ENGLAND V WALES, SIX NATIONS 2026: WHEN IS IT, ODDS AND HOW TO WATCH
England v Wales LIVE!
England start their 2026 Six Nations campaign with a home match against Wales as they seek a first title in six years.
Steve Borthwick announced his team on Monday but injury to winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has led a late change with Tom Roebuck taking his place. Maro Itoje, the England captain, is among the replacements, with Jamie George leading the starting XV until Itoje takes the field. Henry Arundell has been recalled on the wing after years away from the national set-up while he was playing club rugby in France.
England suffered an injury scare on Thursday when Immanuel Feyi-Waboso limped out of training.
- Date and kick-off time
- How to watch on TV
- Who is the referee?
- Latest team news
- What happened last year?
- Odds
When is England’s first Six Nations match?
England play Wales on Saturday, February 7. The match will kick-off at 4.40pm GMT.
It is the third game of the opening Six Nations long weekend, following France’s comprehensive victory over Ireland at 8.10pm on Thursday and Italy v Scotland on the Saturday afternoon at 2.10pm.
Where is England v Wales taking place?
At the Allianz Stadium, the traditional home of English rugby more popularly known as Twickenham. Expect plenty of renditions of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot from the home fans in the 82,000-capacity stadium.
England’s only other home fixture in the 2026 Six Nations is on the third week of the championship, when they face Ireland on February 21.
How to watch England v Wales on TV?
It will be broadcast on ITV, and adverts will be shown to viewers during the live action, before scrums. The BBC and ITV will once again share coverage of the Six Nations in the UK.
Who is the referee?
Pierre Brousset – France’s crop of officials is not what it once was – indeed, former Test referees Mathieu Raynal and Romain Poite are trying to turn that around – but Brousset sits on top of the tree. Question marks remain as to whether the Frenchman has the temperament and communication for the top level and, in truth, this match might not provide too many answers given the likelihood of a comfortable English victory. He will be refereeing consecutive Tests for England, however, having overseen the narrow autumn victory over Argentina.
What is the latest team news?
Feyi-Waboso limped out of England training on Thursday with a pulled leg muscle that is still being assessed. England hope that selecting Roebuck, who is used to playing on the right wing, will minimise disruption in the backline.
Maro Itoje, the England captain, will not start his team’s opening match. Itoje, whose mother died recently, has been named among the England replacements. Jamie George will captain the team until Itoje comes on.
Steve Borthwick’s other eye-catching selection is Henry Arundell on the left wing. Arundell has not started for England since 2023 but returns to the national side having switched to Bath from Racing 92 and thus becoming eligible for selection again.
England team to play Wales
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 41 caps)
14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 8 caps)
13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 22 caps)
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
11. Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 105 caps) – vice-captain
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 27 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 75 caps) – vice-captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 105 caps) – captain
3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 30 caps)
6. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 7 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 46 caps)
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 53 caps)
17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
18. Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
19. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 97 caps)
20. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 65 caps)
21. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
22. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 46 caps)
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Wales team news
Dan Edwards will start at fly-half and Louis Rees-Zammit has been named at full-back.
Rees-Zammit switches from the wing to earn a fourth cap in the No 15 jersey. It is the first time he has started at full back since the last game of the 2023 Six Nations, a defeat by France in Paris. He forms a back three alongside Josh Adams and Ellis Mee, with Ben Thomas and Eddie James filling the centre positions.
Steve Tandy has kept faith with Edwards at fly half, with Tomos Williams retaining the No 9 jersey.
Hooker Dewi Lake captains the side from the front row, with props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin either side of him, while Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard are the lock pairing.
Josh Macleod has been selected as the openside flanker with Alex Mann and number eight Aaron Wainwright at the back of the scrum.
Wales team to play England
15. Louis Rees-Zammit
14. Ellis Mee
13. Eddie James
12. Ben Thomas
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Edwards
9. Tomos Williams
1. Nicky Smith
2. Dewi Lake (captain)
3. Archie Griffin
4. Dafydd Jenkins
5. Adam Beard
6. Alex Mann
7. Josh Macleod
8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements
16. Liam Belcher
17. Rhys Carre
18. Tomas Francis
19. Ben Carter
20. Taine Plumtree
21. Harri Deaves
22. Kieran Hardy
23. Mason Grady
When did England and Wales last win the Six Nations?
England last won the tournament in 2020 while Wales last claimed the title a year later in 2021. These were also the most recent years in which those respective nations won the Triple Crown.
England’s last Grand Slam was in 2016, Wales’ in 2019.
What was the score last year?
England concluded their Six Nations campaign by demolishing a lacklustre Wales side, scoring 10 tries in a statement 68-14 victory at the Principality Stadium. It was their record win against them in Cardiff.
Henry Pollock and Chandler-Cunningham South scored two tries each. However, England’s display of attacking flair was not enough to take the title, finishing second after losing their opening match 27-22 against Ireland.
Wales have not beaten England at this tournament since 2021. They concluded their Six Nations campaign winless and at the bottom of the table.
What are the latest odds?
- England 1-40
- Draw 50-1
Wales 16-1
- England to win the Six Nations 5-2
- Wales to win the Six Nations 150-1
SIX NATIONS TOUR
Experience the drama of Wales against England at the Principality Stadium and meet Chris Ashton
2026-02-04T11:50:42Z
