The third round of the 2026 Six Nations brought historic outcomes. Ireland achieved their highest-ever away victory over England, winning 42-21 and eliminating the hosts from title contention. Meanwhile, Scotland, after a dramatic chase in Cardiff, defeated Wales 26-23, keeping their Triple Crown hopes alive. For the Welsh, this marks their fourteenth consecutive defeat in this prestigious tournament, despite leading for almost the entire match.

Ireland's record in London

The 42-21 victory is Ireland's highest-ever away win over England in the 144-year history of this rivalry.

England national team's collapse

Steve Borthwick's team suffered their second consecutive defeat and lost any chance of winning the tournament.

Scotland's comeback in Cardiff

The Scots overcame a 15-point deficit in the second half, defeating Wales for the fourth consecutive time, the first such occurrence since 1927.

Welsh rugby crisis

Despite a much-improved performance, Wales extended their losing streak in the tournament to 14 matches, their worst run in history.

Saturday's clash in London went down in Irish rugby history as a display of absolute dominance over their age-old rival. Ireland, led by Andy Farrell, quickly seized control of the match, building a 22-0 lead within the first half-hour of play. The English defense had no answer to the visitors' dynamic attacks, spearheaded by Jamison Gibson-Park and winger Rob Baloucoune. Despite attempts by Steve Borthwick's charges to fight back, the match ended with Ireland's highest-ever victory at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), plunging English rugby into a deep image and sporting crisis. Simultaneously in Cardiff, fans witnessed a sporting drama. Wales, who had conceded a staggering 102 points in their first two matches, performed significantly better, leading 17-5 at halftime and even 20-5 early in the second half. Scotland appeared ineffective and stifled by the hosts' aggressive play. Everything changed in the final quarter when the Scots, thanks to determination and superior physical preparation, began to claw back the deficit. The decisive try in the 75th minute was scored by George Turner, silencing the Principality Stadium stands. The Six Nations Championship is the oldest international rugby tournament in the world, with roots dating back to 1883. Traditionally, it features four national teams from the British Isles along with France and Italy, and winning the Triple Crown requires defeating all three other rivals from the British archipelago in a single season. After the matches concluded, the moods in the camps are starkly different. Wales captain, Dewi Lake, described the defeat as „heartbreaking”. Meanwhile in England, captain Ellis Genge publicly apologized to fans for a performance he described as inexplicable. Scotland, on the other hand, celebrates a fourth consecutive victory over Wales, something that hasn't happened for this nation in nearly a century. The table situation suggests the ultimate tournament triumph could be decided in a direct clash between Ireland and Scotland in the final round. „We were well short of the standards we expect of an England team today. It is a bitterly painful day for our supporters.” — Steve Borthwick „It was a special day. The respect the lads showed for one another, the jersey and the Irish people was immense.” — Andy Farrell 14 — consecutive defeats in the Six Nations Championship have been recorded by the Wales national team Results of Round 3 of the 2026 Six Nations Championship: England 21:42 Ireland; Wales 23:26 Scotland

Mentioned People

  • Andy Farrell — Head coach of the Ireland national team, the chief architect of the historic victory at Twickenham.
  • Steve Borthwick — Head coach of the England national team, facing a wave of criticism after the record defeat at home.
  • Sione Tuipulotu — Captain of the Scotland national team, who led the side to a comeback victory in Cardiff.