The fourth round of fixtures in the 2025 Six Nations Championship sees Ireland and France face off in Dublin.
Ireland have played three, won three after their latest win against Wales, although it was closer than anyone expected.
France need a win to keep alive their title hopes – and deny Ireland a possible Grand Slam.
When is Ireland vs France?
Ireland host France on Saturday, March 8. The match will kick-off at 14:15 (GMT).
The other fixtures in round four include Scotland welcoming Wales to Murrayfield on the same day, at 16:45, with England visited by Italy on Sunday, March 9 at 15:00.
Where is Ireland vs France taking place?
The game will take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. It will be Ireland’s second, and last, home game of this year’s Six Nations.
Ireland have a mixed record when hosting France at the Aviva Stadium, winning four of the eight matches the two sides have contested there, with those four wins coming in the last five games. France have won three times since the stadium was built, with one draw being played out in 2013.
Six Nations 2025 table
How to watch Ireland vs France on TV?
The game will be live on ITV1, whilst Scotland vs Wales will be on BBC One later in the day.
ITV acquired the rights for the home games of England, Ireland, France, and Italy with the BBC covering Scotland’s games at Murrayfield and Wales’ matches at the Principality Stadium.
This year’s Six Nations coverage has taken place against a backdrop of controversy with 2025 potentially being the last year that all Six Nations games are shown on free-to-air terrestrial television in the UK. The current broadcast deal that the BBC and ITV hold only runs until the end of this year’s tournament. TNT Sports and Sky Sports may bid for the rights to cover the competition from 2026. This potential switch has caused concern, with suggestions that it may have a negative impact on the game.
Who is the referee?
Australian referee Angus Gardner will be in charge of this pivotal fixture. He has refereed just one game between Ireland and France before – a 30-24 France win at the Stade de France in the 2022 Six Nations.
Gardner has refereed 46 international Test matches, including three World Cups.
He was the referee in England’s 12-11 win over South Africa, in 2018, when Owen Farrell received criticism over his tackle on André Esterhuizen. With the clock ticking over to 80 minutes Farrell leaned into a shoulder-led tackle on the South African centre. Gardner judged the tackle to be legal but has since admitted he probably made a mistake. A penalty would have likely given South Africa the win.
Gardner, on the Will Greenwood podcast, said: “I think in hindsight now, having discussed it with some other referees… the general consensus would be that a penalty was probably the outcome there that should have been given.”
What is the latest team news?
France
Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud will return to France’s starting line-up for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin.
Toulouse fly-half Ntamack is back after serving a three-match suspension for his dangerous tackle on Wales’ Ben Thomas in France’s opening match of the tournament.
Ntamack will resume his partnership with scrum-half and Toulouse team-mate Antoine Dupont, with the pair set to appear together for France for the 29th time.
Thomas Ramos, who stepped in at number 10 in Ntamack’s absence, reverts back to full-back.
Bordeaux Begles wing Penaud is also recalled in place of Theo Attissogbe after being left out of head coach Fabien Galthie’s squad for the 73-24 win in Italy two weeks ago.
Penaud is one try away from equalling Serge Blanco’s all-time record of 38 for Les Blues.
Galthie has made just the two changes to his starting line-up, while second-row pair Emmanuel Meafou and Hugo Auradou replace Romain Taofifenua and Alexandre Roumat on the bench.
France XV: Ramos, Penaud, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey, Ntamack, Dupont (captain), Alldritt, Boudehent, Francois Cros, Mickael Guillard, Thibaud Flament, Uini Atonio, Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Aldegheri, Meafou, Auradou, Jegou, Jelonch, Lucu
Ireland
Captain Caelan Dorris returns to lead the team and is one of three players alongside Finlay Bealham and Jack Conan – set to earn their 50th Test caps this weekend.
Ireland lead the standings on 14 points, three ahead of France, but a defeat on Saturday could wreck their bid to become the first side to win three successive titles outright given their opponents’ far superior points difference.
Hugo Keenan returns to full-back, with Jamie Osborne moving to right wing and James Lowe staying on the left. Bundee Aki will partner Robbie Henshaw in midfield.
Peter O’Mahony keeps his place in the fiercely competitive back row. Jack Conan, another injury worry, was named among six forward replacements, a rare move for Ireland away from the usual five as it seeks to counter France’s forward-heavy bench.
Ireland XV: Keenan, Osborne, Henshaw, Aki, Lowe, Prendergast, Gibson-Park, Porter, Sheehan, Bealham, McCarthy, Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris
Replacements: Herring, Healy, Clarkson, Ryan, Conan, Baird, Murray, Crowley
When did France and Ireland last win the Six Nations?
France and Ireland have dominated the Six Nations in recent years, occupying the top two spots for three years running. France were victorious in 2022, but have since finished second in consecutive years with Ireland winning back-to-back titles. Ireland also won the Grand Slam in 2023 after winning all five of their games. Should either side win this year’s tournament they will join England in having the most Six Nations titles, with seven.
What was the score last year?
The 2024 Six Nations opened with a thrilling match as Ireland beat France 38-17 in Marseille. Ireland ran in five tries, collecting a bonus point along the way, after France had lock Paul Willemse sent off after just 30 minutes. It was Ireland’s biggest-ever away win over the French.
