Evening start will be first time for 12 years for England
Ireland also host ‘Super Saturday’ finale against France
England will begin their Six Nations campaign on a Friday for the first time in 12 years in 2027 after they were handed an opening night trip to Dublin to face Ireland by tournament organisers.
Ireland will also host the final match of next year’s “Super Saturday” with organisers pitching Andy Farrell’s side against France in the 8.10pm kick-off. Ireland and France have won the last four editions of the Six Nations between them and both are in the hunt, along with Scotland, for the title this year with one round remaining.
In 2015, England overcame Wales in Cardiff in a fraught encounter that is memorable for a tunnel stand-off before kick-off when the captain Chris Robshaw refused to lead his team out on to the field until Wales were ready to avoid being left standing around. Stuart Lancaster’s side went on to prevail 21-15 thanks to tries from Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph.
