The real gladiators
Where better to begin our seven-page Six Nations special than the Colosseum, the historic home of combat. For those about to scrum, we salute you!
©INPHO/Billy Stickland
- Michael Potts
"Fortunately we will not die on the field, contrary to the gladiators.” It’s a little on the nose, don’t you think? Six muscle-clad warriors smouldering under storm clouds in the most feared sporting arena ever constructed, in preparation for a winner-takes-all battle royale. The metaphor is not lost on French megastar Antoine Dupont.
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There are few more suitable locations for the launch of the men’s Six Nations 2025 than the Colosseum, since we’re in Rome to mark the 25th anniversary of the tournament in its current format. Battle will commence this weekend, but first an opportunity for the key combatants to be paraded in their own pompa circensis, for inspection by the assembled press and other guests, round the corner at the Palazzo Brancaccio complex. With its grand ceilings, sculpted golden door frames and more mirrors than a Dolce & Gabbana fitting room, the palazzo is far away from a scrum, garish cockerel hats and your dad loudly explaining the one true Guinness-pouring technique. Or the dusty duels of the Colosseum for that matter.
Yet at its core the Six Nations remains a gladiatorial death match – a blood, guts and thunder contest between six menacing participants. Win or die, boom or bust. The margins between success and failure are rarely more acute than in the Six Nations.
Ireland enter the ring as reigning champions, slender favourites by default, the behemoth the other countries want – and need – to bring down, but there’s uncertainty in the ranks. Head coach Andy Farrell, who guided the Irish to back-to-back glories, has temporarily abdicated his position to lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia this summer. Farrell’s backroom lieutenant Simon Easterby has therefore been handed a precious opportunity as interim head coach to marshal the toughest team on the biggest stage.
Victory over Scotland in Dublin secured the Six Nations for Ireland in 2024. Getty
Ireland captain Caelan Doris is convinced the change won’t halt the victors’ momentum. He says, “There’s quite a lot of continuity in terms of the playing group and management. Simon has been around a while now. He’s got a ton of respect among the playing group. He’s an unbelievable coach, and a really well-liked guy. It’ll be a fairly seamless transition. He might do things slightly different to Andy, but there will be a lot of crossover. We feel there’s still so much growth within us, so the pressure is probably more internal. There’s a feeling and belief that if we can reach our potential, good things will follow.”
First in the queue to take a stab at the Irish are England, on Saturday. If Ireland are the current poster boys, England are the grizzled veterans, hulking in the corner, pining for a new golden age to dawn. Their pedigree is unmatched, with seven titles since Italy joined to create the Six Nations in 2000, but four consecutive finishes outside the top two have not been received with roars of approval at home.
I’m aggressive, but with an element of control, of precision
Maro Itoje, England
As we sit in the great hall, England head coach Steve Borthwick confirms that former captain Jamie George will miss the opener against Ireland through an injury inflicted in training. This is a brutal game. However, George had already been replaced as skipper by the eloquent man mountain and second row forward Maro Itoje.
On his new role, Itoje reflects, “Being captain is not for me to change who I am. I just want to bring my authentic self. When I’m at my best, I’m combative, I’m aggressive, but I do that with an element of control, of precision. I want to bring that side of me and dial it up even more. It’s a tremendous honour. I just hope that I can do the role justice.
“Every one of the five other teams is a quality team, but I believe England have the potential to do well and win against all of them. We’ll ultimately be judged on how successful we are.”
If England are to burst free from mid-table mediocrity, much hinges on whether Scotland can dispatch the teams they’re supposed to, as well as the teams they’re not. Scotland have toppled England in four consecutive years, with just one defeat since 2017. They have beaten France twice this decade, and ran Ireland close in Dublin last year. But the Scots also succumbed to Italy, and narrowly survived a major scare against Wales. They are the great entertainers of the arena, lacking any silverware to show for their efforts, but admired for solo weapons capable of puncturing any defence.
Scotland won the Calcutta Cup for the fourth time in a row in 2024, beating England 30-21. Getty
Rory Darge (co-captain with Finn Russell) is proud of Scotland’s style: “You have to play rugby you enjoy. It’s a massive motivator, how much pride you take to be part of this team, not necessarily just because it’s Scotland, but in the way we do things.”
