France Clinches Back-to-Back Six Nations Titles in Thrilling Victory Over England

France secured their second consecutive Six Nations title with a dramatic 48-46 victory over England on March 14, 2026, in Paris. The win came down to a last-second penalty kick by Thomas Ramos, capping off a tournament widely hailed as one of the greatest in Six Nations history.

A Tournament of Upsets and Surprises

The 2026 Six Nations was marked by unexpected results and strong performances across the board. While Wales entered the tournament as underdogs, they demonstrated significant improvement throughout the campaign, securing a first Six Nations win in three years against Italy on the final weekend.

Italy also achieved a historic milestone, recording their first-ever win against England. However, England endured a disappointing tournament, finishing with only one victory and delivering their worst-ever return in a Six Nations campaign despite pre-tournament expectations of potentially winning the Grand Slam.

Shifting World Rankings

The eventful championship has significantly impacted the World Rugby rankings. England experienced a substantial drop, falling three places to sixth in the world, with a decrease of 5.51 ranking points, from 89.41 to 83.91.

Ireland emerged as the top-ranked northern hemisphere team, climbing to third place globally, just 1.26 ranking points behind New Zealand. France, despite retaining their Six Nations title, moved to fourth position.

Scotland saw the most significant rise, climbing two places to seventh in the world, boosted by victories over England and France. Italy and Wales remained stable in 10th and 11th place, respectively, though Wales climbed from 12th to 11th on the final weekend with their win over Italy.

Notable Ranking Movements

Portugal also made a notable jump, rising two places to 14th in the world after a shock win over Georgia in the Rugby Europe Championship final. Georgia remained in 13th place but lost 1.54 ranking points in the defeat.

Latest World Rugby Rankings (March 16)

• South Africa – 93.94
• New Zealand – 90.33
• Ireland – 89.07 (+0.18)
• France – 87.46 (+0.43)
• Argentina – 84.97
• England – 83.91 (-0.43)
• Scotland – 82.90 (-0.18)
• Australia – 81.53
• Fiji – 81.14
• Italy – 79.64 (-1.45)
• Wales – 75.07 (+1.45)
• Japan – 74.09 (-1)
• Georgia – 71.94 (-1.54)
• Portugal – 69.64 (+1.54)
• Uruguay – 69.19 (-1)
• USA – 68.26 (-1)
• Spain – 67.51 (+0.02)
• Chile – 66.72
• Tonga – 66.66
• Samoa – 66.43

The 2026 Six Nations provided a thrilling conclusion and a reshaped global rugby landscape, setting the stage for an exciting future for the sport.