France head into the Six Nations as clear favourites and for good reason. Fabien Galthié’s side boast exceptional depth, star quality across the park, and home advantage in several key fixtures. With Les Bleus the clear front-runners, the question many are asking is whether anyone has what it takes to stop them.
Squad Named – No Penaud
France have named a powerful and intriguing squad for the opening stages of the Six Nations, though one omission in particular has grabbed some of the headlines.
Forwards: Dorian Aldegheri, Uini Atonio, Hugo Auradou, Cyril Baille, Paul Boudehent, François Cros, Alexandre Fischer, Thibaud Flament, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickaël Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lamothe, Julien Marchand, Temo Matiu, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Régis Montagne, Rodrigue Neti, Lenni Nouchi, Charles Ollivon, Dany Priso, Thomas Staniforth, Tevita Tatafu, Cameron Woki.
Backs: Grégoire Arfeuil, Théo Attissogbe, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Romain Buros, Thibault Daubagna, Nicolas Depoortere, Gaël Dréan, Antoine Dupont, Kalvin Gourgues, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Matthieu Jalibert, Yoram Moefana, Noah Nene, Thomas Ramos, Baptiste Serin, Ugo Seunes.
For followers of French rugby, the absence of Damian Penaud is the one that stands out. The prolific winger has scored 40 tries in 59 Test appearances and started all three of France’s autumn internationals in November.
Un moment suspendu pour Damian Penaud 🛰️#FRAIRL | #SixNationsRugby pic.twitter.com/Ps4ta7uaaj
— Six Nations (FR) (@SixNations_FR) March 8, 2025
However, his form has dipped this season. Penaud has only scored eight tries in 16 matches for club and country so far, a significant drop compared to his 27 tries in 26 appearances across 2024/25. His defensive work has also been criticised of late, which no doubt contributed to the decision.
Penaud is not the only high-profile player left out. Former captain Gregory Alldritt and experienced centre Gaël Fickou have also been omitted. While all three could yet be recalled during the tournament, Galthié’s selection feels like a statement of intent rather than a temporary reshuffle.
Instead of relying on experience, France’s head coach has leaned into youth. Eleven of the 17 backs named have 10 caps or fewer. Among them is London-born winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, who is yet to make his senior XV debut but won Olympic Sevens gold at Paris 2024.
Other notable absences in the French squad are a result of injury. Romain Ntamack is sidelined with a back injury and is expected to miss at least the first two matches. Maxime Lucu (knee) and Nolann Le Garrec (thigh) are also struggling with problems and will likely miss the first match or two. There is some good news on the injury front, though, with Antoine Dupont returning to full fitness and playing the full 80 minutes for Toulouse on two occasions in mid-January.
Latest Odds
The betting markets reflect France’s status as clear favourites. England are viewed as the main challengers, while Ireland remain in contention despite longer odds. Scotland would be surprise winners at 14/1, but much less so than if Wales or Italy were crowned champions.
| Nation | Odds |
|---|---|
| France | 4/6 |
| England | 9/4 |
| Ireland | 6/1 |
| Scotland | 14/1 |
| Wales | 125/1 |
| Italy | 125/1 |
England The Biggest Threat to France
England appear best placed to challenge France. They come into the tournament in great form, having won 11 consecutive matches, including victory over France in last year’s Six Nations. That run looks likely to extend to 12 as the Red Roses begin this year’s Six Nations campaign by hosting Wales at Twickenham.
England’s 11-Game Winning Streak
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Feb 2025 | France | 26-25 Win |
| 22nd Feb 2025 | Scotland | 16-15 Win |
| 9th Mar 2025 | Italy | 47-24 Win |
| 15th Mar 2025 | Wales | 68-14 Win |
| 5th Jul 2025 | Argentina | 35-12 Win |
| 12th Jul 2025 | Argentina | 22-17 Win |
| 19th Jul 2025 | United States | 40-5 Win |
| 1st Nov 2025 | Australia | 25-7 Win |
| 8th Nov 2025 | Fiji | 38-18 Win |
| 15th Nov 2025 | New Zealand | 33-19 Win |
| 23rd Nov | Argentina | 27-23 Win |
Despite this momentum, the championship has eluded England since 2020. Additionally, their task is made harder by the fact that their decisive clash with France takes place on French soil. England have lost their last four away matches against Les Bleus, a record that underlines the size of the challenge they face. It could also prove to be an especially tense encounter, with a vocal home crowd adding to the pressure, given that it is the final fixture of the tournament.
What Happened Last Year?
Twelve months ago, the title race was tightly contested, with France, England, and Ireland all winning four matches each. France’s only defeat came against England, Ireland were beaten by France, and England suffered their sole loss at the hands of Ireland, highlighting just how evenly matched the three sides were.
| Won | Lost | Points Diff. | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 4 | 1 | +125 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| England | 4 | 1 | +74 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| Ireland | 4 | 1 | +18 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| Scotland | 2 | 3 | -16 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Italy | 1 | 4 | -82 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Wales | 0 | 5 | -119 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Crowned winners in both 2023 and 2024, as well as credible third-place finishers last time out, Ireland’s chances cannot be dismissed this time around. While they are not at the peak of their powers, they still have a capable squad that can beat anyone on their day.
Summary
France are the 2026 Six Nations favourites, and justifiably so, but victory for them is far from a foregone conclusion. England’s form and Ireland’s recent record in this tournament could well make life difficult for Les Bleus. If they are to secure a 28th Six Nations title, consistency is an absolute must for France.