6 things to know ahead of the 2026 6 Nations

The 2026 Six Nations kicks off tomorrow, and there are a few significant changes to look out for this year. Beyond the usual rivalries, the tournament is introducing some new officiating milestones, stadium rebranding, and several law trials designed to make the matches move faster. Here are 6 things to know ahead of the 2026 Six Nations.

1. The tournament starts on a Thursday

The 2026 edition has an unusual start date. Instead of the typical Friday or Saturday kickoff, the first game—France vs. Ireland—will take place on Thursday, February 5th. This change was made to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday.

2. First female referee in a men's match

Hollie Davidson from Scotland will become the first woman to referee a match in the Men’s Six Nations. She has been assigned to the Ireland vs. Italy game on February 14th. This follows her previous experience officiating international matches for both men’s and women’s teams.

3. Continuation of the Red Card

The 20-minute red card returns for its second year in the Six Nations. Under this rule, if a player is sent off for a technical foul (such as an accidental high tackle), the team can bring on a substitute for that player after 20 minutes. However, this remains a trial rather than a permanent rule change. Referees still retain the power to issue a "full" red card for serious or intentional foul play, which leaves a team down a player for the entire match. 2026 is considered a critical year for World Rugby to decide if this becomes a permanent law across all international competitions.

4. Full integration of Allianz Stadium

While the name change from Twickenham to Allianz Stadium technically occurred in late 2024, the 2026 tournament marks the first time the venue is operating under the new name without interruption. During the Women’s World Cup last year, the stadium was required to revert to its original name due to tournament licensing, but it returns to its sponsored title for this year's Six Nations.

5. New rules to speed up the game

World Rugby has introduced several law changes to reduce "dead time" during matches:

• Caterpillar rucks: Players are no longer allowed to join the back of a ruck to create more space for a box kick.

• Shot clocks: Kickers have 60 seconds to take a conversion, and teams have 30 seconds to set up a lineout.

• Crooked throws: If the opposition doesn't jump at a lineout, the referee will ignore a throw that isn't perfectly straight.

6. New "Smart Ball" data

The match balls now contain sensors that provide real-time data to broadcasters. During the games, viewers will see statistics like the speed of a pass, the hang-time of a kick, and "expected points" for penalties. For the first time, these statistics will also be translated into French and Italian for local broadcasts.

Here are all the fixtures for the 2026 edition of the 6Nations

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5