Ireland to open campaign against Italy

Six Nations 2010: Ireland's defence of their Six Nations title is likely to hinge on back-to-back matches against France and England next season. The Grand Slam winners were handed the daunting trips to the Stade de France and then Twickenham when the fixture list was announced this afternoon.

Declan Kidney’s side will open their campaign against wooden spoon ‘winners’ Italy at Croke Park at the start of February before tackling France and England, with fans able to enjoy Paris over St Valentine’s weekend.

Wales are next on the agenda with the deposed champions coming to Croke Park on March 13th.

Scotland’s trip to Dublin will bring the curtain down on the championship and, with the redeveloped Lansdowne Road due to reopen later in the year, Ireland’s temporary residency at Croke Park.

Despite misgivings in some quarters, organisers will again hold a match on a Friday night with France and Wales taking centre stage once more.

This year’s game between the two countries, held in Paris, attracted the largest television audience of the entire tournament, surpassing even the numbers tuning in to witness Ireland’s piece of history at the Millennium Stadium.

Six Nations fixtures 2010
(All times Irish)

Saturday, February 6th

Ireland v Italy, Croke Park (2.30pm)
England v Wales, Twickenham (5pm)

Sunday, February 7th

Scotland v France, Murrayfield (3pm)

Saturday, February 13th

Wales v Scotland, (2pm)
France v Ireland, Stade de France (4.30pm)

Sunday, February 14th

Italy v England, Stadio Flaminio (2.30pm)

Friday, February 26th

Wales v France, Millennium Stadium (8pm)

Saturday, February 27th

Italy v Scotland, Stadio Flaminio (1.30pm)
England v Ireland, Twickenham (4pm)

Saturday, March 13th

Ireland v Wales, Croke Park (2.30pm)
Scotland v England, Murrayfield (5pm)

Sunday, March 14th

France v Italy, Stade de France (2.30pm)

Saturday, March 20th

Wales v Italy, Milliennium Stadium (2.30pm)
Ireland v Scotland, Croke Park (5pm)
France v England, Stade de France (7.45pm)