Analysis of teams' readiness for the Six Nations Rugby Championship. Identifying the favourites to know who to bet on in 2026
The Six Nations Rugby Championship is the most anticipated competition of 2026. The tournament started in early February and will last until mid-March. From the very first matches, and even before they begin, it is possible to form a picture of the favorites and contenders for the prize places. This attracts the attention of ordinary viewers, fans, analysts, and bettors alike. In particular, on specialized resources such as 1xbet.
Over the course of five rounds, the six leading national teams will play one match each in a round-robin format. As before, the teams of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy will take to the field. Each team will play five matches. Some will be played at home, some away, and the final standings will be determined by the total number of tournament points.
Mobile capabilities are of particular interest. After all, during matches, the situation can change literally after every attack. So it's always worth keeping your finger on the pulse. You can watch matches and track statistics and analytics anywhere, anytime. Smartphone apps like 1xbet mobile have made it easier to follow international fixtures despite time zone differences. For many fans, they serve as a practical way to stay informed during major tournaments. So what can we expect from the 2026 Six Nations Championship?
The Six Nations Rugby Championship is held annually among the six strongest national teams in Europe. Interestingly, the modern competition is the successor to the Five Nations Tournament. Changes took place in 2000 when Italy joined the list of teams.
But there is one significant nuance: the winner is not the team that wins the most matches in the playoffs, but the one that scores the most tournament points after all five rounds. The scoring system is slightly more complicated than in other sports, but it looks something like this:
|
Event |
Number of points |
Explanation |
|
Victory |
4 points |
The team receives four tournament points for winning the match. |
|
Draw |
2 points |
Each team receives two points if the match ends in a draw |
|
Performance bonus |
1 point |
Awarded if the team scores 4 or more tries in a match (regardless of the result) |
|
Minimum defeat bonus |
1 point |
Awarded to the team that lost by 7 points or less |
|
Grand Slam |
3 additional points |
Added if the team won all 5 matches of the tournament |
Due to this distribution, for example, a team can take a higher place even if it has the same number of wins as its opponent. In addition, a minimal defeat can be strategically important, so teams fight to the end. And the number of attempts sometimes affects the tournament more than the total point difference.
Incidentally, the tournament has an interesting tradition and a symbolic joke prize – the Wooden Spoon. It is awarded to the team that finished last in the tournament, losing all of its matches. This award stems from an old British university tradition of ironically marking the worst results. Another interesting feature is the Triple Crown prize. This is the prerogative of teams from the British Isles – England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The crown is awarded to the team that manages to defeat the other three teams.
Attention then shifts to the contenders for the 2026 championship and the current form each side brings into the tournament.
Analyzing previous performances and the current form of the teams allows for the following assessment:
France. One of the tournament favorites after winning previous championships and performing consistently in the World Cup. In total, France has won the championship more than 15 times, taking into account the Five Nations period and the current format. They have won the Grand Slam 9 times, but also the Wooden Spoon 18 times. The team is distinguished by its fast backline play and high intensity in defense. Captain Antoine Dupont and fly-half Romain Ntamack remain important figures. They are the ones who determine the theme of the attacks. France is particularly strong in home games, where it has a high winning percentage.
Ireland. Another one of the most successful participants. According to tournament records, the Irish national team has won the championship 10 times, including in its previous format. Ireland has won the Grand Slam three times and the Triple Crown 11 times. In 2023-2024, Ireland was the winner twice in a row, but in 2025 it lost to France. So the team has good prospects for 2026.
England. The historical leader in terms of titles. However, it last took first place in 2020. Among its achievements are 25 championship victories, 13 Grand Slams, and 21 Triple Crowns. Although there have been quite a few wooden spoons too – 14 in total during the combined period of the Five Nations and Six Nations. So, despite periods of squad adjustments, England is traditionally among the contenders for victory in each new tournament.
Wales. The 2021 winning team has also won the championship several times before. The total number, including the previous format, is 20 times. The team has won the Grand Slam 10 times, and the Triple Crown has gone to Wales 15 times. There are 13 wooden spoons in the team's archive.
Scotland. The team is one of the founders of the tournament. In total, it has won the championship 5 times, all during the Five Nations Cup period. The last victory was in 1999. So, in the current format, Scotland has never taken the top step of the podium. Despite this, it has 3 Grand Slams and 3 Triple Crowns in its arsenal. There are also quite a few wooden spoons – 25. Currently, the Scottish team is consistently in the top ten of the world rankings. And despite the lack of victories in the championship, it repeatedly finishes in the top 3 and creates real problems for the favorites.
Italy. Newcomers to the tournament, having joined only in 2000. It is thanks to the Italian team that the championship got its name, Six Nations. Unfortunately, the team is currently among the underdogs. However, surprises and unexpected twists are always possible on the field.
Considering the form and achievements of the tournament participants, you can form your own opinion about the favorites and the distribution of places. However, when it comes to sports betting, it is always worth being cautious and not forgetting about responsible gaming.
