France and Ireland to make history with Thursday fixture
France and Ireland are set to make history tonight as they face each other in the championship’s first-ever Thursday evening fixture of the Six Nations. The match will take place at the Stade de France, with kick-off scheduled for 8.10pm, reports BritPanorama.
This unique scheduling decision aims to avoid a clash with Friday’s opening ceremony of the Milan Winter Olympics. The 2026 championship has undergone significant restructuring, compressing the tournament into approximately five weeks, diverging from the traditional format established since 2003.
In this new iteration, players will receive only a single rest weekend instead of the two previously afforded over the last two decades. This solitary break occurs between the third and fourth rounds, meaning teams will compete across three consecutive weekends before any respite.
While concerns regarding player welfare have surfaced due to the tighter timetable, fans have largely welcomed the more compact competition. Ireland head coach Andy Farrell voiced enthusiasm for the historic occasion, calling the opportunity to launch the tournament on a Thursday “truly remarkable.”
“[The Stade de France] is one of the most iconic places to play in world rugby,” Farrell noted. “To be privileged enough to start off a competition, on an unprecedented Thursday night is always going to be special, so it’s exciting for us.”
This evening’s match carries particular significance, echoing a historical parallel from 1 January 1948, when France and Ireland clashed on a Thursday in Paris, a match that Ireland won 13-6 en route to a Grand Slam. Farrell will no doubt be aware of this legacy as his team takes the pitch against a formidable foe in France.
As the Six Nations introduces a novel rhythm to its schedule, it reflects a changing landscape in international rugby, where tradition and innovation continue to collide, shaping the future of the sport.
