Six Nations fixtures: Friday nights scrapped for 2020 and 2021 as Wales begin title defence against Italy

The Six Nations has scrapped Friday night matches for the next two years after unveiling their fixtures for the next two years, with Wales set to get their title defence underway at home against Italy at the Principality Stadium.

In what will be Wayne Pivac’s first match in charge once he succeeds Warren Gatland next year, Wales kick-off the championship on a Saturday afternoon, as opposed to the Friday night start they participated in this year against France.

But the 2020 edition will be the first time in seven years that Friday night rugby has not featured during the Six Nations, despite both Cardiff and Paris staging such games in recent years.

It appears to be the first change implemented by recently-appointed chief executive Ben Morel, who took up the role in November after replacing John Feehan. “We’ve got exciting plans for the future of the Guinness Six Nations, and this announcement is a key building block,” Morel said.

“As Super Saturday 2019 proved, the drama and spectacle a Guinness Six Nations creates is unique in the sporting world. Other unforgettable occasions this Championship season such as the clash of Ireland and England in round one and Wales v England in round three will also live long in the memory.

“The 2019 Championship gave us a stunning finale with three teams competing for the title on the final weekend, a brilliant Grand Slam winner, and a unique Calcutta Cup match to finish the Championship off.

“We look forward to developing the Championship in partnership with our Unions, sponsors and most importantly of all our fans over the coming years, and to the next two years of the Guinness Six Nations Championship generating even more excitement than the 2019 edition."

The other match on the opening weekend will see Andy Farrell lead Ireland for the first time at the Aviva Stadium. The current defence coach will step up to replace Joe Schmidt after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and the former England international will be looking to regain the crown that the Irish lost this year in a disappointing campaign that saw them finish in third, nine points behind Wales.

England may also have a new coach in charge come 2020 should Eddie Jones move on, with the Australian non-committal on still being in the role despite being contracted until June 2021 as his future will depend on England’s performance at the Rugby World Cup. This year’s runners-up will face France on the opening weekend in Paris, with the Calcutta Cup against Scotland scheduled for the second weekend that will whet the appetite after last Saturday’s 38-38 thriller.

England then face two home games at Twickenham against Ireland and Wales, before wrapping up the campaign against Italy in what will be their first final-weekend meeting since 2014.

Ireland and Wales face-off on the second weekend that will pit Farrell against Pivac, while the final weekend begins with Wales hosting Scotland and ends with France entertaining Ireland.

The 2021 championship will begin with Italy hosting France in Rome, England playing Scotland at Twickenham and Wales taking on Ireland in what is a repeat of this year’s final weekend, as the 2019 programme is played out in reverse – meaning England will play Scotland, Italy, Wales, France and finally Ireland in Dublin three days after St Patrick’s Day.

However, in a change to the schedule, both the 2020 and 2021 editions will end with 8pm kick-offs in what organisers have claimed will see rugby played on Saturday night “prime time”. But it means that the result of the championship may not be known until late at night on the final weekend, which is likely to be unpopular with fans who face trying to get out of the Stade de France after 11pm local time.

2020 fixtures

1/2 February:

Wales vs Italy – Saturday 2:15pm

Ireland vs Scotland – Saturday 4:45pm

France vs England – Sunday 3pm

8/9 February:

Ireland vs Wales – Saturday 2:15pm

Scotland vs England – Saturday 4:45pm

France vs Italy – Sunday 3pm

22/23 February:

Italy vs Scotland – Saturday 2:15pm

Wales vs France – Saturday 4:45pm

England vs Ireland – Sunday 3pm

7/8 March:

Ireland vs Italy – Saturday 2:15pm

England vs Wales – Saturday 4:45pm

Scotland vs France – Sunday 3pm

14 March:

Wales vs Scotland – Saturday 2:15pm

Italy vs England – Saturday 4:45pm

France vs Ireland – Saturday 8pm.

2021 fixtures

6/7 February:

Italy vs France – Saturday 2:15pm

England vs Scotland – Saturday 4:45pm

Wales vs Ireland – Sunday 3pm

13/14 February:

England vs Italy – Saturday 2:15pm

Scotland vs Wales – Saturday 4:45pm

Ireland vs France – Sunday 3pm

27/28 February:

Italy vs Ireland – Saturday 2:15pm

Wales vs England – Saturday 4:45pm

France vs Scotland – Sunday 3pm

13/14 March:

Italy vs Wales – Saturday 2:15pm

England vs France – Saturday 4:45pm

Scotland vs Ireland – Sunday 3pm

20 March:

Scotland vs Italy – Saturday 2:15pm

Ireland vs England – Saturday 4:45pm

France vs Wales – Saturday 8pm