Did we just witness the greatest men’s Six Nations ever? We dissect some of the records and milestones from the 2026 edition to analyse if the data backs up that sentiment.
Men’s Six Nations 2026: The Best Opta Facts
A record 111 tries were scored in the 2026 men’s Six Nations, just the second time 100+ tries have been scored after 108 were scored in 2025. Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored in every game for the second Championship in a row, his 10-game scoring streak is the longest of any player in the competition’s history. Against England, Bielle-Biarrey became the second player to score four tries in a men’s Six Nations match (also Chris Ashton vs Italy, 2011); he finished this year’s Championship with nine tries, the most of anyone in a single edition, and has become France’s top try scorer in the Six Nations era (18). Italy beat England for the first time ever in the competition, ending the only remaining 100% record any side had over another. Wales’ final-day victory over Italy ended their 1,099-day wait for a win in the men’s Six Nations, bringing to an end a 15-game losing streak. Thomas Ramos ended the Championship as top points scorer (74). He is the first player to do so in four consecutive editions (O’Gara 2005-07). England lost four matches for the first time since Italy joined the Championship in 2000, and just the third time overall (also 1972 and 1976). Against Scotland, France became the first side in the Six Nations to score 40+ points and lose. The very next week England became the second side to (vs France). France have neither scored (30, also 2025) nor conceded (19) more tries in a single edition of the men’s Six Nations than they did this year; they’re the first team to score 4+ tries in every match in a Six Nations campaign. A total of 29 tries were scored in Round 5, the most on a single day in the Championship’s history, overtaking 2015’s Super Saturday (27). Ireland completed 227 tackles against Scotland, their most ever in a men’s Six Nations match. Overall they made 891 tackles in the Championship, more than any other side, and their highest tally in a single edition. Scotland’s George Turner found a teammate from all 33 of his lineout throws in this year’s men’s Six Nations, the most throws of any player to maintain a 100% success rate in a single edition of the Championship. Ireland have now won the Triple Crown nine times in the Six Nations era; no other team has won it on more than five occasions since 2000 (England & Wales). Wales’s Alex Mann completed 32 tackles versus Ireland, the most by any player in a men’s Six Nations fixture (since 2000). Huw Jones became Scotland’s top try scorer in the men’s Six Nations (18); only three players from any nation have more than him (O’Driscoll, North, S Williams).Six Nations 2026: Team Report Cards
1st – France
Back-to-back titles for the first time in almost 20 years (2006-07), Les Bleus once again offered scintillating prowess in attack. Matthieu Jalibert looks set to hold on the No. 10 jersey for the long haul and with talent all around him, stopping this juggernaut is going to be tricky.
Some defensive frailties were exposed by Scotland to deny them a Grand Slam, and they followed that with another wobble against England. But with Louis Bielle-Biarrey scoring tries for fun and Thomas Ramos ever reliable with the boot, they could just about afford it.
Key statistic: France made 80 offloads in the tournament, 38 more than any other side, keeping their attack flowing. This allowed them to make a Championship-high 58 line breaks, 22 more than anyone else.
2nd – Ireland
After a lacklustre start Ireland rallied and were just seconds away from securing an unlikely title, before Thomas Ramos stepped up in Paris to consign England to a heart-breaking loss, and potentially an even more cruel snubbing of Ireland’s hopes.
Impressive wins against England and Scotland were the gloss on their Championship. However, they offered little fight against France and struggled to overcome Wales and Italy with much confidence.
There were some promising player performances from their rows, both second and back, as well as Stuart McCloskey in the midfield and Robert Baloucoune and Jamie Osborne out the back.
Key statistic: Ireland scored some form of points from 58% of their 22 entries and stopped their opponents from scoring on 67% of their entries – both tournament-highs.
3rd- Scotland
Another campaign of ups and downs. Victory over France at Murrayfield was potentially the best performance of any side in the Championship and arguably the best Scottish performance and result for a very long time.
