Image Credit: Wolljuergen Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
⏱️ 8 minute read | Updated October 2026
There are 15 matches in the 2027 Six Nations, spread across London, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome.
But if you’re planning to attend just one, which should you choose?
The answer depends on what you want from the weekend.
Some fixtures offer fierce historic rivalry. Others combine rugby with one of Europe’s best city breaks. A Friday-night match can deliver a very different experience from a Saturday afternoon, while Super Saturday brings its own sense of occasion.
For 2027, we’ve picked out the matches that stand out for different types of supporter.
📖 In This Guide
- Our 2027 Picks at a Glance
- Best Overall: Ireland v France
- Best Historic Rivalry: England v Scotland
- Best Atmosphere: Wales v England
- Best Opening Weekend: Ireland v England
- Best City Break: Italy v Ireland
- Best First Six Nations Match: England v Italy
- Best Paris Weekend: France v Scotland
- How to Choose the Right Match
- Finding Tickets for Your Match
- FAQs
Our 2027 Picks at a Glance
There is no single “best” Six Nations fixture. Different matches offer different experiences.
| If you want… | Our 2027 pick | Date |
|---|---|---|
| The biggest potential finale | Ireland v France | Sat 13 Mar |
| Historic rivalry | England v Scotland | Sat 13 Mar |
| An intense stadium atmosphere | Wales v England | Sat 6 Mar |
| A blockbuster opening weekend | Ireland v England | Fri 5 Feb |
| A rugby city break | Italy v Ireland | Sat 13 Feb |
| A first Six Nations experience | England v Italy | Sat 20 Feb |
| Rugby plus Paris | France v Scotland | Sun 21 Feb |
These aren’t predictions about which match will produce the best rugby. Nobody knows that in advance.
Instead, we’re looking at the fixture, setting, rivalry, timing and overall weekend experience.
View all 2027 Six Nations Fixtures →
Best Overall: Ireland v France
Saturday 13 March 2027
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
20:10 GMT
If we had to choose one fixture from the 2027 Championship purely for occasion, Ireland v France on Super Saturday would be difficult to ignore.
It is the final match of the entire tournament.
By the time the teams walk out in Dublin, the other two Super Saturday matches will already have been played, meaning both sides should know exactly what is required of them.
There is no guarantee the Championship will still be undecided, but Ireland and France have both been major forces in the modern Six Nations and their meetings have developed into one of the tournament’s defining contemporary rivalries.
The evening kick-off adds another dimension. Dublin will already have spent the day following Italy v Wales and England v Scotland before attention switches to the Aviva Stadium for the Championship finale.
Ireland and France will also contest the relatively new Solidarity Trophy.
Choose this match if:
You want a major event, an evening international and the possibility of seeing the Championship decided in the final match of Super Saturday.
Explore Ireland Six Nations Tickets →
Read our Aviva Stadium Guide →
Best Historic Rivalry: England v Scotland
Saturday 13 March 2027
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
16:40 GMT
Few rugby fixtures come with more history than England v Scotland.
The two nations played the first recognised rugby international in 1871 and have competed for the Calcutta Cup since 1879.
In 2027, the rivalry gets the Super Saturday treatment.
England and Scotland meet at Twickenham in the middle match of the final day, after Italy v Wales but before Ireland v France brings the Championship to a close.
That alone gives the fixture a major sense of occasion.
Then add the Calcutta Cup, more than a century of rivalry and the possibility of wider Championship consequences, and it becomes one of the outstanding matches on the calendar.
Choose this match if:
You want history, rivalry and Super Saturday in the same afternoon.
Explore England Six Nations Tickets →
Explore Scotland Six Nations Tickets →
Read our guide to Six Nations Rivalries & Trophies →
Best Atmosphere: Wales v England
Saturday 6 March 2027
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
16:40 GMT
Choosing the “best atmosphere” is subjective, but Wales v England in Cardiff has a very strong claim.
The Principality Stadium sits directly in Cardiff city centre, meaning the matchday atmosphere spills naturally into the surrounding streets, pubs and restaurants long before kick-off.
Add England to the equation and the intensity tends to rise another level.
There is no separate trophy for Wales v England, but it is one of the great traditional rivalries of the Championship.
For travelling supporters, Cardiff also makes the logistics unusually straightforward. The stadium is within walking distance of the main railway station and the city’s main hospitality areas.
Choose this match if:
Your priority is noise, rivalry and a city-centre matchday atmosphere.
Explore Wales Six Nations Tickets →
Read our Principality Stadium Guide →
Discover Things to Do in Cardiff →
Best Opening Weekend: Ireland v England
Friday 5 February 2027
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
20:10 GMT
The 2027 Championship does not ease itself into proceedings.
It begins with Ireland v England under the Friday-night lights in Dublin.
There is something distinctive about attending the first match of the tournament. Every team begins level, expectations are high and months of anticipation finally turn into competitive rugby.
Ireland v England also carries the Millennium Trophy, adding another layer to an already significant fixture.
A Friday evening match works particularly well for supporters who can turn the trip into a full weekend — arrive in Dublin on Friday, attend the match that evening and still have Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the city and watch the remaining fixtures.
Choose this match if:
You want to experience the moment the 2027 Six Nations begins and make a full Dublin weekend of it.
Explore Ireland Six Nations Tickets →
Read our Aviva Stadium Guide →
Best City Break: Italy v Ireland
Saturday 13 February 2027
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
14:10 GMT / 15:10 local time
For supporters who want the rugby to form part of a wider weekend away, Rome is difficult to beat.
Italy host Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico on the second weekend of the Championship, with a Saturday-afternoon local kick-off.
That leaves plenty of scope to build a longer trip around the match.
