2025 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP predictions, odds and betting tips
Today at 05:49 AM
Always a highlight of the sporting calendar, this year's Six Nations promises to be an absolute thriller.
Ireland and France are vying for favouritism and deservedly so but both have their issues. The Irish head coach Andy Farrell is on British and Irish Lions duty while the French are looking to overcome the disappointment of last year's championship. England and Scotland have a similar problem which is how to turn promise and potential into achievements of substance.
Italy are excited about building on last year's tournament in which they lost only twice and, while the Welsh are in a slump, there is no better competition than the Six Nations to revitalise their spirits and no nation more proud of its rugby heritage.
Around 185 million viewers in 64 countries watched the 2024 championship and four million social media users generated 615 million video views. There's proof that the Six Nations matters and that people across the world care about it.
It all kicks off with a mouth watering clash between France and Wales on Friday 31st January at 8pm, and you can find all the odds from the best rugby bookies here.
2025 Six Nations Championship odds
Here are the latest tournament odds from BoyleSports.
- Ireland 15/8
- France 7/4
- England 7/2
- Scotland 6/1
- Wales 66/1
- Italy 250/1
2025 Grand Slam Odds
Here are the latest odds from Betfred.
- No Grand Slam winner 5/6
- Ireland 7/2
- France 4/1
- England 10/1
- Scotland 16/1
- Wales 500/1
- Italy 1000/1
Tournament history
Initially called the Home Nations Championship when it started in 1883, and then the Five Nations when France joined in 1910, the tournament became the Six Nations Championship when Italy were invited to participate in 2000.
England were dominant in the early 2000s, winning three of the first four editions, and have won a total of seven titles. France, Wales and, as of last year, Ireland have all claimed six championships. The Scots won the Five Nations in 1999 but are yet to taste success in the Six Nations. The Italians have never come close to winning the title.
The nations
Ireland
Simon Easterby is standing in for Farrell and he has opted to rely on his most experienced performers in his quest to complete the Six Nations hat trick after victory in 2023 and 2024. The squad is not without youthful promise, however, with the two fly-halves Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast offering an exciting alternative to the retired Johnny Sexton, who was crucial to recent Irish success. Easterby's management of the pair will be key to Ireland's chances.
France
This French squad is desperate to taste tournament triumph again. They won the 2022 Six Nations but missed out in the 2023 Rugby World Cup on home soil and were underwhelming in the last two championships. "It's not enough success for this generation of players, some of whom are the best in the world in their position," said the returning fly half Romain Ntamack. They ought to be encouraged by the excellent form of French clubs in the Champions Cup.
England
Hooker Jamie George is injured and therefore England has a new captain in the shape of Maro Itoje and this could be key to England's hopes of a first championship since 2020. When Eddie Jones was head coach he bemoaned the lack of leadership in the England squad and highlighted Itoje's guilt. The current coach Steve Borthwick has no such fears, saying: "He’s a calm, influential leader, renowned for his ability to motivate those around him."
Wales
The Welsh won the championship in both 2019 and 2021 but there is no getting away from the fact that they are in a bad place. Star players have retired, Louis Rees-Zammit fled to NFL, many replacements are injured and the player pool lacks the depth on offer to England, France and Ireland. Head coach Warren Gatland has insisted that change "is not going to happen overnight, it’s going to take a little bit of time" but will the press and ex-players grant him time?
Scotland
This championship has a touch of deja vu about it. Scotland have star quality, and plenty to play for, yet the shadow of underachievement hangs across the squad. To make matters worse, captain Sione Tuipulotu is out of the tournament and he's not alone on the treatment table. "You have to be able to cope with injuries," said the coach Gregor Townsend who will be praying that his flying winger Duhan Ver Der Merwe can respond to treatment on a niggle.
Italy
The 2024 championship, Italy's 25th, was their best ever. They nearly beat England, drew with France and beat both Wales and Scotland. “The most important thing for us is to keep improving, keep going in that direction,” captain Michele Lamaro said a few weeks ago. It might be difficult to better 2024 but they will be disappointed if they cannot gain at least one win.
