Scottish Fans Supporting England?

Scottish rugby fans were left with the unlikely prospect of supporting the old enemy

The 2026 Six Nations Championship delivered excitement and surprise like no other championship in living memory. Perhaps the most unlikely storyline of all emerged in the buildup to the final round of fixtures last weekend. 

It looked as if Scotland fans would be cheering on England against favourites France in the tournament’s grand finale. A Scottish victory over Ireland in Dublin would have left their title hopes dependent on an England victory. For an English fan here in St Andrews, it was a tantalising prospect.

The pubs and bars of sleepy St Andrews are hardly a hostile environment during even the most tense sporting events, but a white jersey is always the target for a level of good-natured chirping, especially when England are playing the dismal rugby they have been producing in this edition of the tournament. 

The idea that the tables might be turned, that England tries would be met with cheers instead of groans, was a welcome one.

It was not to be. Scotland’s 43–21 defeat in Dublin killed their title ambitions and with them the prospect of an evening that might have marked the highest point in Anglo-Scottish relations since the signing of the Acts of Union in 1707.

Scotland never really got going against a resurgent Ireland side, written off by many after their opening-day defeat to France. They have been impressive since and finished the tournament in a close second place.

Scotland displayed none of the free-flowing rugby that characterised their barnstorming victory over France at Murrayfield. Ireland were successful in slowing Scottish attacks at the breakdown and attacked effectively themselves, with a speed that Scotland could not match.

It has been an up-and-down tournament for Scotland, featuring impressive wins over England, Wales, and France but bookended by limp defeats to Italy and Ireland that ultimately derailed their campaign. It remains to be seen whether Scotland coach Gregor Townsend will remain in his position.

After their home win, Irish fans went into the final game in Paris depending on England to keep their hopes of a championship victory alive. Though it felt as if nearly every game in this year’s 2026 Six Nations Championship was ‘one for the ages,’ it is fair to say that the finale between England and France truly earned that title.

For English supporters who have watched as Scotland, Ireland, and Italy have taken turns dismantling their team over the past few weeks, the performance in Paris was a huge positive.

The seven tries England managed against France equalled their combined tally from their previous three matches, a testament to the increased attacking quality and ambition they displayed against the tournament’s best side.

England were ahead at 46–45 as the clock went red, but were undone by an 82nd-minute penalty that secured the championship for the French. Agonising for England, but even more so for Ireland, who were denied glory at the death.

A day that periodically threatened to produce the impossible, it finished much as most would have predicted: with France as champions. Anglo-Scottish relations, it seems, will have to wait for another year. 

Image taken from Six Nations Website