Rome offers a very different Six Nations weekend from London, Cardiff, Dublin or Edinburgh. You can combine the rugby with historic sights, neighbourhood restaurants, piazzas and several days exploring one of Europe’s great cities.
It is particularly appealing for travelling Irish supporters, but it also works well for neutral fans whose priority is the overall weekend rather than one particular rivalry.
Choose this match if:
You want to combine Six Nations rugby with a proper European city break.
Explore Italy Six Nations Tickets →
Read our Stadio Olimpico Guide →
Best First Six Nations Match: England v Italy
Saturday 20 February 2027
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
16:40 GMT
If you’ve never attended a Six Nations match before, England v Italy at Twickenham is worth considering.
You still get the full experience of a Saturday international at England’s national rugby stadium, but without choosing one of the tournament’s most emotionally charged rivalry fixtures as your introduction.
It also gives first-time visitors access to a huge amount of established matchday infrastructure around Twickenham and Richmond.
A 16:40 Saturday kick-off provides plenty of time to arrive early, explore the surrounding pubs and restaurants and experience the build-up before entering the stadium.
Ticket availability can never be guaranteed, but if your priority is simply getting inside a Six Nations stadium and experiencing an international matchday, it makes sense to consider fixtures beyond the obvious marquee rivalries.
Choose this match if:
It’s your first live Six Nations match and the overall international rugby experience matters more than targeting one particular historic rivalry.
Explore England Six Nations Tickets →
Read our Twickenham Stadium Guide →
Best Paris Weekend: France v Scotland
Sunday 21 February 2027
Stade de France, Paris
15:10 GMT / 16:10 local time
France v Scotland offers another attractive option for supporters who want rugby plus a weekend overseas.
The Sunday-afternoon kick-off means visitors can spend Friday evening and Saturday exploring Paris before travelling to the Stade de France on Sunday.
The teams also compete for the Auld Alliance Trophy, introduced in 2018 to commemorate French and Scottish rugby players who lost their lives during the First World War.
A Sunday fixture does require a little more thought around return travel, but for supporters able to stay until Monday it can work extremely well as a long weekend.
Choose this match if:
You want Paris, international rugby and a Sunday-afternoon fixture rather than a traditional Saturday schedule.
Explore France Six Nations Tickets →
Read our Stade de France Guide →
How to Choose the Right Six Nations Match
Before buying tickets, think about what matters most to you.
Rivalry
If history and intensity are the priority, look towards fixtures such as:
England v Scotland
Wales v England
England v France
Ireland v England
Our guide to Six Nations Rivalries & Trophies explains the stories behind many of these fixtures.
Destination
If the match is part of a wider weekend away, Rome, Paris and Dublin all offer very different experiences.
Stadium location matters too.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium sits in the heart of the city, while venues such as the Stade de France require more deliberate matchday travel planning.
Kick-off time
Don’t overlook this.
A Friday-night game can create a brilliant atmosphere and leave the rest of the weekend free.
A Saturday afternoon fixture is often easiest for planning.
A Sunday match can work well for a long weekend but may require an additional night’s accommodation.
Ticket demand
The most famous fixtures are also often the ones supporters target most aggressively.
If your priority is simply attending the Championship, being flexible about the team, city or match can give you more options than insisting on one high-profile rivalry.
Super Saturday
For pure Championship drama, the final weekend is unique.
All six teams play on the same day and results in earlier matches can directly change what later teams need to achieve.
In 2027 that means:
Italy v Wales → England v Scotland → Ireland v France
If the title remains undecided, the Championship could evolve throughout the day.
Finding Tickets for Your Match
Once you’ve chosen the fixture you want to attend, the next step is understanding your ticket options.
Each rugby union operates its own ticketing arrangements, and availability can differ significantly by team and fixture.
Tickets may become available through unions, clubs or supporter allocations, official hospitality packages and, depending on the match, established resale marketplaces.
For the highest-demand matches, it is worth planning early rather than assuming general-sale tickets will remain available close to kick-off.
How to Buy Six Nations Tickets →
When Do Six Nations Tickets Go On Sale? →
Compare Six Nations Ticket Prices →
🎟️ Ready to choose your match?
Which Six Nations Match Should You Attend? FAQs
What is the biggest Six Nations match in 2027?
There is no objective answer, but Ireland v France on Super Saturday stands out because it is the final match of the 2027 Championship and could potentially have major title implications.
What is the best Six Nations rivalry to see in 2027?
England v Scotland is a particularly strong choice. The teams contest the historic Calcutta Cup and meet at Twickenham on Super Saturday in 2027.
Wales v England and England v France are also among the Championship’s biggest traditional rivalries.
Which Six Nations match is best for a city break?
Rome, Paris and Dublin are all excellent options.
For 2027, Italy v Ireland in Rome combines a Saturday-afternoon match with plenty of opportunity to build a longer weekend around the rugby.
Which Six Nations match is best for atmosphere?
Atmosphere is subjective, but Wales v England at the Principality Stadium should be high on any shortlist due to the rivalry and the stadium’s city-centre location.
Which match is best for a first-time Six Nations fan?
England v Italy at Twickenham is one option worth considering if your priority is experiencing a major Six Nations stadium and matchday rather than targeting one of the highest-profile rivalry fixtures.
What is the best Super Saturday match in 2027?
England v Scotland and Ireland v France both stand out.
The Calcutta Cup takes place at Twickenham before Ireland v France closes the entire Championship under the lights in Dublin.
Explore More Six Nations Guides
2027 Six Nations Fixtures →
Six Nations Tickets →
Six Nations Rivalries & Trophies →
Six Nations Stadium Guides →
Six Nations Away Days →