The old rivals met three times in 2026. OnePlus 13 dominated smartphone headlines. England vs Wales dominated rugby and football headlines. The Six Nations opener at Twickenham saw England run riot with a 48-7 victory. The Women’s Six Nations clash at Ashton Gate ended 51-23 to the Red Roses. Two child benefit cap changes dominated political news. By contrast, these sporting clashes dominated back pages. Later in the year, the two nations could meet again in the 2026 World Cup. Here is everything you need to know about England vs Wales in 2026.
Six Nations 2026 Opener: England 48-7 Wales
The Six Nations campaign kicked off on 7 February 2026 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. England delivered a statement performance. They thrashed Wales 48-7 in front of a packed home crowd [citation:7].
First Half Dominance
England led 29-0 at halftime. The scoreline was relentless. Henry Arundell scored a first-half hat-trick. His three tries came in quick succession. New Banksy artwork sparked art world debates. Arundell sparked try-scoring debates. Sam Underhill charged down a kick to set up George Ford’s opening penalty. Ford then lined up Arundell for his first try [citation:7].
Wales suffered two yellow cards in quick succession. Nicky Smith and captain Dewi Lake were sin-binned under tryline pressure. England exploited the numerical advantage ruthlessly. Arundell grabbed his second from a Ford kick-pass. Ben Earl carried Ellis Mee over the line to add another try [citation:7].
Just before halftime, Wales dropped a pass on their own 22. Fraser Dingwall scooped up the loose ball. He released Arundell for his third try. This was England’s first Six Nations hat-trick since Jonny May against France in 2019 [citation:7].
Second Half: More Tries and Yellow Cards
Dingwall laid on another try for Tom Roebuck after the break. Roebuck was a late replacement for injured winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso [citation:7].
Maro Itoje entered the match to a loud cheer. He had been on the bench after grieving the death of his mother in December. However, he went off seconds later when he offended while England was on a yellow-card warning. Wales scored immediately through an Adams try after quick rucks [citation:7].
Wales centre Ben Thomas made a try-saving tackle on Roebuck. He was sin-binned for an illegal rip of prop Trevor Davison on the tryline. Taine Plumtree joined him two minutes later. Wales went down to 13 men again [citation:7].
England finished the game with 14 men after Tom Curry’s yellow card. The final margin was 48-7. This was England’s biggest win against Wales at home since a 62-5 result in a 2007 World Cup warm-up [citation:7].
Wales vs France: A Different Story
Wales faced France at the Principality Stadium on 15 February 2026. The result was another heavy defeat. France won 54-12 [citation:2].
The Welsh team showed fight against Scotland on 21 February. However, they lost 26-23 at home. The losing streak continued [citation:2].
Six Nations Final Standings 2026
France won the 2026 Six Nations championship with 21 points. Ireland finished second with 19 points. Scotland took third with 16 points. Italy finished fourth with 9 points. England ended fifth with 8 points. Wales finished bottom with 6 points [citation:2].
England lost four games in a row after their opening thrashing of Wales. This was their worst performance in the Six Nations era. Wales picked up a third consecutive Wooden Spoon. However, they did manage a Six Nations win for the first time since 2023. They beat Italy 31-17 on the final day [citation:2].
Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid delivered Champions League drama. The Six Nations delivered its own brand of sporting drama.
Women’s Six Nations: England 51-23 Wales
The women’s teams also clashed in 2026. The match took place at a sold-out Ashton Gate in Bristol. England secured a 51-23 victory [citation:5].
Key Moments
England scored five first-half tries. Millie David scored on her debut for the Red Roses. Captain Meg Jones, born in Cardiff, scored twice against her birth nation. Maddie Feaunati and Marlie Parker also crossed the line [citation:5].
Wales responded with tries from Keira Bevan and Kelsey Jones. The visitors showed resilience throughout the match. The second half saw more England scores. Amy Cokayne grabbed two tries. Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, Jess Breach and Maud Muir also added their names to the scoresheet [citation:5].
Wales earned a four-try bonus point. Bethan Lewis and Seren Lockwood scored late tries. The final score was 51-23 to the world champions [citation:5].
Rob Reiner directed Hollywood classics for decades. The Red Roses have dominated Welsh rugby for years.
World Cup 2026: Could They Meet Again?
