The fixtures for both the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Guinness Six Nations have been unveiled, with Friday night games being given the axe.
However there will be a new Saturday night at 8pm GMT slot introduced.
For 2020, reigning Champions Wales will open their Grand Slam defence against Italy at the Principality Stadium, on February 1.
That tournament curtain raiser will see Wayne Pivac make his debut as Warren Gatland's successor, while Conor O'Shea's Azzurri will be looking to end their 22-match losing run in the competition.
In what could be the first game of the post-Eddie Jones era, England travel to Paris to face France on February 2 before later clashing with Ireland and Wales in successive matches.
Completing the opening weekend's fixtures is Ireland's clash with Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in what will be Andy Farrell's debut as head coach of a team that flopped in this year's Six Nations.
The climax to the tournament will be on Saturday March 14 when France meet Ireland on home soil at 8pm, meaning it could be late into the night before the final outcome is known.
Organisers have described this unprecedented move as an appearance on Saturday night "prime time", but it is sure to be unpopular amongst many.
The 2021 Six Nations will also finish with an 8pm kick-off when France host Wales on March 20. Friday night games have been abandoned for both years.
2020 fixtures:
February 1-2
- Wales v Italy Sat 2.15pm
- Ireland v Scotland Sat 4.45pm
- France v England Sun 3pm
February 8-9
- Ireland v Wales Sat 2.15pm
- Scotland v England Sat 4.45pm
- France v Italy Sun 3pm
February 22-23
- Italy v Scotland Sat 2.15pm
- Wales v France Sat 4.45pm
- England v Ireland Sun 3pm
March 7-8
- Ireland v Italy Sat 2.15pm
- England v Wales Sat 4.45pm
- Scotland v France Sun 3pm
March 14
- Wales v Scotland Sat 2.15pm
- Italy v England Sat 4.45pm
- France v Ireland Sat 8pm.
2021 fixtures:
February 6-7
- Italy v France Sat 2.15pm
- England v Scotland Sat 4.45pm
- Wales v Ireland Sun 3pm
February 13-14
- England v Italy Sat 2.15pm
- Scotland v Wales Sat 4.45pm
- Ireland v France Sun 3pm
February 27-28
- Italy v Ireland Sat 2.15pm
- Wales v England Sat 4.45pm
- France v Scotland Sun 3pm
March 13-14
- Italy v Wales Sat 2.15pm
- England v France Sat 4.45pm
- Scotland v Ireland Sun 3pm
20 March
- Scotland v Italy Sat 2.15pm
- Ireland v England Sat 4.45pm
- France v Wales Sat 8pm
Related Stories
