Six Nations

Italy survive Scottish siege to claim famous Roman victory

Published

4 months ago

7th February 2026

Italy's Paolo Garbisi and Tommaso Menoncello celebrate after the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 1 game between Italy and Scotland in Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy, Thursday, February 7, 2026 (Photo by Bryan Keane / Inpho)

Italy withstood a desperate 29-phase Scottish assault in the dying moments to secure a famous 18-15 victory in torrential rain at the Stadio Olimpico, condemning Gregor Townsend’s side to a damaging Six Nations defeat that intensifies scrutiny on the embattled head coach.

In conditions that deteriorated throughout the afternoon, the Azzurri raced into a 12-0 lead inside 14 minutes through tries from Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Menoncello before Paolo Garbisi’s boot maintained their advantage. Though Jack Dempsey and George Horne crossed for the visitors, Scotland’s malfunctioning set-piece and handling errors proved their undoing as Italy held firm through an extraordinary finale to secure only their third victory over Scotland in 39 meetings.

The result marks Scotland’s first opening-round defeat since 2020 and their second loss to Italy in three years on Roman soil. With England visiting Murrayfield for the Calcutta Cup next weekend, Townsend now faces the most uncomfortable questions of his nine-year tenure as speculation about his future reaches fever pitch.

Key moments

8 mins – TRY ITALY: Louis Lynagh opens the scoring after Juan Ignacio Brex’s perfectly weighted grubber kick finds the Benetton wing in acres of space to gather and aquaplane over. Paolo Garbisi’s conversion hits the post (Italy 5-0 Scotland)
14 mins – TRY ITALY: Tommaso Menoncello scores Italy’s second try with devastating effect. After Louis Lynagh rises to claim Paolo Garbisi’s bomb above Jamie Dobie, Michele Lamaro delivers a looping pass left to Menoncello on the wing who accelerates up the touchline to score. Paolo Garbisi converts (Italy 12-0 Scotland)
24 mins – TRY SCOTLAND: Jack Dempsey provides Scotland’s response with a try from close range. After 14 phases of pressure, Matt Fagerson delivers a delicate offload and Dempsey shows exceptional footwork to step inside Giacomo Nicotera before barging through Paolo Garbisi and Simone Ferrari. Finn Russell converts (Italy 12-7 Scotland)
35 mins – PENALTY ITALY: Paolo Garbisi extends the lead from the tee seconds after missing a drop-goal attempt from directly in front. Award came after Italy win a lineout penalty for Scotland playing the jumper in the air (Italy 15-7 Scotland)
Half-time: Italy 15-7 Scotland.
Italy statistics: 116 tackles made to Scotland’s 25, scrum dominance, 68% territory. Scotland: 5 lineouts lost on own throw, set-piece creaking badly.
47 mins – PENALTY SCOTLAND: Finn Russell cuts the deficit with his first penalty after Italy penalised for offside (Italy 15-10 Scotland)
50 mins – PENALTY ITALY: Paolo Garbisi slots three points after Ewan Ashman penalised for high tackle on Manuel Zuliani. TMO review confirms penalty only with low degree of danger (Italy 18-10 Scotland)
55 mins – YELLOW CARD SCOTLAND: George Turner shown yellow card for dangerous clearout at breakdown, leading with shoulder to back of Manuel Zuliani’s head. Previously awarded penalty to Scotland reversed. Bunker review confirms yellow card only. Ewan Ashman forced to return temporarily as Rory Darge departs to provide front-row cover (Italy 18-10 Scotland)
68 mins – TRY SCOTLAND: George Horne scores crucial try after spotting gap on blind side from driving maul and sliding into the corner through standing water. Finn Russell’s conversion from touchline drifts wide (Italy 18-15 Scotland)
80+ mins – HELD UP: After 29 phases of desperate Scottish pressure in the final play, Max Williamson held up over the line by swarming Italian defence. Ball fails to emerge from ruck and referee Ben O’Keeffe blows for full-time.
Full-time: Italy 18-15 Scotland

Match report

And so they said that Italy could not sustain their upward trajectory in the face of an improving Scotland side boasting Glasgow Warriors’ domestic dominance. Consider that notion most definitively dismissed.

On an afternoon of genuine Roman resilience, Italy laid down a Six Nations marker with a display of tactical nous and defensive heroism to rival any produced during their recent renaissance under Gonzalo Quesada. Led by captain Michele Lamaro on his 50th cap alongside Paolo Garbisi and Juan Ignacio Brex marking the same milestone, the Azzurri looked down on a fancied opponent and perhaps exiled them from title contention for good, leaving Scotland confronting the grim realities of what feels like terminal stagnation under Gregor Townsend.

“Absolutely incredible, I think that shows how much we care for each other, how much we care for this jersey, for this country,” Lamaro said afterwards, barely able to contain his emotion. “This is us. We are here to do these sort of games. That last phase, I couldn’t watch. Well done to the boys, fully deserved. Now we’ve got a dream in our head. We keep going on.”

The hypothesis had been that Scotland’s experience and Glasgow Warriors’ domestic dominance would prove too much for an injury-ravaged Italian side missing star fullback Ange Capuozzo, alongside Tommaso Allan, Sebastian Negri, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Ross Vintcent and both first-choice scrum-halves. It was a theory backed up by the form book: Scotland had won 14 of the last 16 meetings. But this felt like the first time Italy have truly imposed their gameplan on Scotland since their famous 31-29 comeback victory in this fixture two years ago, controlling territory, dominating set-piece and refusing to yield when the pressure mounted.

The 2:10pm GMT kick-off was greeted by a sell-out crowd of 68,245 at the Stadio Olimpico, and the home supporters sensed an opportunity from the moment Lamaro, Brex and Garbisi were given the honour of entering the field before their teammates. The roar threatened to lift the stadium roof. The morning rain and hail had temporarily eased, but darker clouds loomed ominously overhead.

Scotland, reshaped by Townsend with Bristol’s Tom Jordan at fullback and Glasgow wingers Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie flanking him — notable omissions being Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and record try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe — knew they needed a fast start. Few predicted the comprehensive nature of their early dismantling.

