Watch every U20 Six Nations match live on the BBC

2025 Guinness Under-20 Six Nations

Dates: 30 January - 14 March

Coverage: Watch every match live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app.

The Under-20 Six Nations Championship begins on Thursday with defending champions England taking on 2023 winners Ireland in Cork.

Rising star Henry Pollock has returned from a spell with the England senior squad to start the match in the back row.

Both Ireland and England were undefeated in the competition last year, drawing a thriller 32-32 in Bath.

England came from behind to beat France with a bonus point in Pau and pip Ireland to the title by one point.

In July, Mark Mapletoft's side added the World Under-20 Championship to their Six Nations title, beating France in the final.

The opening round of fixtures also sees Scotland host Italy on Friday, with France welcoming Wales on Sunday.

You can watch live coverage of every match throughout the tournament on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app, with some matches also available on the Red Button.

Under-20 Six Nations fixtures

Fixtures are subject to late changes and the BBC is not responsible for any that are made

Thursday, 30 January

19:45 - Ireland v England - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and Red Button

Friday, 31 January

19:15 - Scotland v Italy - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and Red Button

Saturday, 1 February

20:10 - France v Wales - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and Red Button

Friday, 7 February

19:15 - Italy v Wales - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

20:00 - England v France - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and Red Button

Saturday, 8 February

19:45 - Scotland v Ireland - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and Red Button

Friday, 21 February

19:15 - England v Scotland - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

19:45 - Wales v Ireland - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

Saturday, 22 February

19:45 - Italy v France - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

Friday, 7 March

19:45 - Scotland v Wales - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

19:45 - England v Italy - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and Red Button

20:00 - Ireland v France - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

Friday, 14 March

19:30 - Wales v England - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and Red Button

19:45 - Italy v Ireland - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

20:15 - France v Scotland - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

Players to watch

England - Kepu Tuipulotu

The 19-year-old hooker has already made his Bath debut in both Europe and the Premiership.

Tuipulotu is an abrasive ball carrier and showed all that skill against Ireland Under-18s in 2023 when he bounced off multiple defenders to score a superb solo try.

The son of former Tonga and Dragons centre Sione, and brother of current Wales women's international Sisilia, he is also eligible for Wales.

Could strong performances see him fast-tracked into the England senior set-up to fend off possible Welsh interest?

Ireland - Eanna McCarthy

The Connacht academy player has been named Ireland captain even though Thursday's match against England will be his under-20 debut.

Ireland have produced a number of high-quality back rowers in recent years and the all-action McCarthy will hope he is another one off the conveyor belt.

With seven returning players from last season, being handed the captaincy shows how highly McCarthy is rated in the Irish system.

Wales - Tom Bowen

The 19-year-old has started three games for Cardiff on the left wing in this year's Challenge Cup, scoring on his debut against South African side Cheetahs.

Bowen has a lethal left-foot step and an exceptional turn of pace, which has been evident already in the professional game.

Scotland - Jack Brown

Full-back Jack Brown featured for Scotland A in their narrow victory over Chile and trained with Gregor Townsend's senior team in the lead-up to their win against Australia in November.

The 19-year-old has a strong running game and started against Ireland in last year's championship.

He will hope senior appearances for Edinburgh will come his way if he steps up this campaign.

France - Simeli Daunivucu

Centre Daunivucu made his La Rochelle debut last season and has featured 11 times for Ronan O'Gara's side.

The 19-year-old is a strong, skilful player and son of former Fiji scrum-half Jone Daunivucu.

He was selected for France's tour of Argentina in the summer but did not pick up his first senior cap.

Italy - Giacomo Milano

Milano featured in all of Italy's under-20 games last year, playing at lock and in the back row.

The versatile forward went on to make his United Rugby Championship debut for Zebre in October against South African side Lions, before starting twice in the Challenge Cup.

At 6ft 4in tall and weighing more than 17 stone, the 19-year-old is destructive with ball in hand and packs a punch in defence.