Every gladiatorial battle needs a plucky homegrown hero, and standing proudly in the Colosseum is a man raised minutes away from the Stadio Olimpico and the banks of the Tiber – a true Roman. Italian captain Michele Lamaro, son of an Olympic sailor, has steered his men to great success as Italy earned two wins last year to avoid a ninth consecutive wooden spoon. Centre Tommaso Menoncello was also honoured as the Player of the Championship.
Italy beat Wales 24-21 in Cardiff last year. Getty
The conversation has shifted from Italian woe to joy. Lamaro says, “It’s a very nice thing, honestly. This is my fourth Six Nations launch as a captain for Italy, and I always thought, ‘What’s going to be the question that everyone will ask me?’ Previously it was always about Italy losing. Now it’s the exact opposite.
“It makes me feel proud of what we did [last year], but at the same time it’s a danger because it might lead to over-confidence and, on the other hand, to feel oppressed by this pressure.”
I haven’t played Six Nations for two years so I’m very excited
Antoine Dupont, France
Assuming the position of least-fancied team, Wales arrive battered and broken on a 12-match losing streak. They are said to be in a transitional period, but what they are becoming is far short of what they were. Captain Jac Morgan insists morale is high despite Welsh rugby finding itself in the mire. “I’m sure everyone has nerves, it’s only natural,” he says. “I’m probably nervous every time I go into a game, whether it’s club or country, but the mood is good.
“We’ve got to work hard to really get together and put in a performance. As long as every day we try to keep improving, hopefully we’ll get better. The whole focus right now is on France.”
Antoine Dupont led France to Sevens gold in Paris. Getty
The last thing any struggling team needs at the start of a Six Nations tournament is a first-night showdown in Paris. France boast five top-two finishes in as many years. Strengthening their hand is the return of their captain and scrum half Antoine Dupont, who missed last year’s tournament to focus on the Olympic Rugby Sevens in Paris – and won gold.
“I haven’t played Six Nations for two years now, so I’m very excited to start,” says Dupont. “I had a very busy year until the Olympics. It was really tough. I knew I had to make some sacrifices to be able to perform, but it was worth it.”
Les Bleus will afford no mercy to Wales at the Stade de France: “We have to be very careful,” says Dupont. “When people say that you’re favourite, it’s the biggest danger for a team. We have the experience to be ready, to prepare in the best way possible. It is very important to win.”
The gladiators are ready.
Jac Morgan
Wales Captain
Why is the Six Nations so special?
It’s a competitive tournament — all the teams are great.
Which game are you most looking forward to?
Opening the Six Nations in Paris.
What is success for Wales?
We want to perform well and just keep on improving. We can certainly improve on last year.
Maro Itoje
England Captain
Why is the Six Nations so special?
The pride, the history, the rivalries and the atmosphere.
Which game are you most looking forward to?
Game one: Ireland. It’s going to be incredible.
What is success for England?
I believe England have the potential to win against all five nations.
Antoine Dupont
French Captain
Why is the Six Nations so special?
It’s the pinnacle of European rugby.
Which game are you most looking forward to?
You have to be very focused on every game. There are no little games.
What is success for France?
We want to win, but it is a very big challenge with three away games.
Caelan Doris
Ireland captain
Why is the Six Nations so special?
The buzz was big for me as a kid, just wanting to throw a ball around with my dad at half-time.
Which game do you relish the most?
England. Playing them at home, first game, it doesn’t get better than that.
Will you be nervous?
Some level of nerves is natural. At the same time, I love it.
Rory Darge
Scotland co-captain
Why is the Six Nations so special?
It’s the top level of sport, six nations that are always competitive — this year even more so.
Which game do you relish the most?
You can’t look beyond the first one: Italy are outstanding now.
What was it like in the Colosseum?
It was surreal!
Michele Lamaro
Italy captain
Does 2025 feel different for Italy?
It does. There is lots of expectation and teams look at us differently.
Why do you think that is?
We’ve improved a lot, not only on the field but off it, too.
How important are your star players?
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Games are a balance between attack and defence. To break it you need brilliance.
Authors
Michael PottsSport Editor
Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
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