The visitors actually began with possession, but their first lineout exposed what would become a recurring nightmare. Ewan Ashman’s throw was picked off by Andrea Zambonin, and Italy gratefully accepted the gift. The tone was set for an evening of Scottish frustration. Italy had been warned — and they capitalised ruthlessly.

The opening try arrived after just eight minutes through excellent Italian execution. From an early lineout, Tommaso Menoncello’s powerful carry set up loose ball. Alessandro Fusco, showing clever game management, fooled the Scottish defence into thinking he was moving left before going right. Brex produced a perfectly weighted grubber kick behind the tackle line, threading it between Huw Jones and Jamie Dobie. Lynagh, timing his run superbly, found acres of space to gather and aquaplane over for a wonderfully crafted score. Garbisi’s conversion struck the post, but the Azzurri had drawn first blood in style.

Six minutes later came the defining moment of the first half. Fusco hoisted a high ball that Lynagh rose magnificently to claim, comprehensively beating Dobie in the aerial battle. From quick ball, Lorenzo Cannone fired a glorious miss-one pass wide to Menoncello. The 22-year-old centre, showing the class that earned him 2024 Player of the Championship honours, accelerated up the touchline with sufficient space to beat the cover defence and dive over. Garbisi converted, and at 12-0 after just 14 minutes, Scotland were shell-shocked.

The visitors’ only option was to dig deep and battle for everything. Even that strategy was barely enough as the conditions deteriorated dramatically. The rain, which had been intermittent early on, intensified into a deluge midway through the first half, transforming the pitch into a quagmire. Standing water became visible across the playing surface, and every kick that landed first skidded unpredictably before players aquaplaned through the puddles.

Scotland finally found the tryline through their forwards after extended pressure. Following multiple penalties for Italian offside and obstruction, the visitors worked through 14 phases in the Italian 22. On two occasions Ashman took tap penalties at close quarters, showing Scotland’s determination to cross the line rather than accept three points. From the second, Matt Fagerson delivered a delicate pop pass to Jack Dempsey. The number eight showed exceptional footwork to step inside Nicotera before barging through Garbisi and Ferrari to dive over from two metres. Russell’s conversion made it 12-7 after 24 minutes, and briefly Scotland had hope.

But Garbisi responded immediately with a penalty in the 35th minute. His earlier drop-goal attempt from 15 metres — directly in front and with all the time in the world — had sailed horribly wide in what would have been an astonishing score. But from the tee he made no mistake to extend the lead to 15-7 heading into the break.

At half-time and with Italy having made an extraordinary 116 tackles to Scotland’s 25 in the opening 40 minutes, the interval provided merciful respite for Townsend’s shell-shocked side. The statistics painted a brutal picture: Italy had enjoyed 68% territory, demolished the scrum repeatedly, and Scotland had lost five lineouts on their own throw. It was old-fashioned forward dominance married to clinical finishing, and the visitors had no answer.

The second half began as the first had ended — in torrential rain that made handling treacherous and turned the contest into a test of set-piece strength and tactical kicking. Scotland won an early lineout in the Italian 22 but Ashman’s throw was wayward again, with Menoncello threatening on the break-out before Italy infringed on the deck. Two more lineouts misfired for Scotland before they finally retained ball and Russell cut the deficit with his first penalty in the 47th minute after Italy were caught offside.

Within three minutes, Garbisi had responded. After sustained pressure, he added another penalty in the 50th minute following a high tackle from Ashman on Manuel Zuliani. The TMO bunker review confirmed head contact but deemed it a penalty only with a low degree of danger. That proved to be Ashman’s final contribution — and not before time. His lineout throwing had been wayward throughout, his scrummaging shaky, and his breakdown work ineffective. It had been, by any measure, a torrid afternoon for the Edinburgh hooker.

George Turner entered the fray alongside Darcy Graham for Jamie Dobie, but the replacement hooker’s afternoon would soon take a dramatic turn. With Scotland finally building momentum and attacking in the Italian 22, they won a penalty that Russell was preparing to kick for goal. But the TMO alerted referee Ben O’Keeffe to dangerous play by Turner at the previous breakdown. The Scottish replacement had led with his shoulder into the back of Zuliani’s head in an illegal clearout. Turner was shown a yellow card, the penalty was overturned, and Scotland’s momentum evaporated. The bunker review confirmed the yellow rather than upgrading to a 20-minute red card, but the damage was done.

Rory Darge had to depart to enable Ashman to return temporarily for scrum duty during Turner’s absence, disrupting Scotland’s back row. With 14 men, Scotland’s scrum continued to creak, repeatedly driven backwards by an Italian pack marshalled superbly by props Danilo Fischetti and Simone Ferrari. When the Italian bomb squad arrived — Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo and Muhamed Hasa replacing the entire front row in the 58th minute — they continued the dominance, earning an immediate scrum penalty accompanied by the roar of an increasingly jubilant Olimpico crowd.

Yet Scotland, to their credit, found a way through Italy’s resolute defence in the 68th minute. From a penalty, Russell kicked to the corner rather than taking three points. The lineout was won through Scott Cummings — a rare success — and the driving maul was set. When it was held on the 5m line, George Horne, who had brought energy since replacing Ben White four minutes earlier, spotted a gap on the blind side and darted for the corner. Using the waterlogged surface to his advantage, he slid in from a few metres out with centimetres to spare for his 12th try for Scotland. Russell’s conversion attempt from the touchline drifted wide, leaving Scotland trailing 18-15 with 12 minutes remaining.

The final quarter became a test of Italian resolve and Scottish desperation. Italy dominated territory as the clock became their best friend, showing game management that would have been unthinkable from them in previous years. After 78 minutes, another Scottish scrum penalty enabled Russell to clear, but Italy’s control of field position kept Scotland pinned back.

With the clock deep into the red, Scotland won a penalty and launched one final assault. What followed was extraordinary. From their own 10-metre line, they went through phase after phase, but the Italian defence held firm with ferocious commitment. One, two, three phases became ten, then twenty, as Scotland desperately searched for a gap.

