England went into the 2026 Six Nations on the back of an unbeaten autumn, and plenty of supporters — us included — thought this could be the year they won a first championship since 2020. It wasn't. France won the title on the final weekend, and England finished fifth with a single win.
This review replaces the preview we published before the tournament, which no longer reflected what happened.
The final table
France finished top on 21 points after beating England 48-46 at the Stade de France, with a late Thomas Ramos penalty deciding both the match and the championship. Ireland were second on 19 points and Scotland third on 16. Italy finished fourth, England fifth on 8 points and Wales sixth.
England's results, round by round
- England 48-7 Wales (Twickenham) — a strong opening that seemed to confirm the autumn form.
- Scotland 31-20 England (Murrayfield) — the first defeat, and the start of a difficult run.
- England 21-42 Ireland (Twickenham) — a heavy home loss.
- Italy 23-18 England (Stadio Olimpico, Rome) — a narrow defeat in Rome.
- France 48-46 England (Stade de France) — a remarkable final match, lost at the very end.
One win from five is a long way short of what the autumn results promised. The final game showed the attacking threat is real, but conceding 48 points — and 42 at home to Ireland — points to a defence that did not hold up across the championship.
What it means for grassroots rugby
International results move numbers at community clubs. A good Six Nations tends to bring a wave of new juniors and returning adults in the spring; a disappointing one does not stop people wanting to play. If watching the championship made you want to pull your boots back on — or try rugby for the first time — the season at most community clubs runs from September to April, and new players are usually welcome at any point.
- Read our guide to starting rugby as an adult.
- Find a club near you: rugby union clubs or rugby league clubs.
- See how the English game is organised in our rugby union league structure guide.
Results are taken from the official match reports and the final championship table. If you spot an error, let us know and we will correct it.