6 Nations complete; Club competitions begin a race to the finish - 3/19/2026
As the Guinness Men’s Six Nations Rugby tournament stormed to a breathless finish, the final standings both reinforced some earlier forecasts about European rugby and threw in a couple of surprises to keep us guessing.
Of no surprise was that France and Ireland would come down to the wire fighting for the top spot. Even though France had dealt with Ireland convincingly in Round 1, the men in green’s comeback during the competition, and especially with their big win over England at Twickenham, showed they should be taken seriously. France stumbled too, but just the once, against Scotland, before beating the other four nations, to finish as 6 Nations Champions. Scotland, after their fine wins against the French and the English proved they belonged at the top of the European heap but fell in Dublin and Rome and only made third place in the standings. Italy continued to improve beating Scotland and England at home but losing to the Welsh in that team’s only success in the tournament. What was surprising was that England only managed one win, against Wales, but avoided last place by scoring two bonus points in a last-minute loss to the French, 46-48 in Paris.
While the 2027 Rugby World Cup in still 18 months away, the messages from this 6 Nations are clear; France are very, very good and pose a threat to anyone; rumors of Ireland being over the hill are wrong - they are remaking themselves under Farrell’s inspired leadership; and England have problems after another poor 6 Nations showing.
England’s Gallagher Premiership - After 10 rounds and a 7-week layoff for the 6 Nations, the 10-team league restarts on Match 20. Northampton sit atop the table with an 8-1-1 record, 43 points (+ 9 bonus points); Bath - last year’s Champions - sit 2nd, 8-2, 41pts (9); Bristol Bears 3rd, 8-2, 37 pts (5) and Leicester Tigers 4th on 36 pts 7-3 (8). There are 8 rounds to play between now and the semi-finals on June 13, the schedule broken up only by the Investec Champions Cup with the final pool stage matches on April 4 and gthe Quarter Finals on April 1-12. This weekend: Bath vs. Saracens (3/20); Harlequins vs. Gloucester, Saints vs. Newcastle, Chiefs vs. Sale (3/21); Tigers vs. Bears (3/22).
The United Rugby Championship (teams from South Africa, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Italy) has played 12 of 18 rounds and the current standings see Glasgow Warriors in 1st with a 9-3 record, 46 pts and 9 bonus points; 2nd are the DHL Stormers, 41 pts, 9-3 (5); 3rd Ulster, 41, 8-4 (9); and 4th Leinster also on 41 pts, 8-4 (9). Next round is played on March 27th.
France’s Top 14: has played 18 of 26 rounds, heading for playoffs that start in mid-June. The table thus far: top is Stade Toulousain 67 pts, 14-4 and 13 bps; 2) Section Paloise 55 pts, 12-6 (7); 3) Montpelier 53 pts, 10-1-7 (11); 4) ASM Clermont 51 pts 11-7 (7) 5) Union Bordeaux Begles 50 pts 10-8 (10); 6) Stade Francais Paris 49 pts 9-1-8 (11). Next round March 21 and 22, the marquee game is UBB vs. Stade Toulousain on Sunday
Premiership, URC and Top 14 games are all streamed live and with replays on Florugby.com. Replays of the Men’s 6 Nations games on Peacock.com