The ball moved left and right, with Scotland making minimal ground against bodies that refused to break. Tom Jordan slipped on the treacherous surface. Handling errors threatened to end the attack. Players aquaplaned through standing water. Still they came, reaching 27, 28, 29 phases in an extraordinary display of attacking ambition that ultimately came to nothing.

“I could really feel my heart beating,” Quesada revealed afterwards. “I said, ‘What’s going on? I’m breathing. I’m okay. Nothing bad will happen.’ We were not even getting out of the defensive line because the referee was really hard on us… I was really suffering.”

Finally, with the entire stadium holding its breath, Max Williamson attempted to power over from close range. Italian defenders swarmed around the ball carrier in numbers, driving him backwards and holding him up in the tackle. The ball failed to emerge from the ruck, and O’Keeffe had no choice but to blow his whistle for full-time.

The explosion of emotion was instantaneous and immense. Italian players collapsed in tears of joy. Lamaro was engulfed by teammates. The sell-out Roman crowd erupted in celebration of a famous victory earned through tactical nous, set-piece dominance and heroic defensive resolve — holding out for 29 phases and over two minutes of added time without conceding a penalty.

For Scotland, the post-mortem will be painful. Their set-piece statistics made for alarming reading: five lineouts lost on their own throw, multiple scrum penalties conceded, and a complete inability to function in wet conditions. “Very frustrating,” captain Sione Tuipulotu reflected. “We probably let them score too easily in the first 20 minutes. In these conditions, it’s hard to come across points. We were too loose in the carry. They ultimately adjusted better and that’s what won them the game. That’s on us, isn’t it?”

Townsend attempted to focus on the positives while acknowledging the scale of disappointment: “Hugely disappointed to lose your first game in the tournament, makes things tougher. Obviously, the guys are very disappointed. The effort was there. A lot of what we trained was in place. We just gave away too many possessions. We weren’t able to score more points in the first half. It was extremely difficult in the second half but the effort the players put in was tremendous, just not enough to win the game.”

Asked directly if he still had the appetite to turn things around ahead of England’s visit, Townsend said: “Absolutely. We have a game in seven days’ time. We have got a game to review, a selection to be put together. That’s all we’re motivated by. I believe in them, I believe in what we’re doing. Today it didn’t happen and we’re going to make sure it happens next week.”

On the positive side for Scotland, despite trailing for the entire match and playing with 14 men for 10 minutes, they showed character in fighting back to within three points. George Horne’s energy off the bench provided a spark, and Darcy Graham — introduced in the 49th minute — offered glimpses of threat. But despite employing 29 phases in their final attack, this met with no reward against a defence that simply would not break.

Most concerning was the performance at set-piece. Ashman’s lineout throwing was wayward throughout — at least five turnovers on Scotland’s throw — while the scrum was repeatedly driven backwards. Grant Gilchrist put in an atypically poor shift in both set-piece and loose play. When Mirco Spagnolo entered as a replacement loosehead, he “absolutely munched” Zander Fagerson according to The Times’ match report, continuing Italy’s scrum dominance.

For Italy, the future gleams with possibility. Lamaro, inevitably, was magnificent — his breakdown work, his defensive leadership, his carries all functioning at the highest level on his landmark cap. Garbisi showed excellent game management despite those two wayward drop-goal attempts, controlling territory through his tactical kicking while landing three from four off the tee. And the clinical finishing from Lynagh and Menoncello demonstrated that Italy now possess genuine attacking weapons.

Lynagh, speaking afterwards, revealed the try-scoring blueprint: “We talked beforehand. It was the first time those three played together [in Scotland’s back three]. We didn’t necessarily say, ‘Look for the backfield space,’ it just happened to open up. We put the ball there and luckily I scooped up and scored.”

As for the conditions, the Benetton winger admitted: “A few school games back in the UK, but that’s probably the worst conditions I’ve played in – and that’s saying something!”

The depth provided by replacements Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto and the entire new front row suggests Quesada’s squad possesses the resources to target a first top-three finish. Player of the match Simone Ferrari, the Benetton tighthead, epitomised Italy’s forward dominance with his scrum destruction throughout.

Quesada, reflecting on the growth his side has shown, was understandably emotional: “I’m absolutely proud. Especially how much we are growing on the game management. We scored from a couple of set-piece moves we prepared. They respected their roles, the timing, the execution, and we scored. It was a great game and [we showed] a lot of character at the end.”

Looking ahead to the trip to Dublin to face Ireland, who themselves suffered a chastening opening-round defeat to France, Quesada added: “Now we’ve got a complex match against Ireland and we must be ready, continuing to prepare well.”

The Cuttitta Cup, awarded to the winner of this fixture in memory of Italian brothers Massimo and Marcello Cuttitta, now resides in Italian hands for the second time in three years. On this evidence, Italy have well and truly arrived as a force capable of troubling any side in the championship. Their back-to-back home wins over Scotland in Rome represent a seismic shift in this fixture’s dynamics.

For Scotland, what was supposed to be a campaign built on Glasgow Warriors’ unbeaten domestic form has begun in familiar fashion — with defeat, disappointment and difficult questions. With England arriving at Murrayfield next Saturday carrying an 11-match winning streak, the pressure on Townsend has never been more intense in his nine-year tenure.

As Scotland’s supporters trudged away through the Roman rain, the question hanging in the damp air was simple: how much longer can this go on?

Teams

Italy: Leonardo Marin; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Niccolò Cannone, Andrea Zambonin; Michele Lamaro (capt), Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Tommaso Di Bartolomeo (for Nicotera, 58), Mirco Spagnolo (for Fischetti, 58), Muhamed Hasa (for Ferrari, 58), Federico Ruzza (for Zambonin, 68), Riccardo Favretto (for Zuliani, 54-58 temp), Alessandro Garbisi (for Fusco, 61), Giacomo Da Re (not used), Lorenzo Pani (for Marin, 73).

