The news that Northern Hemisphere rugby fans were awaited was the announcement of the new Six Nations fixtures for 2025.
With dates released, regulars who purchase Six Nations tickets are excited to see how the action unfolds in the second international season before the Six Nations.
Amidst the hype around the Six Nations fixtures, the coach of the two-time winners, Andy Farrell, has temporarily stepped down from his role as coach for Ireland in the next season.
This is also considered an ideal opportunity for England, as the fans with Six Nations tickets believe this could be their turnaround season.
It’s a formidable challenge for Steve Borthwick’s team, given Ireland’s impressive record of just two defeats in their last 41 home games.
However, the men in green will be without head coach Andy Farrell as he steps down to take over the British & Irish Lions for the first half of 2025.
The tournament commences on Friday, 31 January, with France hosting Wales in Paris, with kick-off at 9:15 pm local time. As announced by tournament organizers, England will play the following day as Scotland takes on Italy at Murrayfield.
As per this year, the 2025 Championship will see BBC and ITV sharing coverage in the UK.
The host broadcast coverage will complement widespread international broadcast coverage and a World Feed service.
Commenting on the 2025 Guinness Six Nations fixtures, Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said:
“The Guinness Men’s Six Nations is an appointment to view each year, delivering blockbuster entertainment for fans worldwide. The Championship always provides unpredictable excitement and experiences for fans to look forward to and savor.
“The announcement of the next installment of fixtures is always keenly anticipated by fans, and with Six Nations tickets now available for the 2025 fixtures, coupled with extensive broadcast coverage of the games, fans can already begin looking forward to what is in store as the action for the remaining rounds of this year’s Championship plays out.”
ROUND 1
Friday 31 January
France vs Wales – 8.15 pm
Saturday 1 February
Scotland vs Italy – 2.15 pm
Ireland vs England – 4.45 pm
ROUND 2
Saturday 8 February
Italy vs Wales – 2.15 pm
England vs France – 4.45 pm
Sunday 9 February
Scotland vs Ireland – 3 pm
ROUND 3
Saturday 22 February
Wales vs Ireland – 2.15 pm
England vs Scotland – 4.45 pm
Sunday 23 February
Italy vs France – 3 pm
ROUND 4
Saturday 8 March
Ireland vs France – 2.15 pm
Scotland vs Wales – 4.45 pm
Sunday 9 March
England vs Italy – 3 pm
ROUND 5
Saturday 15 March
Italy vs Ireland – 2.15 pm
Wales vs England – 4.45 pm
France vs Scotland – 8 pm
England's Charlie Ewels has been withdrawn from England's rugby squad for their upcoming Test series with New Zealand. He was banned for two games following his sending-off against Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.
Saracens' Nick Isiekwe will replace the Bath second row in England coach Steve Borthwick's 36-man party for the two-Test campaign against the All Blacks.
Ewels earned the unwanted record of becoming the first player to be sent off in consecutive Tests and the first England international to receive two red cards after his yellow card for a dangerous clearout in the closing stages of a 52-17 win over Japan was upgraded to red.
The bunker review system's decision was then upheld by a disciplinary hearing on Sunday, which rejected England's argument that while Ewels's clearout of Japan captain Michael Leitch was foul play, it did not constitute an offense worthy of a dismissal.
Instead, a three-strong disciplinary committee featuring two former Australia internationals, David Croft and John Langford, said "a red card was warranted."
Ewels was only on the pitch for four minutes as a second-half replacement when he recklessly entered a ruck from a low position, taking out Leitch by angling into his legs.
After being sent off in the second minute of England's 2022 Six Nations defeat by Ireland for a dangerous tackle on James Ryan, Ewels has received two red cards in just seven minutes of international rugby.
Between those red cards, Ewels' England career was interrupted by a severe knee injury sustained in 2022.
In issuing a two-game ban, the disciplinary panel effectively ended Ewels's hopes of featuring in both matches against New Zealand. England will face the All Blacks in Dunedin on July 6 before the second Test in Auckland on July 13.
Isiekwe made his England debut when replacing Ewels against Argentina in 2017, and now, the Saracens forward, who can play in the back and second row, has the chance to add to his tally of 11 caps.
The Six Nations winners, Ireland, have named their touring squad for their tour to South Africa.
Ulster forwards Nick Timoney and Cormac Izuchukwu who have been named in Ireland's squad for next month's two-Test series against South Africa, but injured scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park has been ruled out.
It is a first call-up for 24-year-old Izuchukwu, who can play in the second and back rows, following a series of strong displays for Ulster.
Izuchukwu is one of three uncapped players in the 35-man squad alongside Leinster pair Sam Prendergast and Jamie Osborne.
With 2021 British and Irish Lions tourist Jack Conan unavailable for personal reasons, back-row Timoney is handed the chance to add to his three caps, the last of which came against Fiji in November 2022.
Ireland will face the back-to-back World Cup winners in Pretoria on July 6 and Durban on July 13.
The Irish have won the past three Tests against the Springboks, including a 13-8 success in last year's World Cup Pool B encounter in Paris. The Boks, however, claimed a 2-1 series win the last time Ireland visited South Africa in 2016.
South Africa, who replaced Ireland at the top of the world rankings, has yet to play since beating New Zealand in the World Cup final but faces Wales at Twickenham on Saturday. Fans who witnessed the Irish in action with Six Nations tickets, will be glued to their screens to see how they fare against the world champions.
