Rugby’s Greatest Championship.

The dust may have just settled on the remarkable 2024 Six Nations Championship, but with the 2025 fixtures recently announced, we are already looking ahead to next year’s edition.

Can Ireland begin with a bang against England and retain the trophy in 2025?

Ireland the Favourites Again?

Ireland are likely to be favourites once again when the 2025 Six Nations tournament rolls around. They started the 2024 competition as strong favourites, with some bookies offering low odds of 11/10. Online betting is big in Ireland, and there are a plethora of bookmakers to choose from nowadays. Many offer more than just sports, with casino gaming also available with the top bookies. BonusFinder Ireland narrows down the best offers in Ireland right now, with plenty of bonus spins up for grabs. They cover the likes of LeoVegas, Zip Casino, and EmirBet, among others.

We are seeing the golden age of Irish rugby at international level, with boss Andy Farrell doing a fine job with the nation since taking over in 2019. However, after taking up the role of the British & Irish Lions, Farrell will not lead Ireland into the 2025 Six Nations. It will be fascinating to see how it affects the team going into and during the tournament.  

Irish Kick Off Against England

One of the biggest matches in the Six Nations is Ireland vs England, and the two heavyweights clash at the Aviva Stadium in week one of the 2025 tournament. In Round Two, the Irish will travel to Murrayfield Stadium to play an ever-improving Scotland side.

After the first break, Ireland return to action with an away game against Wales in late February. The Welsh have not been at their best recently, but Cardiff is always a tough place to visit. The Irish then host France in a tasty fixture before ending the 2025 Six Nations Championship with a trip to Rome to face Italy.

Playing three away matches in the Six Nations Championship is never easy, but Ireland will fancy their chances in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Rome. The fixtures in Dublin against England and France, their two main title rivals, will be pivotal.

Looking Back at 2024

Although Ireland missed out on another Grand Slam, the 2024 Six Nations Championship was a successful tournament for Farrell’s men. The Irish kept hold of their crown after four wins from five games.

They kicked off the pan-European competition with a stunning 38-17 win in France, which was a real statement victory. Ireland followed that up with comfortable wins against Italy and Wales to put one hand on the trophy.

Ireland’s Grand Slam chances were ended with a narrow loss to England in London. It was a terrific fixture between the two big hitters, with the English claiming a memorable 23-22 victory at Twickenham Stadium. The Irish bounced back with a 17-13 win over Scotland in Dublin to end the tournament.

A lot of rugby will be played before the start of the 2025 Six Nations Championship, but Ireland will already be putting preparations in place. Having lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2024, can the Irish make it a hat-trick of Six Nations triumphs next year?