Scotland: Tom Jordan; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Jamie Dobie; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson; Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist; Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: George Turner (for Ashman, 49), Nathan McBeth (for Schoeman, 28-36 blood, then 64), Elliot Millar Mills (for Fagerson, 64), Max Williamson (for Gilchrist, 49), Gregor Brown (for M. Fagerson, 64), George Horne (for White, 64), Adam Hastings (not used), Darcy Graham (for Dobie, 49).

What they said

Michele Lamaro (Italy captain): “Absolutely incredible, I think that shows how much we care for each other, how much we care for this jersey, for this country. This is us. We are here to do these sort of games. That last phase, I couldn’t watch. Well done to the boys, fully deserved. I couldn’t ask more from the boys [on my 50th cap]. It’s been an absolute pleasure for me, an absolute honour to get this big achievement. Now we’ve got a dream in our head. We keep going on. When we play in a conscious way, when we demonstrate who we are, we can put many teams in difficulty, and today you saw that.”

Gonzalo Quesada (Italy head coach): “I’m absolutely proud. Especially how much we are growing on the game management. We scored from a couple of set-piece moves we prepared. They respected their roles, the timing, the execution, and we scored. It was a great game and [we showed] a lot of character at the end. I could really feel my heart beating. I said, ‘What’s going on? I’m breathing. I’m okay. Nothing bad will happen.’ We were not even getting out of the defensive line because the referee was really hard on us. Today we had excellent players both in the starting lineup and on the bench. We have a lot of confidence in all our players and in the work of our group.”

Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland captain): “Very frustrating. We probably let them score too easily in the first 20 minutes. In these conditions, it’s hard to come across points. After when the rain did start coming down after 20 minutes, we struggled to find field position and adjust properly to how the game was going. That’s on us. It’s on us, isn’t it? We were too loose in the carry. They ultimately adjusted better and that’s what won them the game. Ultimately, we’ve still got four more games left in the Six Nations and ones that we need to front up for.”

Gregor Townsend (Scotland head coach): “Hugely disappointed to lose your first game in the tournament, makes things tougher. Obviously, the guys are very disappointed. The effort was there. A lot of what we trained was in place. We just gave away too many possessions. We weren’t able to score more points in the first half. It was extremely difficult in the second half but the effort the players put in was tremendous, just not enough to win the game. I believe in them, I believe in what we’re doing. Today it didn’t happen and we’re going to make sure it happens next week. We saw our supporters on the way to the game today. They mean a huge amount to us and we’re really disappointed for them that we didn’t find a way to win.”

Louis Lynagh (Italy wing): “We talked beforehand. It was the first time those three played together [in Scotland’s back three]. We didn’t necessarily say, ‘Look for the backfield space,’ it just happened to open up. A few school games back in the UK, but that’s probably the worst conditions I’ve played in – and that’s saying something!”

What’s next

Italy travel to Dublin to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 14th February (14:10 GMT), looking to build momentum against a side still reeling from their opening-round defeat to France. The teams last met in Dublin with Ireland winning 36-0, but there was just five points between them in Rome last year.

Scotland welcome England to Murrayfield for the Calcutta Cup on Saturday, 14th February (16:40 GMT), with Townsend’s men desperate to respond following this chastening defeat — their first opening-round loss since 2020. England arrive on an 11-match winning streak.

Player of the Match: Simone Ferrari (Italy)

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

Attendance: 68,245

Related Topics:Featured Italy Scotland Six Nations

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Six Nations

Bielle-Biarrey crowned Six Nations Player of the Championship

Published

2 months ago

2nd April 2026

rugbyisthegame

Bielle-Biarrey crowned Six Nations Player of the Championship

France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey after being Voted 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Player of the Championship in Bordeaux, France, Thursday, April 2, 2026 (Photo by Tom Maher / Inpho)

France’s record-breaking winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey has been named the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Player of the Championship, becoming only the fourth player in the award’s history to claim the accolade in consecutive years.

The 22-year-old secured 44 per cent of the fan vote in a record ballot that saw 151,525 supporters cast their verdict over a one-week voting period. Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey, Italy’s Tommaso Menoncello and Scotland wing Kyle Steyn were also shortlisted after standout campaigns of their own.

Bielle-Biarrey’s coronation caps a remarkable championship in which he scored nine tries across five matches, breaking his own record of eight set in 2025. That tally included a stunning four-try haul in the decisive final-round victory over England at the Stade de France, a performance that secured back-to-back titles for Fabien Galthié’s side.

“I’m just really happy, honestly,” Bielle-Biarrey said upon receiving his award in Bordeaux. “It’s yet another reward for the team’s hard work throughout the tournament. We were able to defend our title. Winning the tournament two years in a row is no small feat. We’re very happy to have done it.”

Following in Dupont’s footsteps

The Bordeaux Bègles wing joins an elite group of multiple winners that includes Brian O’Driscoll, Stuart Hogg and his France teammate Antoine Dupont, who achieved the same back-to-back feat in 2022 and 2023. Indeed, over the past five Six Nations editions, only Italy’s Menoncello in 2024 has broken French dominance of the individual award.

The symmetry with Dupont is particularly striking. Both players developed through France’s youth pathways before bursting onto the senior stage, and both have now received the ultimate individual recognition in consecutive campaigns. Galthié acknowledged as much after France’s title-clinching victory.

“He is following in Antoine’s footsteps,” the France head coach said. “The players inspire one another. It’s hard to find the right adjectives to talk about him right now, and last year too. He will surely become the top scorer of the tournament, I think.”

Record upon record

The statistics behind Bielle-Biarrey’s championship defy comprehension. His nine tries represent a single-tournament record for the Six Nations era, surpassing the mark of eight he shared with Cyril Lowe (1914) and Ian Smith (1925) after last year’s campaign.

More remarkably, the winger has now scored in ten consecutive Six Nations matches, another record he holds alone. Only Chris Ashton, with his four tries against Italy in 2011, had previously matched the four-try performance Bielle-Biarrey delivered against England.

With 18 tries in just 14 Six Nations appearances, he is already the highest-scoring French player in the championship’s modern era, having overtaken Damian Penaud despite playing in roughly half the number of fixtures. He sits fifth on the all-time scorers list and, at 22, has O’Driscoll’s record of 26 tries firmly in his sights.

