Six Nations preview & betting tips: Get £30 in free bets

The 2026 Six Nations begins on Thursday, with defending champions France hosting 2024 winners Ireland in a blockbuster encounter at the Stade de France.

Read our preview for the competition and check out Midnite’s exciting sign up offer which sees you get £30 in free bets.

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Six Nations tournament preview

We are treated to 15 games over the next six weeks, with the only fallow weekend scheduled for Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1.

Les Bleus have talent to spare, England have won their last 11 and the Irish and Scotland have something to prove, accentuating the likelihood of a tremendous tournament.

• England Six Nations outright @ 12/5
• Highest scoring match – France v Italy @ 9/2
• Louis Bielle-Biarrey to be top tournament try scorer @ 6/4

Can the Red Rose capitalise on their form?

Defending champions France are the odds-on favourites to win the tournament for the third time in five years.

The fixture list works out well for Les Bleus, with Ireland heading to Paris, before England travel to Saint-Denis on Super Saturday for a potential Grand Slam decider.

Before that, both teams pitch up in Edinburgh and France’s penultimate weekend trip to Murrayfield may be their undoing.

England start against Wales before travelling north of the border in search of their first away Calcutta Cup victory since 2020.

Last year, the Red Rose beat Scotland for the first time since that 13-6 success in miserable conditions, but while the Scots have subsequently faltered, England have improved massively.

Steve Borthwick’s team have won 11 in a row, including a 14-point victory over New Zealand in November.

They haven’t looked back since beating France 26-25 in round two last year. After building momentum in further Six Nations triumphs over the Scots, Italy and, especially, Wales, they then won a series in Argentina without several big names who were called up for British & Irish Lions duty and the further gains they made in the autumn could pave the way for Six Nations glory.

Ireland are in transition, while Scotland’s strong starting XV is too often let down by their bench.

The French are odds-on favourites, but that trip to Edinburgh is awkwardly placed in the penultimate round.

By contrast, if England can overcome their recent Murrayfield malaise, the Red Rose may take the title for the first time since 2020.

• Six Nations Betting Tips: England Six Nations outright @ 12/5

Lille date looks likely for points

Records tumbled last year, with France running in a tournament record 30 tries, contributing to an overall tally of 829 points – another record.

The fixture to produce the highest score was France’s 73-24 win over Italy, which included 14 tries, again, a record.

They again meet in round three in a match that might have an end-of-term feel.

It is the last fixture before the fallow week and will also be played in Lille.

Both sides will want to put on a show and, with a fortnight or so to recover, are unlikely to leave anything on the field.

• Six Nations Betting Tips: Highest scoring match – France v Italy @ 9/2

Brilliant Bielle-Biarrey on course for repeat top scorer award

It felt like last year was the season when Louis Bielle-Biarrey arrived, scoring eight tries to help France win the Six Nations and also playing his part as Bordeaux were crowned European champions.

L’UBB teammate Damian Penaud has lost his place on the opposite wing but Bielle-Biarrey is retained on the left flank and with good reason.

The 22-year-old has scored 16 tries in 14 appearances for his club this season.

He has also crossed 20 times in 22 international caps and is hard to look past in the top try-scorer market.

• Six Nations Betting Tips: Louis Bielle-Biarrey to be top tournament try scorer @ 6/4