It is understood that the Guinness Six Nations could be set for a significant scheduling update in the coming years, with the competition bosses discussing the option of having ‘Super Saturday’ on every weekend of the tournament. This would see and end to Friday night and Sunday matches, with the format considered for all five rounds of the tournament.
The regular format of the Six Nations, has two matches take place on the Saturday of a weekend, with the third match playing out on the Sunday. However, some matches do take place on a Friday night, often to commence the competition on Round One.
This system runs for the first four rounds of the annual tournament, with “Super Saturday” taking place on the fifth and final round as all teams compete on Saturday. However, leading names within the Six Nations decision makers have expressed the potential to axe Sunday Six Nations fixtures all together.
It was reported that in the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, the seven most-watched fixtures all took place on a Saturday. The Friday night opening contest between France and eventual champions Ireland ranked in at eighth place. The three matches that brought in the lowest audience figures from across TV viewership all took place on a Sunday, these matches were; Wales vs France (Cardiff), Ireland vs Italy (Dublin) and France vs Italy (Lille).
It is understood that this concept has only so far been considered for the men’s game, with the Women’s Six Nations being treated as a separate competition in regards to the ‘Super Saturday’ overhaul. The 2024 Guinness Six Nations kicked off on a Friday night, as Ireland handed France a 38-17 hammering on home soil.
The first match of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations is set to commence on a Friday night, with France taking on Wales on January 31st. The competition is pencilled in to remain unchanged for the next season, with the tournament coming to a close on Super Saturday, that will take place on March 15th 2025.
RUCK Editor Steve Smith, however, has voiced his disapproval of the proposal. “Personally, I absolutely hate this idea. Watching three games in one day will be too much for a number of fans. Friday night kick-offs are bad enough,” he said.
Fans Outraged by 2025 Six Nations Kick-Off Time, it’s not great for anyone
The tournament commences on Friday, 31 January, with France hosting Wales in Paris, with kick-off at 9:15 pm local time. This hasn’t gone down well with fans.
One fan wrote: “Rugby is already declining in Wales and now children won’t be able to watch their first game. Bad idea,”
A second said: “Getting to the Stade de France at the best of time is hard. Getting back after a 9:15 kick-off time will be a nightmare,”
Another simply stated: “Who’s f***ing s*** idea was this?”
England will play the following day, as Scotland takes on Italy at Murrayfield, as announced by tournament organisers.
As per this year, the 2025 Championship will see BBC and ITV sharing coverage in the UK, with S4C offering Welsh language options. France Television will be the home of the Championship for French fans, RTE and Virgin Media will once again cover the games in Ireland. In Italy, Sky Italia will continue their coverage of the Championship in 2025. The host broadcast coverage will also be complemented by widespread international broadcast coverage and a World Feed service.
2025 Siz Nations Fixtures
ROUND 1
- Friday 31 January
- France vs Wales – 8.15pm
- Saturday 1 February
- Scotland vs Italy – 2.15pm
- Ireland vs England – 4.45pm
ROUND 2
- Saturday 8 February
- Italy vs Wales – 2.15pm
- England vs France – 4.45pm
- Sunday 9 February
- Scotland vs Ireland – 3pm