Beyond the try-scoring, his attacking numbers were equally impressive: 311 metres gained, 13 defenders beaten, eight clean breaks and four try assists across the championship.

From Grenoble to greatness

Bielle-Biarrey’s trajectory reads like a rugby fairytale. Born in La Tronche in the Isère department with Réunionese heritage through his mother and Toulon roots through his father, he began playing rugby at five years old in Seyssins, a small commune near Grenoble with a population of just 8,000.

His early career saw him deployed at fly-half before coaches identified his devastating pace and moved him to the wing. That speed, clocked at 38 kilometres per hour when he famously beat former European 100m champion Christophe Lemaitre in a sprint earlier this year, has become his calling card.

His first senior start for Bordeaux Bègles in January 2022, at just 18 years old, was immediately marked by a hat-trick against the Scarlets. By August 2023, he had earned his first cap against Scotland, and within weeks he became the youngest French player to score a try at a Rugby World Cup during the tournament on home soil.

The red scrum cap, given to him by his father at age eight, has since become his trademark, instantly recognisable as he accelerates past defenders.

A championship to remember

Bielle-Biarrey’s award arrives after a Six Nations widely heralded as the greatest edition since the championship expanded to six teams in 2000. A record 111 tries were scored across the tournament, with the title ultimately decided by Thomas Ramos’s penalty in the dying seconds of the final match.

The French public certainly responded. Broadcast across France Télévisions and TF1, the 2026 championship attracted over 35.5 million average viewers throughout the five rounds, with 9.5 million tuning in for the title decider against England.

For Bielle-Biarrey, the individual recognition is secondary to collective success. But in a championship of extraordinary moments, his contribution stood apart.

“My parents signed me up for rugby when I was five years old,” he has previously reflected. “Straight away, I really liked it. It is a childhood dream today to be able to live my passion.”

At 22, with two Player of the Championship awards, a cabinet of try-scoring records and the trajectory to become France’s all-time leading scorer, Louis Bielle-Biarrey is living that dream in spectacular fashion.

Six Nations

Two former winners in shortlist for Player of Six Nations award

Published

2 months ago

21st March 2026

rugbyisthegame

Two former winners in shortlist for Player of Six Nations award

France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey runs in his side's second try during the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 5 game between France and England in Stade de France, Paris, France, Saturday, March 14, 2026 (Photo by Dan Sheridan / Inpho)

The shortlist for the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Player of the Championship has been announced, with four players recognised for performances that defined what was widely described as one of the most compelling tournaments in recent memory. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France), Stuart McCloskey (Ireland), Kyle Steyn (Scotland) and Tommaso Menoncello (Italy) make up a quartet selected from those who topped the performance statistics charts and drew the highest share of fan votes in the Team of the Championship poll.

Voting is now open at sixnationsrugby.com and closes on Thursday 26 March at 09:00 GMT.

Key Points

Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France) and Tommaso Menoncello (Italy) are the two former winners on the shortlist, having claimed the award in 2025 and 2024 respectively
Bielle-Biarrey scored a record nine tries in five matches, breaking his own all-time Championship record set just twelve months earlier
Menoncello is nominated for a third successive year, becoming only the third player — alongside Brian O’Driscoll and Antoine Dupont — to achieve three consecutive nominations
Ireland’s Stuart McCloskey, 33, leads the tournament’s Oval Insights rankings with a score of 8.6/10, despite not scoring a single try
Scotland’s Kyle Steyn equalled the all-time Championship record for defenders beaten, with 26 across the tournament
McCloskey would become Ireland’s first winner since Jacob Stockdale in 2018 if he takes the award
Steyn’s nomination is the first for a Glasgow Warriors player since 2017
The winner is decided entirely by public vote, with fans able to vote at sixnationsrugby.com until 09:00 GMT on Thursday 26 March

Louis Bielle-Biarrey

If there is a frontrunner, it is hard to argue against the 22-year-old Bordeaux-Bègles and France wing. Bielle-Biarrey claimed the Player of the Championship award in 2025 and delivered an encore that left statisticians scrambling for superlatives. His nine tries across five matches broke his own all-time Championship record — he had set the previous mark of eight just twelve months earlier — and makes him the most prolific try-scorer in the history of the competition.

The highlight reel moment of his tournament came against England in a match that immediately entered rugby folklore. Bielle-Biarrey crossed for four tries in the Crunch, becoming only the second player ever to score a quadruple in a single Six Nations match, after Chris Ashton’s effort against Italy in 2011. He also scored in each of France’s five games, an achievement managed by only three other players since the tournament expanded to six nations in 2000.

His numbers elsewhere were just as striking. He led the Championship in clean breaks (19), initial breaks (14) and supported breaks (5), while his 366 metres carried ranked third overall. The Oval Insights algorithm placed him second in its rankings with a score of 8.5 out of 10. His efforts were central to France retaining the Championship title for a second successive year.

Key stats: 9 tries (Championship record), 19 clean breaks (1st), 366 metres carried (3rd), 8.5/10 Oval Insights (2nd)

Stuart McCloskey

At 33, Stuart McCloskey’s 2026 Six Nations campaign reads like a statement of defiance against the passage of time. The Ulster centre was one of only two Irish players — alongside captain Caelan Doris — to play every minute of Ireland’s five matches, and he did so while producing numbers that led not just his team but the entire tournament in several categories.

He did not score a try, yet his fingerprints were on Ireland’s attack at every turn. His six try assists tied for the joint-highest in the Championship, with multiple offloads producing scores for team-mates. He led the tournament in dominant contacts (18, at a remarkable 31% rate), turnovers won among backs (eight, joint-first overall) and tackle attempts among backs (79). His 20 defenders beaten ranked joint-second in the Championship.

The Oval Insights system placed McCloskey first among all players, awarding him 8.6 out of 10. His performances were instrumental in Ireland securing the Triple Crown and finishing as runners-up in the overall standings. Should he win, McCloskey would become Ireland’s first Player of the Championship since Jacob Stockdale in 2018.

