Fans will see the Six Nations tip‑off on Thursday evening as Ireland travel to Paris to meet France at 20:10 GMT. Organisers moved the fixture forward by 24 hours to avoid clashing with the 2026 Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony, which airs Friday night across Europe.

Thursday kick‑offs are a rarity. The last Six Nations‑era Thursday match occurred in 1948, when Ireland beat France in Paris on New Year’s Day and later secured a Grand Slam. More recently, Ireland opened a Thursday game in Kobe against Russia in the 2019 World Cup, and France used Thursdays in their 2023 World Cup pool fixtures.

Broadcasters expect higher viewership as the Thursday slot sidesteps the Olympic ceremony, giving the opening clash a clear stage. A strong Irish performance could set the tone for a title chase, while France will look to defend at home. All eyes now turn to Saturday’s fixtures, where league positions begin to solidify.