New stars emerged across the board as Ireland successfully defended their Six Nations title. More talent will be itching to follow Joe McCarthy, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommaso Meno

As the cream of the northern-hemisphere crop prepare to lock horns, Telegraph Sport’s experts stare into their crystal balls

Les Bleus are in must-win territory as they begin another Six Nations campaign with big consequences for head coach Fabien Galthie in particular

France vs Wales is due to kick off at 8.15pm GMT on Friday 31 January at the Stade de France in Paris. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with coverage on the channel from 7.30pm GMT. A live stream will be available via ITVX.

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Interim boss Simon Easterby faces a key call at fly half, with Scotland and Italy also set to reveal their line-ups today

Secondrow Scott Cummings (arm), and backrow Josh Bayliss (groin) also sustained injuries which prompted Townsend to call up a further five players Euan Ferrie, Cameron Henderson, Ewan Johnson, Alexander Masibaka and Ollie Smith to the squad in advance of their opening game against Italy.

France captain Antoine Dupont said Toulouse's thrashing of Leicester in the Champions Cup was the perfect warm-up for the Six Nations.

Hope springs eternal as the Six Nations sides renew hostilities in rugby’s grandest old championship. Another competitive edition of the tournament looks likely in 2025 with questions for each and every one of the competing sextet,

England World Cup winner Lewis Moody has blasted the RFU's 'absurd' rule that prevents Jack Willis from playing in the Six Nations. The Rugby Football Union currently enforces a policy that prevents any England-qualified player based overseas from being selected by Steve Borthwick unless it is in exceptional circumstances.

Having reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Steve Borthwick’s men endured a disappointing 2024. The one high point was victory over Ireland to deny them another Grand Slam, but even that came thanks to a last-gasp drop goal, and they won only two of eight subsequent games, both against Japan.

Dupont links up with Toulouse colleague Romain Ntamack as his half-back partner, and there is a start for Pau wing Theo Attissogbe.