France clinched the 2026 Six Nations title with a thrilling, tumultuous 48-46 win over England on Saturday, as Thomas Ramos converted a penalty to secure victory with the final kick of the match.
The loss was a devastating blow for England, relegating Steve Borthwick’s team to their lowest championship finish, achieving only one victory throughout the tournament, which occurred during the opening weekend against Wales.
This marked France’s 20th championship title and their third under the leadership of Fabien Galthie.
After suffering a defeat to Scotland in round four, France recognized that their Grand Slam aspirations had ended. Following Ireland’s notable win over Scotland earlier that day, they needed to triumph over England to claim the overall title.
Their 48-46 victory at Stade de France was fueled by four tries from winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, one from Theo Attissogbe, and an impeccable kicking performance from Ramos.
Their campaign commenced with an unusual Thursday night match against Ireland, where they secured a 36-14 victory. They continued with a commanding 54-12 win over Wales and then overcame a determined Italy team 33-8 in Lille.
In their match against Scotland, they engaged in a high-scoring contest, ultimately losing 50-40. More points were scored in Paris on March 15 as they narrowly defeated England with a last-minute penalty.
The title validated Galthie’s choice to exclude Gael Fickou and Damien Penaud from the initial squad, and this championship showcased several players who emerged and made their mark on the global stage.
France concluded the tournament at the top with 21 points, followed by Ireland with 19 points and Scotland with 16.
Italy finished fourth with nine points, while England ended their campaign with a disappointing eight points.
Wales, who achieved their first Six Nations victory since 2023 against Italy on Super Saturday, received the wooden spoon but showed improvement throughout the tournament.