Defeat to Italy in Round 1 had put them on the back foot, but Gregor Townsend’s side regrouped and came into Super Saturday with a shot at glory. They couldn’t quite keep pace with Ireland in the end and despite a strong showing it was another third-place finish. They’ve still never finished in the top two in the Six Nations. Next year…
Key statistic: Scotland have now lost 9/9 men’s Six Nations matches against Ireland in Gregor Townsend’s reign as head coach; he did however pick up a sixth win against England in the competition, from nine attempts.
4th – Italy
Victory in Cardiff in Round 5 would have meant a best-ever Championship for Italy, recording three wins for the first time. It wasn’t to be, though, with Wales getting away from them in the first half, and rendering their flourish in the last quarter a mere consolation.
A first-ever win against England will live long in the memory of all Italian rugby fans (and England fans for that matter). An impressive win against Scotland in Round 1 shouldn’t be forgotten either.
Having now beaten all five of their opponents in the Six Nations, Italy have proved they are a menace and threat to everyone. Hopes and expectations next season will be even higher.
Key statistic: Italy conceded just 117 points in the 2026 Six Nations. Only in 2013 (111) have they conceded fewer. They struggled in attack, though, their points-per-22-entry of just 1.49 far below the other sides.
5th – England
Confident against Wales, electric against France but woeful in between. England’s campaign was a real rollercoaster of emotions. Their Round 1 victory in Cardiff meant they’d won 12 on the trot in all competitions and hopes of a Grand Slam showdown with France in Round 5 were realistic.
Those hopes were brutally extinguished by humbling losses to Scotland, Ireland and, most agonisingly, Italy. A strong showing against France in Paris did materialise but it still wasn’t enough for a win they should have banked were it not for some ill-discipline and tangled defensive shapes.
This is the third time England have finished fifth in the men’s Six Nations (2018, 2021), but is the first time they’ve only picked up one victory. The Championship is as competitive as ever but that will provide scant solace to England fans.
Key statistic: England conceded a Championship-high 55 penalties and were shown nine cards (eight yellow, one red). Only Italy in 2002 (nine yellows) have been shown as many cards in an edition of the men’s Six Nations.
6th – Wales
A third straight Wooden Spoon would suggest another disappointing campaign for Wales, and it was, but it could have been an awful lot worse. Expectations and positivity in Welsh rugby had hardly been lower coming into this Championship, but some strong performances and victory over Italy on Super Saturday offer some genuine hope.
England and France blew them away but they were close to wins against both Ireland and Scotland, who snatched victory from their hands with a late George Turner try.
Key statistic: Wales managed the best goalkicking rate of any side in the 2026 men’s Six Nations, slotting 93% of their kicks, including 4/4 penalties and 10/11 conversions. They were also the only side to kick a drop-goal.
Opta’s 2026 Six Nations Team of the Championship
Our Opta Index gives scores for each player performance throughout the 2026 Six Nations, rewarding positive contributions and punishing mistakes and errors.
Unsurprisingly the back-line is dominated with the baby blue shirts of French players – only Ireland’s Stuart McCloskey and England’s Tommy Freeman breach those ranks.
In the pack it is a different picture, with not a single Frenchman in sight. Wales’ battling campaign is rewarded with three inclusions up front, however Italy are the one side to miss out with any representations.
It is worth noting that Tommaso Menoncello was the eighth-best-ranked player overall, only missing out due to a formidable campaign from Ulster’s McCloskey. Lorenzo Cannone had another stellar Championship, only ranking narrowly behind Ireland captain Caelan Doris in the pecking order.
The overall player of the Championship is unsurprisingly the generational talent of Louis Bielle-Biarrey. The Bordeaux wing will no doubt keep breaking records for years to come and feature in plenty more of our best XVs.
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The Greatest Six Nations Ever? The 2026 Men’s Championship Review Opta Analyst.
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