VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE 2026 MEN'S SIX NATIONS RUGBY TOURNAMENT / SOUNDBITES FROM TEAM COACHES AND CAPTAINS RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 26, 2026) (SIX NATIONS HANDOUT – No resales. No commercial use. No monetisation.) 1. VARIOUS OF RUGBY PLAYERS WALKING OUT AT EDINBURGH CASTLE AS PIPER PLAYS BAGPIPES 2. PIPER LEADING PLAYERS INSIDE 3. RUGBY PLAYERS WATCHING A MUSICAL PERFORMANCE 4. VARIOUS OF PERFORMANCE 5. VARIOUS OF ITALY CAPTAIN, MICHELE LAMARO, ON STAGE 6. IRELAND CAPTAIN, CAELAN DORIS, ON STAGE 7. SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY ON DISPLAY 8. (MUTE) VARIOUS OF TROPHY ON DISPLAY 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND VICE-CAPTAIN, JAMIE GEORGE, SAYING: “Yeah, England v Wales is always a huge game. The first up in the Guinness Six Nations is going to be a real test for us. You know, I think any first game in a Six Nations, regardless of who play, is a real challenge because you know you're trying to find your feet a little bit. That's why we've put a huge importance on the next 10-12 days to get aligned, get clear on how we want to play and on the game plan that we're going to put in place headed to Wales. And the more that we can do that, the more that we can gain confidence and then you generate momentum, which would be great.” 10. LAMARO SPEAKING TO MEDIA 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALY CAPTAIN, MICHELE LAMARO, SAYING: “Obviously, this is the period of the year you’re always looking forward to because it's the most exciting one. You know you're going to face a lot of big challenges against the best teams in the world. So, now I'm really, really excited for it and really excited to start it off.” 12. FRANCE CAPTAIN, ANTOINE DUPONT, SPEAKING TO MEDIA 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANCE CAPTAIN, ANTOINE DUPONT, SAYING: “We’re really motivated and excited by the first game at home, at the Stade de France. It will be a bit weird to play on a Thursday night, but we'll take the opportunity to play the opening game of the Six Nations; it’s always special. Everyone is watching it, so we have to be ready for that.” 14. SCOTLAND CAPTAIN, SIONE TUIPULOTU, SPEAKING TO MEDIA 15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTLAND CAPTAIN, SIONE TUIPULOTU, SAYING: “Yes, it's something that we've never done before and there are a lot of games between now and touching the trophy, but that should be a goal and that should be a dream is to touch the trophy. But my message to the group would be to get the ball rolling and to start well and roaring. And that's the most important thing. And that we go out there and play our rugby, pay confidently, you know, and start this tournament well.” 16. IRELAND COACH, ANDY FARRELL, SPEAKING TO MEDIA 17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRELAND COACH, ANDY FARRELL, SAYING: “Well, if you can't get excited about a Six Nations, then you're in the wrong place, you’re in the wrong job. To me, every single time I'm fortunate enough to be involved in a Six Nations championship, the energy or the excitement – because you understand just what it means to the teams that are playing, the countries, the rivalries, all of that. You know, I think it's something special that we've got with the Six Nations over here in the Northern Hemisphere. And you know, we're privileged to be part of it.” 18. WALES COACH, STEVE TANDY, SPEAKING TO MEDIA 19. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WALES COACH, STEVE TANDY, SAYING: “Yeah, we’re playing England first up, that’s huge. Especially that sort of form and the role those are on. But again, these games, they're all hard games in international rugby. We’ve seen that in the autumn. We played some great teams in the autumn. So again, hopefully, that will hold us in good stead to play England.” 20. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT – WALES CAPTAIN, DEWI LAKE; CAPTAIN, SIONE TUIPULOTU; ENGLAND VICE-CAPTAIN, JAMIE GEORGE; FRANCE CAPTAIN, ANTOINE DUPONT; IRELAND CAPTAIN, CAELAN DORIS; AND ITALY CAPTAIN, MICHELE LAMARO, STANDING NEXT TO TROPHY 21. VARIOUS OF LAKE, TUIPULOTU, GEORGE, DUPONT, DORIS, AND LAMARO, STANDING NEXT TO TROPHY 22. (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF TORCH OUTSIDE EDINBURGH CASTLE 23. (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF TROPHY OUTSIDE CASTLE AS COACHES GATHER AROUND 24. (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF COACHES POSING WITH THE TROPHY STORY: Rugby coaches and captains gathered in Edinburgh on Monday (January 26) for the launch event of the 2026 Men’s Six Nations tournament, which will officially get underway when defending champs France host Ireland in Paris on February 5. The opener will be played on a Thursday to avoid clashing with the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony on February 6. England will open their campaign by hosting Wales on February 7. England last won the tournament in 2020, and Wales are looking for a fresh start under new coach Steve Tandy. And finally, Italy will host Scotland in Rome in their opener also on February 7, with Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu seeking to lead his side to the end of an agonizing 27-year wait for the title. (Production: Lucy Thomson, Kurt Michael Hall)
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