Six Nations Team of the Championship

If the 2026 Championship were a TV series, viewers would likely deem it too far-fetched. It was no pulsating piece of fiction but rather a mind-blowing blockbuster that kept getting better and better.

After unprecedented twists and turns that made it a three-horse title race between France, Scotland and Ireland going into the last round, rugby lovers were treated to a real-life Hollywood ending as it came down to the final play of the Championship in Paris last Saturday.

In a thrill-a-minute rugby masterpiece, the stars of the show were these four Frenchmen, three Irishmen, three Scotsmen, three Italians, one Englishman and one Welshman:

15: Thomas Ramos (France) – Player of the Championship

Ramos was the definition of an MVP (most valuable player) for France this year, displaying his underappreciated playmaking skills, as well as his versatility when he started at flyhalf for the Italian game after Matthieu Jalibert was ruled out at the last minute.

Furthermore, he was safe as houses defensively and, most importantly, a laser-accurate points machine, scoring an unrivalled 74 points and boasting a Championship-leading 87.5% success rate off the tee. There were other strong contenders for the Player of the Championship honours, but for our money, Ramos cemented himself as the king of the North with his ice-cool, title-clinching penalty goal against England.  

⌚️ Thomas Ramos slotting the crucial three points to seal the Championship win for France in Paris in the final minute of the game 🤩#Breitling #DefiningMoment @Breitling pic.twitter.com/POTH7nAItL

— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 14, 2026

14: Kyle Steyn (Scotland)

A South African makes the side, with Johannesburg-born Steyn having sizzled for Scotland. Understated but undeniable, the 32-year-old displayed all the qualities of a modern winger at the highest level – scoring tries (3), chasing hard and winning aerial battles. He also beat the most defenders (26).

13: Tommaso Menoncello (Italy)

The superstar centre once again delivered the goods for the Azzurri. Strong, athletic and fuelled by a rabid competitiveness, Menoncello finished first in metres per carry (8.6), joint-second in defenders beaten (20) and turnovers (7), joint-third in line breaks (11) and jackals (4), and fourth in metres made (363).

12: Stuart McCloskey (Ireland)

Rising Player of the Championship Robert Baloucoune was Ireland’s find of the tournament, but McCloskey was their best player. A decade after making his Test debut, the 33-year-old truly arrived with one explosive performance after another. He wasn’t just an irresistible force; he also showed off his offloading abilities, seized the most turnovers by a back (8) and made the tackle of the Championship when he hunted down Marcus Smith like a lion pouncing on a kudu.

11: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)

France coach Fabien Galthie was spot on in hailing his star winger as a ‘lethal weapon’ after the 22-year-old became just the second player in Six Nations history (after England’s Chris Ashton against Italy in 2011) to score four tries in a single game to help Les Bleus edge the decisive, instant classic ‘Le Crunch.’ In doing so, he also broke his own record for most tries in a single Six Nations campaign by one with nine.

10: Finn Russell (Scotland)

Jalibert proved he’s much more than a capable back-up in the injury-enforced absence of Roman Ntamack, but Russell steered Scotland to one of their best campaigns, marrying his trademark flair with mature game-management. Yes, the Scots stepped up considerably as a collective, but they would not have delivered the heroics they did against England and France and pushed their title challenge to the final round if not for Russell.  

9: Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)

In a controversial call that’ll have French fans in uproar, we opted for Gibson-Park ahead of Antoine Dupont. The latter was influential, particularly with his educated boot, but he wasn’t at his best and had a mare in Les Bleus’ shock loss at Murrayfield. New Zealand import Gibson-Park was more clinical, consistent and complete for Ireland.  

8: Ben Earl (England)

A shining light for England in one of their darkest-ever campaigns, Earl was outstanding in the No. 8 jersey. The English, bar their opening round walloping of Wales and inspired effort against France, played like men who’d been poisoned, with Earl the only one immune to whatever had tortured his teammates. An irresistible force, he topped the tournament in carries (94 – 16 more than next-best Ramos) and post-contact metres (111).    

8: Ben Earl (England)

A shining light for England in one of their darkest-ever campaigns, Earl was outstanding in the No. 8 jersey. The English, bar their opening round walloping of Wales and inspired effort against France, played like men who’d been poisoned, with Earl the only one immune to whatever had tortured his teammates. An irresistible force, he topped the tournament in carries (94 – 16 more than next-best Ramos) and post-contact metres (111).    

7: Rory Darge (Scotland)

Whereas Steyn was Scotland’s dynamo and Russell their driver, Darge was their Braveheart – their champion warrior who took the fight to the opposition without seizing. It’s no surprise that he finished as one of the tournament’s most prolific tacklers (fourth with 74 at a 97.4% clip) and joint-top in turnovers (8).

6: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)

There’s just no slowing down for the Irish anomaly. The veteran is 34 and still outworks and outperforms most, if not all, whether in the second row or the back row. He led the Championship in turnovers (8), jackals (7) and lineout steals (2).

5: Mickael Guillard (France)

An extraordinary athlete for a man his size, Guillard started the Championship with a bang in the form of a Man of the Match performance against Ireland and kept that commanding energy throughout.

4: Charles Ollivon (France)

Like Ireland’s Beirne, Ollivon was a dual dynamo who helped power France’s title retention at lock and flank. He alternated between being a bruiser in the tight loose and a roaming, skillful ball-carrier, and was world-class in the set pieces.

3: Simone Ferrari (Italy)

The walking contradiction that is the 120kg Ferrari was worth his weight in gold for Italy. The 31-year-old returned from a 14-month injury layoff leaner and meaner, having lost 13kg. Having retained his power and showcased his improved stamina and mobility, he was a beast reborn and was the Man of the Match in the Azzurri’s surprise win over Scotland.

2: Giacomo Nicotera (Italy)

Nicotera’s value to the Italian side was immense, yet not something the general rugby public would’ve picked up on. He’s one of the team’s leaders and also a vital cog in the ever-improving machine with his outstanding set-piece work.

1: Rhys Carre (Wales)

Who else? The Welsh loosehead could’ve been selected on the basis of scoring one of the all-time great prop tries against Ireland alone, but he was no one-hit wonder. The big man banked three tries and was rock-solid at scrum time.