2024 has been a funny old year. Along with the French, Ireland has been the in-form northern hemisphere team during the last couple of seasons and our provincial system has been the envy of many as other unions have struggled with their domestic leagues.
Some would argue that Ireland’s biggest rival these days is the mighty Springboks. Such a statement, though, would ignore the history of the greatest rugby competition on earth: the Six Nations.
So what are Ireland’s chances of winning this historical rugby tournament for the third consecutive time?
Ireland
2024 hasn’t exactly been a bad year for the national team, but the performances have not been consistently up to the standard that we have come to know and expect in recent years.
Nevertheless, Ireland still is the bookie’s favourite to claim a record consecutive third championship in 2025 and whilst their fortune against Southern Hemisphere teams this season has been mixed, they’ve comfortably outperformed every other team aside from a shock exception against England back in March.
Ireland kick off their 2025 campaign on February 1st against England at the Aviva Stadium.
Momentum is huge in the six nations, so a win here and you’d be hard-pressed to bet against the boys.
| Bet365 | Betfred | LiveScoreBet | Boylesports |
| 6/4 | 11/8 | 6/4 | 7/4 |
France
Les Bleues are a joy to watch and their autumn win over New Zealand might suggest that they’re getting back to their scintillating displays of rugby.
Like Ireland, the French will have been disappointed at the World Cup in falling short at the knockout stages but after years of being in the Six Nations wilderness, the French are back and surely Ireland’s biggest threat to the men’s 2025 Six Nations title.
After all, France has something the Irish do not in Antoine Dupont who is surely the world’s finest rugby player for a very long time.
The man can change a game in an instant and throw in a well-drilled defence managed by Shaun Edwards, backs with flair and a big pack, then you have a force to be reckoned with.
| Bet365 | Betfred | LiveScoreBet | Boylesports |
| 2/1 | 2/1 | 2/1 | 2/1 |
England
It’s hard to judge where England are at the moment.
On one hand, they played some excellent rugby over the autumn and the team are starting to gel in ways that have been lacking in previous seasons.
On the other, they have a nasty habit of falling away at the final quarter which has cost them over recent fixtures.
| Bet365 | Betfred | LiveScoreBet | Boylesports |
| 10/3 | 7/2 | 13/4 | 7/2 |
Scotland
The reigning five nations champions (as they won the last one in 1999), the Scots are yet to win a six nations title and the current golden generation just haven’t been able to get it over the line in recent seasons.
Their recent win against a revived Australian team will give them confidence, but the market is yet to be convinced this is their year:
| Bet365 | Betfred | LiveScoreBet | Boylesports |
| 7/1 | 8/1 | 13/2 | 6/1 |
Wales
The Welsh have gone from being a very fine team to a very poor team very quickly.
A golden crop all leaving the team after the World Cup and a young squad who lacks experience make for the most unsuccessful year in Welsh rugby history.
For reference, Wales lost every game in 2024, a feat that has not happened since the 1930s in which they played only 3 games.
Wales needs something, and the Italians might feel disheartened their not ahead in the market here:
| Bet365 | Betfred | LiveScoreBet | Boylesports |
| 50/1 | 50/1 | 80/1 | 50/1 |
Italy
The Italians are a vastly improved outfit in recent seasons and their exciting backline has troubled defences across big teams in recent seasons.
Breaking their long losing streak with consecutive wins over the Welsh, Italy will be looking for another upset this year but perhaps nothing more:
| Bet365 | Betfred | LiveScoreBet | Boylesports |
| 150/1 | 150/1 | 80/1 | 250/1 |