Key stats: 6 try assists (joint 1st), 18 dominant contacts (1st), 8 turnovers won (joint 1st), 8.6/10 Oval Insights (1st)

Kyle Steyn

Kyle Steyn’s inclusion in the shortlist may owe more to moments of brilliance than the volume of a Bielle-Biarrey or the relentless consistency of a McCloskey, but few players left as large an impression on individual matches. The 32-year-old Glasgow Warriors winger was awarded Player of the Match twice during the tournament — against England and France — and was at the heart of two results that will be remembered long after the final standings are forgotten.

His 26 defenders beaten across the Championship ranked first in the competition, equalling the all-time record for the category. He scored three tries and covered 316 metres with ball in hand, ranking sixth overall. His Oval Insights score of 8.1 placed him seventh. Scotland’s two standout victories — a thumping win over England and the extraordinary 50-40 defeat of France at Murrayfield — each had Steyn’s footprints running through them.

It would be the first nomination for a Glasgow Warriors player since 2017. Hamish Watson was the last Scotsman to claim the award, in 2021.

Key stats: 26 defenders beaten (1st, joint record), 3 tries, 316 metres (6th), 8.1/10 Oval Insights (7th)

Tommaso Menoncello

At just 23 years old, Tommaso Menoncello is already becoming a fixture on this shortlist. This is his third consecutive nomination, and he arrives having won the award in 2024 before finishing runner-up to Bielle-Biarrey in 2025. His continued presence at the top of the tournament standings speaks to a player who has rapidly established himself as one of the finest centres in world rugby.

This year, Menoncello was central to Italy’s most memorable results — victories over Scotland and England — and was named Player of the Match in the latter. His 14 clean breaks ranked third in the Championship, his 363 metres carried ranked fourth, and his 11 initial breaks placed joint-third. He also matched McCloskey’s joint-second ranking for defenders beaten with 20, and his 36.7% dominant carry rate — 11 dominant carries from 42 attempts — underlined the physical impact he carries into contact.

Only Andrea Masi has previously won the Player of the Championship award as an Italian, making Menoncello’s repeated presence at the summit of the conversation a remarkable achievement for a player still in his early twenties.

Key stats: 14 clean breaks (3rd), 363 metres carried (4th), 20 defenders beaten (joint 2nd), 7.9/10 Oval Insights (8th)

The verdict

On pure statistics, the case for Bielle-Biarrey is compelling — nine tries, a broken record and a Championship winners’ medal make him the obvious choice for many. But with the award decided by public vote, McCloskey’s all-action, selfless game and the passionate Irish fanbase could prove decisive. Steyn’s two Player of the Match awards demonstrate his impact in the biggest moments, while Menoncello’s third successive nomination reinforces just how consistently brilliant he has been.

Fans have until Thursday 26 March at 09:00 GMT to have their say at sixnationsrugby.com.

Six Nations

Six things we learned from round 5 of the Guinness Six Nations

Published

3 months ago

16th March 2026

rugbyisthegame

Six things we learned from round 5 of the Guinness Six Nations

France’s Antoine Dupont’s lifts the Men's Six Nations Trophy after the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 5 game between France and England in Stade de France, Paris, France, Saturday, March 14, 2026 (Photo by Dan Sheridan / Inpho)

Super Saturday 2026 delivered one of the greatest days in Six Nations history. France retained their championship with a last-gasp 48-46 victory over England in a Paris thriller that will be replayed for generations, as Thomas Ramos held his nerve with the final kick to break Irish and English hearts. Earlier in Dublin, Ireland secured their fourth Triple Crown in five years with a commanding 43-21 win over Scotland, while Wales ended 1,099 days of Six Nations misery by beating Italy 31-17 in Cardiff. Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored four tries to take his tournament tally to nine – a new record – while the championship produced 111 tries, the most since Italy joined the competition. England’s seven tries weren’t enough. Ireland’s six tries secured the Triple Crown but not the title. And Wales finally, mercifully, tasted victory again. Here are six things we learned from a finale that had absolutely everything.

France are deserved champions

Forget the script. Tear up the predictions. This wasn’t supposed to happen. England, who had lost four consecutive matches coming into Paris, weren’t meant to score 46 points and seven tries against the defending champions. France weren’t supposed to concede that many points and still win. And yet here we are, trying to process what might just be the greatest Six Nations match ever played. The 48-46 scoreline tells only part of the story of a game that swung violently from one team to the other across 82 breathless minutes. England led 27-17 at half-time despite Ellis Genge’s yellow card and a penalty try for France. They fell behind 38-27 early in the second half as Louis Bielle-Biarrey completed his hat-trick. They stormed back to lead 46-45 with three minutes remaining after Tommy Freeman’s brilliant finish. And then came the final twist. With the clock in the red, Trevor Davison and Maro Itoje were penalised at a ruck, giving Thomas Ramos a long-range penalty from 47 metres to win the championship. The Stade de France held its breath. Ramos, France’s nerveless full-back who had already become his country’s all-time leading points scorer earlier in the tournament, stepped up and bisected the posts. France were champions. England were heartbroken. Ireland, watching in Dublin, saw their title hopes evaporate with that single kick. “We’re very lucky that we have maybe the best kicker around,” said Fabien Galthié afterwards, and nobody could argue. Bielle-Biarrey’s four tries – taking him to nine for the championship, smashing the previous record – showcased France’s attacking brilliance. The 21-year-old now has 29 tries in just 27 Tests, an astonishing strike rate that surpasses even Damian Penaud. But it was Ramos’s composure under ultimate pressure that won the title. France finished with 30 tries across five matches, equalling their own record from 2025, and scored four-try bonus points in four of their five games. Their only defeat came against England at Twickenham in round two, but they bounced back with three consecutive bonus-point victories. This is back-to-back titles for the first time since 2006-07, and France’s eighth championship triumph since 2000 – more than any other nation in that period. “We’re very proud of our performance today and the spirit we showed,” said François Cros. “We had a tough first half where Scotland put us under pressure, but we came through that and in the second half, we were able to unleash our game.” The attacking rugby France have played throughout this tournament has set new standards. They are deserved champions, winners of the greatest Six Nations finale ever witnessed.

