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Rugby fans detest change. Since working in the sports’ media, I have become increasingly frustrated that the community loves nothing more than to moan about any hint of change implemented.
The 2026 Six Nations will begin on a Thursday with the competition's curtain raiser featuring Ireland’s visit of reigning champions France.
These two sides have dominated the tournament in recent years, winning the last four titles.
France and Ireland clashed on a Friday in round 1 of the 2024 edition, so why have the Six Nations pushed next year’s clash back to the unusual slot of a Thursday?
Well, the Winter Olympics, a much bigger event in the sporting calendar, has its opening ceremony on the Friday in Milan therefore, France officials have opted to move the game to a day prior.
I totally understand the frustration amongst Ireland’s travelling contingent, given they will now have to take two days off work to make the match, but that’s often the price travelling sports fans have to pay. Look at how many tens of thousands of football fans travel to Europe midweek to watch their team.
The rationale behind the Thursday decision is to maximise viewership and engagement. Surely people understand that it’s vital a game of that magnitude gets as many eyeballs on it as possible. The finale of last year's tournament, when France beat Scotland to secure the title, returned record Six Nations audiences in France with 9.5m people (a 46% share of viewers) watching live on France2.
Plus, ‘Thursday Night Lights’ has a ring to it. The NFL holds a weekly ‘Thursday Night Football’ throughout their regular season, while next season’s Gallagher Premiership is set to open on a Thursday.
Let’s see how the viewing figures hold up, but my bet is that here in the UK they will be just as healthy.
France and Ireland - modern day Six Nations titans deserve their own spotlight in the sporting calendar, not to be buried behind a different competition.
It’s the right call for me. Hats off to the organisers.