour to Australia.' Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said: 'This will be our biggest and most special squad announcement yet. We are absolutely delighted to see record numbers of fans already travelling to Australia this summer as the Sea of Red unites for the first time since 2017. But we also know there are millions of fans at home who also want to be brought closer to the action — and this unique event gives them the chance to do that.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When is the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour? Fixtures and dates Getty Images Before they head to Australia the Lions will play Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 20. Starting off with a home test is something the Lions have done in the past including prior to their last tour in 2021 when they faced Japan at Murrayfield. They then head for the other side of the world and the tour gets underway in earnest with their first match on June 28 against club side Western Force. The first Test match against the Wallabies will be played on July 19. Here is the full schedule as things stand: 20/06/2025 - The Lions v Argentina (Aviva Stadium, Dublin) 28/06/2025 - Western Force v The Lions (Optus Stadium, Perth) 02/07/2025 - Queensland Reds v The Lions (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 05/07/2025 - NSW Waratahs v The Lions (Allianz Stadium, Sydney) 09/07/2025 - ACT Brumbies v The Lions (GIO Stadium, Canberra) 12/07/2025 - Invitational AU & NZ v The Lions (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide) 19/07/2025 - Wallabies v The Lions (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 22/07/2025 - Melbourne Pre-Test (TBC) v The Lions (Marvel Stadium, Melbourne) 26/07/2025 - Wallabies v The Lions (MCG, Melbourne) 02/08/2025 - Wallabies v The Lions (Accor Stadium, Sydney)