England regain pride but is that enough?

Where has this England been? Steve Borthwick’s side scored seven tries in Paris, ran France ragged for long periods, led at half-time despite playing 10 minutes with 14 men, and came within 90 seconds of one of the great Six Nations upsets. And yet they still lost. They still finish fifth in the table with just one win from five matches. They still have suffered their worst championship campaign in 50 years. The 48-46 defeat completes England’s most disappointing Six Nations since 1976, when they last lost four matches in a single campaign. The performance was everything Borthwick had demanded – attacking ambition, forward dominance, clinical finishing from Tom Roebuck, Cadan Murley, Ollie Chessum (twice), Alex Coles, Marcus Smith and Tommy Freeman. But the result tells the real story. England’s discipline, which has plagued them all championship, cost them again. Genge’s yellow card for collapsing a maul on the stroke of half-time, coupled with a penalty try for France, turned a 27-17 lead into 24-27 at the break. France then scored 14 more points while England were down to 14 men. That’s 21 points conceded in that crucial period. “When we keep 15 men on the field we look a very good team,” admitted Borthwick afterwards, and the statistics bear him out. England have received nine yellow cards across five matches – equalling Italy’s unwanted record from 2002 – and have conceded 63 points while a player off the pitch. Borthwick questioned referee Nika Amashukeli’s communication over the penalty advantage before Bielle-Biarrey’s fourth try, insisting “the players on the pitch were told it was a penalty advantage” when it had been changed to a knock-on advantage by the TMO. But complaints about refereeing cannot mask the bigger picture. England have lost to Scotland, Ireland and Italy in this championship. They beat Wales and pushed France to the wire, but consistency remains their biggest problem. “I believe I’m the right man to lead the team forward,” insisted Borthwick when asked about his future, and this performance in Paris – despite the heartbreaking defeat – might just have earned him more time. England showed character, attacking ambition and forward power that had been missing for much of the season. “I truly believe this team is going places,” insisted captain Itoje. “We showed the spirit of this team. In sport, you don’t want to go through the experiences that we went through over the last four games. But I truly believe this team’s going places.” Pride has been restored. The performance in Paris proved England can compete with the world’s best when they get their game right. But is that enough? Fifth place, four defeats, and another summer of questions about Borthwick’s methods suggest not.

Ireland have found their edge

The Fields of Athenry rang around the Aviva Stadium. Caelan Doris lifted the Triple Crown trophy. Six tries, 43 points, a 12th consecutive victory over Scotland. Everything about Ireland’s final-day performance screamed champions. Everything except the result in Paris that mattered most. Andy Farrell’s side did everything asked of them, delivering their best performance of the championship against a Scotland side who arrived in Dublin dreaming of their own title glory. Jamie Osborne’s fourth-minute try – his fourth of the championship – set the tone for a commanding display built on set-piece dominance and ruthless finishing. Dan Sheehan’s maul try, Robert Baloucoune’s searing pace, Darragh Murray’s bonus-point score on his Six Nations debut, and Tommy O’Brien’s late brace sealed a performance that had Farrell “proud as punch.” The statistics were extraordinary: 42.9 minutes of ball-in-play time in a game for the ages, Ireland’s red zone efficiency at 4.7 points per entry, and Stuart McCloskey delivering a fifth consecutive high-quality display that puts him “in the mix for player of the tournament.” “We had a ruthless edge to us in how we defended and converted in the 22,” said Farrell. “That was the story of the game really.” Ireland finish second, three points behind France, their three-year title reign over. The opening-night defeat in Paris – when Farrell publicly questioned his team’s “intent” – proved decisive. But the response has been remarkable. From the wreckage of that 36-14 hammering, Ireland have rebuilt themselves, winning four consecutive matches with increasing conviction. The 42-21 destruction of England at Twickenham was followed by grittier wins over Italy and Wales, before this commanding display against Scotland. Ireland used 35 players across this championship – more than any previous Farrell campaign – and the depth chart has been tested extensively. Tom O’Toole’s remarkable conversion to loosehead prop, where he delivered 20 tackles in 65 minutes against Scotland, was “amazing” according to Farrell. McCloskey’s consistency has been a revelation. Robert Baloucoune was named the tournament’s Rising Player despite being 28 years old. The Triple Crown – Ireland’s 15th, and ninth of the Six Nations era – represents their fourth in five years, a remarkable achievement. “It’s unique as an Irishman to be cheering them on,” Doris had said of supporting England in Paris, and the strangeness of that moment captured everything about Ireland’s championship. The title may have gone to France, but Ireland have rediscovered the edge, the hunger, and the ruthless efficiency that makes them one of world rugby’s most dangerous sides. The 18-month journey to the 2027 World Cup is officially on track.