Fixtures
- Week 1 – France vs Wales, Scotland vs Italy, Ireland vs England
- Week 2 – Italy vs Wales, England vs France, Scotland vs Ireland
- Week 3 – Wales vs Ireland, England vs Scotland, Italy vs France
- Week 4 – Ireland vs France, Scotland vs Wales, England vs Italy
- Week 5 – Italy vs Ireland, Wales vs England, France vs Scotland
Predictions and bets
France to win the championship
We've already discussed the extent to which this French squad feels it has underperformed in recent times and is desperate to lift a trophy. The fact that Romain Ntamack expressed those feeling is worth noting – the son of the legendary Emile Ntamack, Romain was the top points scorer in the 2020 Six Nations Championship and has since missed 18 months of rugby because of injuries. His return for this year's championship adds threat at fly half.
He may not be responsible for place kicking, however, because Thomas Ramos is closing in on the record for the most points scored by a Frenchman and he is deadly in front of the sticks.
The good news doesn't end there. The flying winger Damian Penaud is also looking to write his name in the record books because he is just two tries short of Serge Blanco's record of 38.
And, unlike last year, the team has Antoine Dupont back to mastermind their on-pitch destiny. The scrum half is the world's best player, with an uncanny awareness, a magnificent kicking game, brute strength and the ability to find gaps in the opposition defence. Don't overlook why he missed last year's championship either.
He opted to follow his dream of winning the Paris Olympics Sevens competition and insists that the successful quest has improved his game immeasurably. His golden memories of playing under extreme pressure with a significant target in sight, conquering both the opposition and his own fears, could be the key to another celebration in the Stade de France on the final night of the championship.
Bet on France to win the championship at 15/8 with Betfred
France to win the Grand Slam
Keep this simple. The French task is not simple. They should get off to a flyer against Wales in Paris but then need to beat England at Twickenham and Ireland in Dublin. This side has quality right through it, however, and it is also incentivised and determined. Ireland have to deal with high expectations of a hat trick and a new coach while England are still struggling to defeat elite opposition. The French can take advantage.
Back France to win the Grand Slam at 4/1 with Betfred
2025 Six Nations Championship Top Tryscorer odds
Here are the latest tournament odds from bet365.
- Damian Penaud (France) 2/1
- James Lowe (Ireland) 8/1
- Dan Sheehan (Ireland) 8/1
- Gavin Villiere (France 10/1
- Duhan Ver Der Merwe (Scotland) 10/1
- Antoine Dupont (France) 12/1
- Darcy Graham (Scotland) 12/1
- Ollie Sleighholme (England) 16/1
- Mack Hansen (Ireland) 16/1
- Ronan Kelleher (Ireland) 16/1
Duhan Van Der Merwe to be top try-scorer
The South African-born winger won this market in 2021 and shared the win last year. He's fast, powerful, ruthless and he loves crossing the white line.
He also has the incentive of a British and Irish Lions tour this summer – every try he scores will increase his chances of making that plane. With 30 tries in 44 Scotland matches he's a huge threat and it seems he should be fit to play the first match against Italy.
Back Duhan Van Der Merwe for top tryscorer at 10/1 each-way with bet365
Darcy Graham to be top try-scorer at 12/1 each-way (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
If Scotland don't get you on one wing, they'll sting you on the other. That's been the message in recent years and Graham, although shorter and less strong than Van Der Merwe, is no less potent with 29 tries in 42 matches.
Scoring has rarely been Scotland's problem so backing their attacking threat makes more sense and this two-fold method can bear fruit.
Back Darcy Graham to be top try-scorer at 12/1 each-way with bet365
How to watch the 2025 Six Nations Championship
- Locations: Allianz Stadium, London; Stade de France, Paris; Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh; Aviva Stadium, Dublin; Stadio Olimpico, Rome; and Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
- Dates and Times: 31st January/1st February, 8th/9th February, 22nd/23rd February, 8th/9th March and 15th March.
- How to watch: Full coverage on BBC and ITV in the UK, and on RTÉ and Virgin Media in Ireland.
About the author
Matt Cooper
Matt Cooper has been a golf journalist for 15 years. He’s worked for, among others, Golf365, SkySports, ESPN, NBC, Sporting Life, Open.com and the Guardian. He specialises in feature writing, reporting and tournament analysis. He’s covered numerous Opens, Ryder Cups and Solheim Cups, and travelled to golfing destinations as varied as Kazakhstan, South Korea, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
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