Image: Spice London

For the first time in the competition’s history, the 2011 Six Nations Championship will start with a Friday evening fixture. This departure from tradition has been driven by television paymasters hoping for bumper viewing figures for what is always one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the tournament, Wales versus England.

France will kick off their defence of their Grand Slam with a tricky tier against a much improved Scotland, whilst Ireland will take flight to Rome.

The second week of matches will see Ireland welcome France to Dublin for the first Six Nations fixture at the rebuilt Lansdowne Road, now renamed the Aviva Stadium. Many have criticised the IRFU for moving back to the site of their old ground after a number of years at the magnificent Croke Park, which holds 30,000 more supporters, but the income streams from the new stadium and the control of their own destiny made the move inevitable.

The Six Nations tournament will run its usual 7 week course with games being played on the first two weekends, a weekend off followed by a game with a rest week after it and a final set of back to back games. This format will once again test the squad depths of the competing nations as well as making it an exciting spectacle for the fans.

The final weekend will see all six teams play in a ‘Super Saturday’ format. The final game, which the organisers will be hoping will decide the championship will be Wales v France at Cardiff.

2011 FIXTURES

All times are local

Friday, 4 February

19:45 Wales v England – Millennium Stadium

Saturday 5, February

14:30 Italy v Ireland – Stadio Flaminio

17:00 France v Scotland – Stade de France

Saturday 12, February

14:30 England v Italy – Twickenham

17:00 Scotland v Wales – Murrayfield

Sunday 13, February

15:00 Ireland v France – Aviva Stadium

Saturday 26, February

14:30 Italy v Wales – Stadio Flaminio

17:00 England v France – Twickenham

Sunday 27, February

15:00 Scotland v Ireland – Murrayfield

Saturday 12, March

14:30 Italy v France – Stadio Flaminio

17:00 Wales v Ireland – Millennium Stadium

Sunday 13, March

15:00 England v Scotland- Twickenham

Saturday 19, March

14:30 Scotland v Italy – Murrayfield

17:00 Ireland v England – Aviva Stadium

19:45 Wales v France – Millennium Stadium

How to Buy Six Nations Rugby Tickets

Six Nations tickets are readily available for games at some stadia, especially Stade de France in Paris and Murrayfield in Scotland, but the majority of games are instant sell outs. High price Six Nations tickets are usually available through secondary sellers, but there is a danger of forgery or fraud.

A number of Six Nations tickets are usually allocated to local rugby clubs affiliated to the home union and many distribute them to club members through a draw. However, there is an increasing trend to raise revenue for the club by selling them on to Corporate hospitality companies or in exchange for sponsorship.