Les Bleus host Ireland at the Stade de France in what promises to be a thrilling Six Nations kick-off, marking a departure from recent years with a Thursday night fixture.
The 2026 Six Nations championship gets underway in Paris tonight, . This match between France and Ireland has become a keenly anticipated event, with the last four Six Nations tournaments being won by these two sides – two apiece. However, France hasn’t secured a Grand Slam during that period.
France welcomes back captain Antoine Dupont, a significant boost after his injury in the corresponding fixture last year. However, the team selection has also raised eyebrows with the omission of star players Damian Penaud and Grégory Aldritt. Despite these changes, France boasts a talented squad, particularly in the backs, capable of challenging any team in the world.
Ireland, currently ranked fourth in the world, faces a more challenging situation with a lengthy injury list. Head coach Andy Farrell, returning after a sabbatical to prepare for the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, has been forced to select a more inexperienced side. The Irish have won five of their seven games since being beaten by France last year, but concerns remain regarding their current injury situation.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:10 p.m. GMT / 9:10 p.m. CET. For viewers in the UK, Ireland, and France, the game will be available to stream live for free.
Key Information
– France v Ireland date:
– France v Ireland kick-off time: 8.10pm GMT / 9.10pm CET (local) / 3.10pm ET / 10.10pm SAST / 7.10am AEDT (Friday)
– France v Ireland venue: Stade de France, Paris, France
– France v Ireland streams: ITVX (free), Virgin Media Play (free), FranceTV (free)
– France v Ireland on TV: ITV1 (UK), Virgin Media One (Ireland), France 2 (France)
How to Watch in the UK – Live Stream for Free
UK viewers can watch the match for free on ITV1 and the ITVX streaming service. Pre-match coverage begins at 7:20pm GMT. ITVX is free to use, but a valid TV Licence is required to stream live television in the UK.
This is one of three Six Nations 2026 fixtures available for free-to-air viewing in the UK. Italy v Scotland (kick-off: 2.10pm GMT, Saturday) will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, while England v Wales (kick-off: 4.40pm GMT, Saturday) will be shown on ITV1, and ITVX.
Streaming from Anywhere
For those travelling abroad, a VPN can be used to bypass geo-blocking restrictions and access their usual France v Ireland live stream. NordVPN is highlighted as a top choice for its streaming and security features, and currently offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Free Streaming in Ireland
In Ireland, the match will be broadcast live and free on Virgin Media One and streamed on Virgin Media Play. Coverage starts at 7:00pm GMT, ahead of the 8:10pm kick-off. All Six Nations matches this season are available free-to-air in Ireland. Italy v Scotland will be on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play, while England v Wales will be shown on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Live Streams in France
French viewers can watch the match on France Télévisions, with coverage available for free on both France 2 and the FranceTV streaming service. Coverage begins at 8:40pm CET, ahead of the 9:10pm CET kick-off. Viewers outside of France can use a VPN, such as NordVPN, to access their French language coverage.
Global Streaming Options
For viewers outside of the UK, Ireland, and France, several options are available:
- United States: Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month)
- Australia: Stan Sport (requires a base Stan subscription plus $20 per month) – kick-off is 7.10am AEDT on Friday.
- New Zealand: Sky Sport ($49.99 per month for a streaming subscription) – kick-off is 9.10am NZDT on Friday.
- South Africa: SuperSport
The decision to start the Six Nations on a Thursday is a departure from recent years, which typically began on a Friday night. This change was made to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, which takes place in Milan on Friday evening.