Same old story for Scotland

Twelve years. Twelve consecutive defeats to Ireland. Twelve times Scotland have travelled to Dublin dreaming of glory, only to return home empty-handed and heartbroken. The 43-21 defeat wasn’t a hammering – Darcy Graham, Finn Russell and Rory Darge all scored tries – but it was comprehensive enough to end any lingering title hopes and expose the familiar failings that have haunted Gregor Townsend’s tenure. Scotland haven’t won in Dublin since 2010, when Dan Parks nailed a touchline penalty at Croke Park to scuttle Ireland’s Triple Crown voyage. They haven’t beaten Ireland anywhere since 2017. And on this evidence, the wait will continue. Ireland dominated the collisions, winning the breakdown battle and establishing set-piece superiority that Scotland couldn’t match. Jamie Osborne, Dan Sheehan and Robert Baloucoune scored in a devastating first 20 minutes that established a 19-7 half-time lead. Scotland fought back in the third quarter – Russell’s brilliant solo try and Rory Darge’s finish bringing them within five points at 26-21 – but Ireland’s response was ruthless. Darragh Murray’s bonus-point try, created by the bench’s immediate impact after Andy Farrell made six changes simultaneously, restored control before Tommy O’Brien’s late brace sealed the win. “Ireland played well – they always seem to play well against us,” said Townsend afterwards, and that admission tells you everything. The statistics told the story: Ireland made 232 tackles to Scotland’s significantly fewer, controlled territory for long periods, and converted their 22-metre entries with clinical efficiency. “We’d close the gap, and then we’d let them back in through mistackles or mistakes off the kick-off. They’re all our doings,” admitted captain Sione Tuipulotu. Scotland’s attacking rugby was often brilliant – that 19-phase move for Graham’s try showcased their ambition – but they couldn’t sustain it for 80 minutes. They finish third in the table with three wins from five, which represents progress from previous campaigns. But Townsend’s record in Dublin now stands at zero wins from 11 attempts, and Scotland’s inability to beat Ireland home or away remains one of rugby’s great puzzles. “I’m proud of how we stepped up in the second half,” said Tuipulotu. “But I’m gutted. We really set our sights on coming here and getting a result, but Ireland were too good today. Ireland are deserved winners today.” Former Scotland prop Peter Wright touched on deeper issues: “Physically we compete against England and France, but for some reason, we cannot against Ireland.” The same old story continues. Scotland can beat anyone on their day – witness that stunning 50-40 victory over France last week – but they cannot beat Ireland anywhere, anytime. Until that changes, title challenges will remain dreams rather than reality.

Welsh fans can dare to dream

The wait is over. After 1,099 days, 15 consecutive Six Nations defeats, and a three-year journey through rugby’s darkest valleys, Wales finally tasted victory again. The 31-17 triumph over Italy wasn’t just a win – it was a cathartic release of three years’ worth of frustration, disappointment and pain. Aaron Wainwright’s two tries, Dewi Lake’s score from a driving maul, and Dan Edwards’s brilliant 16-point haul (including a try and an audacious drop goal) gave Wales a 31-0 lead that had the Principality Stadium shaking with joy. “It’s everything for us,” said captain Lake afterwards, his voice hoarse with emotion, and you believed every word. This was Wales’s first Six Nations home win since February 2022 – 1,491 days ago – when they beat Scotland. It was their first championship victory of any kind since beating Italy in Rome on 11 March 2023. The relief was palpable. “We hope that we have restored some faith in the jersey and into what this group can do,” added Lake, and the performance suggested genuine progress under Steve Tandy’s guidance. The defensive intensity that had been building through narrow defeats to Scotland and Ireland was maintained throughout. The set-piece dominance – three tries from driving lineouts in the first half – showcased growing power and precision. Edwards, who had been dropped after the France game for Sam Costelow, responded with his finest performance in a Wales shirt, darting through a gaping hole for the bonus-point try before landing that stunning drop goal from 40 metres. “You’re probably thinking ‘what are you doing?’ And then he absolutely buries it,” laughed Tandy afterwards. “I am overwhelmed with pride by what this group delivered,” said Tandy, visibly emotional. “I’ve always said it’s never been a question of desire, physicality or work ethic in this group. It’s just getting them to understand how far they can go with the work ethic and physically they’ve got.” Italy fought back with tries from Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Tommaso Allan and Paolo Garbisi, but Wales held firm, defending with the hunger and hardness that had been missing in those opening hammerings by England and France. They still finish with the wooden spoon – their third consecutive bottom-placed finish. But unlike the whitewashes of previous years, this campaign ended with a win, with pride restored, and with belief returning. “This group has gone through a lot of emotionally tough things recently, whether that is on the field or off it,” reflected Lake, and that context makes this victory all the more significant. Welsh rugby remains in crisis off the field, with the WRU facing an extraordinary general meeting and existential questions about professional structures. But on the field, Tandy has given Wales something to build on. The foundations are there. The forward pack dominated Italy physically. Young players like Eddie James and Ellis Mee have emerged as genuine Test-quality performers. The 1,099-day nightmare is over. Welsh fans can dare to dream again.

A match too far for Italy

Italy arrived in Cardiff seeking to create history. Victories over Scotland and England had put them on the brink of something never achieved before – three wins in a single Six Nations campaign. But the brave Azzurri, who had given everything to shock England seven days earlier, simply had nothing left in the tank. The 31-17 defeat was comprehensive, painful, and perhaps inevitable after the emotional and physical toll of their historic win in Rome. Gonzalo Quesada’s side looked flat from the opening exchanges, making mistakes in defence they hadn’t made all tournament, losing collisions they’d been winning for weeks, and struggling to find the rhythm that had made them such compelling viewing. Wales raced to a 21-0 half-time lead through Wainwright’s brace and Lake’s try, all from dominant set-piece play. By the time Edwards scored early in the second half to make it 31-0, Italy’s dreams were dust. “Their heart and physicality was bigger than ours in the first half,” admitted Quesada afterwards. “We saw a big improvement from Wales against Ireland and we knew they had the opportunity to put everything out there to get victory. It was a big game from Wales and they never gave up.” Italy did fight back with three second-half tries – and had two more ruled out by the TMO – but the damage had been done. The day of recovery advantage Wales enjoyed proved significant, but there were deeper issues at play. “We used many energies in a long tournament,” reflected captain Michele Lamaro. “The meta that hurts most is the one at the start of the second half because it made our hopes of getting back into the match vacillate.” The defeat means Italy finish fourth in the table with two wins from five, equalling their best-ever championship performance but falling short of the unprecedented third victory that would have represented genuine progress. Still, this was a tournament that exceeded expectations. Victories over Scotland and England – particularly that first-ever triumph against the English in Rome – represented seismic moments for Italian rugby. Tommaso Menoncello, Paolo Garbisi and Ange Capuozzo all showed flashes of world-class ability. But consistency remains the challenge. Italy were brilliant against England, poor against Wales, and somewhere in between against everyone else. “We are a good squad, in a true process of growth,” said Quesada. “We must do attention to what we say, to how we communicate: Wales has a beautiful squad, a quality staff, and all matches in the Six Nations are tough.” For Italy, one match too far. But also, a championship that showed how far they’ve come – and how far they still have to go. Sonnet 4.5Claude is AI and can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.