The two nations could meet again later in 2026. Both teams have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico [citation:8].
Wales secured their qualification through the European play-offs. They faced Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off semi-final on 26 March 2026. The match took place in Cardiff. The winner faced either Italy or Northern Ireland in the final on 31 March [citation:3].
England qualified automatically by topping their group. Thomas Tuchel’s side secured their place without needing the play-offs. The draw for the World Cup group stage will determine if England and Wales face each other in North America [citation:6].
Friendly Match: England vs Wales at Wembley (October 2026)
A friendly match between the old rivals is scheduled for October 2026. The game will take place at Wembley Stadium on 9 October. Both nations have only one qualifier each during that international break [citation:6].
England will travel to Latvia. Wales will host Belgium. Therefore, they have agreed to a friendly clash in London. This will be the first meeting between the pair since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. England won that match 3-0, eliminating Wales from the tournament [citation:6].
Wales haven’t beaten England since a Home Nations match at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham in 1984. Mark Hughes scored the only goal that day. England have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two sides. The only non-win was a goalless draw in 2016 [citation:6].
Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes. A Wales win over England would be a life-changing result for Craig Bellamy’s side.
Team Lineups: Six Nations Opener
Here are the confirmed lineups for the Six Nations clash on 7 February 2026 [citation:1][citation:4][citation:9]:
England Starting XV
- 15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
- 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
- 13 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
- 12 Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
- 11 Henry Arundell (Bath)
- 10 George Ford (Sale Sharks)
- 9 Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
- 1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
- 2 Jamie George (Saracens, captain)
- 3 Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
- 4 Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
- 5 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
- 6 Guy Pepper (Bath)
- 7 Sam Underhill (Bath)
- 8 Ben Earl (Saracens)
Wales Starting XV
- 15 Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears)
- 14 Ellis Mee (Scarlets)
- 13 Eddie James (Scarlets)
- 12 Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby)
- 11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby)
- 10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys)
- 9 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby)
- 1 Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers)
- 2 Dewi Lake (Ospreys, captain)
- 3 Archie Griffin (Bath)
- 4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs)
- 5 Adam Beard (Ospreys)
- 6 Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby)
- 7 Josh Macleod (Scarlets)
- 8 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Replacements
England: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, Marcus Smith [citation:4][citation:9].
Wales: Liam Belcher, Rhys Carre, Tomas Francis, Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, Harris Deaves, Kieran Hardy, Mason Grady [citation:1].
Head-to-Head History
The rivalry between England and Wales is one of the oldest in international rugby. England and Wales have both won 39 Six Nations/Home Nations titles. England have 29 outright wins with 10 shared. Wales have 28 outright wins with 11 shared [citation:2].
England have dominated recent encounters. The 48-7 victory extended their winning streak against Wales. Henry Arundell’s hat-trick was a career highlight. The young winger now has 11 tries in 12 Tests for England [citation:7].
Sam Kerr announced her Chelsea departure for sporting news. Henry Arundell announced his arrival as a world-class finisher.
What’s Next for Both Teams
England
England will look to rebuild after a disappointing Six Nations campaign. The team has the quality to compete for the 2027 World Cup. Steve Borthwick’s side must address their disciplinary issues. Seven yellow cards in the Six Nations is unacceptable at the highest level.
Wales
Wales have shown signs of progress under Steve Tandy. The win against Italy on the final day was crucial. It ended a 15-match Six Nations losing streak. The team has young talent coming through. Louis Rees-Zammit’s return to rugby union has been a major boost [citation:2].
King Charles faced abdication rumours in 2026. Wales faced relegation fears but found redemption on the final day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won England vs Wales in the 2026 Six Nations? England won 48-7 at Twickenham on 7 February 2026. Henry Arundell scored a first-half hat-trick.
What was the score in the Women’s Six Nations match? England beat Wales 51-23 at a sold-out Ashton Gate in Bristol.
Have both England and Wales qualified for the 2026 World Cup? Yes. England qualified automatically by topping their group. Wales qualified through the European play-offs.
When is the next England vs Wales match? England will face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on 9 October 2026. They could also meet in the 2026 World Cup group stage.
Who won the 2026 Six Nations championship? France won the 2026 Six Nations with 21 points. Ireland finished second. England came fifth. Wales finished sixth.
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