Kicking is no longer just about territory in the Six Nations. With law changes and evolving tactics driving more aerial contests and regains, we break down six years of data to show how the boot has become rugby’s most efficient attacking weapon.
Kicking from hand has long been an important feature of rugby. From clearing defensive pressure to launching attacking opportunities, the kicking game has remained central since the sport’s earliest days – perhaps that’s unsurprising given the sport originated from football.
In recent years, the kicking game has taken on an even greater role in teams’ gameplans. It has become an area of the game that attacking strategies are based around, rather than simply a way to control territory. Law changes also play their part in supporting this.
Looking at kicks from hand at a basic level, the numbers have risen across the last six editions of the Men’s Six Nations. Although we’re only two rounds into this season’s edition, the number of kicks per game is at its highest level since 2009 and second highest overall.
However, teams aren’t just kicking for the sake of territory but instead kicking to compete. A single retained kick can generate around 30 metres of rapid field position, while it would take six to seven phases of possession to gain the equivalent distance from carries alone.
Of course, one line break can help speed things up with ball in hand, but across the last six editions of the Six Nations, line breaks have only occurred once every 15 to 25 carries, making contestable kicking often the most efficient route forward.
A key driver behind this change has been a law adjustment introduced by World Rugby at the end of 2024 regarding kick “escorting”. Previously, receiving teams would create a protective pocket around their teammate going for the catch. That practice is now outlawed, giving chasers clearer access to compete in the air. The result has been a rise in aerial contests and a greater incentive to kick high rather than long.
It is no surprise, then, that when diving into the specific kick types used in the Six Nations Championship, box kicks have risen, particularly over the last two years.
Meanwhile, territorial kicks have fallen, with teams looking to kick high, rather than long. Chip and crossfield kicks have also risen, reinforcing the idea that sides are prioritising regaining possession over simply trying to gain territory.
Although this is the second edition of the Six Nations to be played under these new laws, the numbers this year suggest that teams are still adapting their gameplans to exploit fairer contests for kicks regains.
There have already been 77 contestable kicks in 2026, just three short of the entire 2025 total of 80. Twenty percent of kicks this year have produced a contest for possession, compared to 9% last season.
These changes have not only made accurate kicking more important, but they’ve also placed a greater emphasis on those catching the ball. Previously, wingers who weren’t strong in the air could be protected – now they can be targeted. Conversely, those who are strong aerially have seen their stock rise as they become hugely beneficial attacking outlets.
Unsurprisingly, the number of attacking catches has risen to 45% in the last two Men’s Six Nations campaigns, up from 38% across the previous two editions, with defensive catch success falling from 85% to 79%.
One related tactic that has grown rapidly is the tap-back. Rather than securing the ball cleanly, chasers now frequently look to bat it backwards to supporting runners, with defenders often more focused on getting onside than contesting. Winning the ‘second ball’, to borrow a footballing term, is fast becoming an excellent way to create an attacking opportunity against a fractured defence, which is usually difficult to create otherwise.
Of course, those top-line trends take into account all six teams’ kicks combined, but each side has their own individual game plan and kicking strategy:
France have had perhaps the most interesting numbers so far this year. They have kicked more often than any other team, with only England (29.8m) registering more metres per kick than Les Bleus (29.5m).
That aligns with their kick selection. Fewer than 3% of their kicks are bombs, the lowest share in the competition, and only England use the box kick less frequently.
They have only made seven ‘contested’ kicks in the Championship this year but despite this have retained almost a quarter of their kicks (24.6%), with only Scotland ahead of them (25.9%).
That efficiency comes from two areas: strong results when they do compete in the air, winning five of seven contests for a 71% success rate, and smart use of chip kicks over aggressive defensive lines where they can often regather without a direct aerial duel.
England, meanwhile, have opted to play for territory more than any other side. That is perhaps surprising given the success they had in the autumn when competing in the air. That said, we may well see a shift in style this weekend against an Ireland side who have struggled with that part of their game so far in 2026.
Ireland have put up 16 contested kicks so far in this year’s Six Nations, a joint-high alongside Scotland, but they have retained just five of those kicks. Only England, who have made fewer such kicks, ranking below them in that regard (3).
Italy (27.5) and Scotland (29.0) are the only teams to make fewer than 30 kicks per game so far. The Azzurri have kicked the most ‘bombs’ (and the fewest territorial kicks) and Scotland hav gone for the most box kicks. Interestingly, given Finn Russell’s footballing ability, Scotland are yet to go cross pitch or probe the defensive line with grubbers, but both are weapons in his arsenal and will no doubt be utilised if the opportunity presents itself.
Wales show the most varied mix. They lead the competition for crossfield kicks and rank second for both box kicks and bombs, pointing to a strategy built around wide aerial contests and wing involvement.
Taken together, the data shows a competition increasingly shaped by the kicking battle. With contestable kicks, aerial skills and second-ball regains all rising in value, kicking is no longer just a pressure-release mechanism but a primary attacking weapon.
On the evidence so far, France have found the most effective balance. Whether anyone can disrupt that aerial edge may go a long way to deciding the title.
An Update on the Six Nations Expected Points Table
Let’s take a look at the expected points table following Round 2. Unsurprisingly, France sit top, with their expected points total matching their actual match points after the opening two matchdays.
However, it is England who sit in second place, behind France on points difference after registering a higher xP than Scotland at the weekend.
Italy and Scotland sit third and fourth respectively, with both sides’ results so far this campaign being the opposite of their expected results, while Wales and Ireland prop up the table.
Worryingly for Andy Farrell’s men, their xP suggests they were not only fortunate to beat Italy but they shouldn’t have even been within losing-bonus-point range.
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