There was heartbreak for most of the Bath Rugby players involved in the final round of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations on Saturday 14th March.
Bath’s Declan Treacey captained England U18 against their France counterparts here at Chinnor RFC on Saturday 14th March. The visitors won 63-33 | Photo © Richard Briggs
Blue, Black & White fly-half Finn Russell was on the verge of winning the title with Scotland.
The Scots went into their Round 5 match against Ireland in Dublin with a great chance of glory, having triumphed in three of their previous four matches this year.
But their hopes were dashed by a 43-21 defeat at the Aviva Stadium.
Russell, who played the full 80 minutes and was one of Scotland’s two vice-captains, scored a 51st-minute try for the visitors and converted all three of their touchdowns.
Ireland’s victory took them to the top of the table – but France could overhaul them in the evening kick-off.
However, the French were up against an England side smarting from three losses from four outings in the competition this year.
Bath skipper and scrum-half Ben Spencer and back row Guy Pepper were in the England starting line-up in Paris – and Blue, Black & White back row Sam Underhill was on the bench.
Spencer was replaced in the 51st minute. And Underhill came on for Pepper 11 minutes later to earn his 50th England cap.
England led 27-17 at Stade de France as half-time approached and were 46-45 ahead in the game’s final moments.
But a penalty at the death ensured France prevailed 48-46 and secured the championship.
There was some joy for Bath prop Archie Griffin, though.
He was a 37th-minute replacement for Wales as they bagged their first win of the campaign by overcoming Italy 31-17 at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
However, Griffin was sin-binned in the 51st minute.
Scotland finished third in the table, with England fifth and Wales bottom.
England U20 – captained by Bath number 8 Connor Treacey – ended up third in the U20 Six Nations.
They went down 31-28 to France in La Rochelle on Sunday 15th March, the result handing the hosts the title.
Treacey’s side were 21-0 down, edged 28-26 ahead but were sunk by a late try.
Bath wing Tyler Offiah joined Treacey in the starting XV. And Offiah notched England’s first touchdown.
The Blue, Black & White’s Declan Treacey – Connor Treacey’s brother – captained England U18 as they crashed 63-33 to their France counterparts in a friendly that attracted a ground record attendance of 3,000 to Chinnor RFC’s Kingsey Road base in Oxfordshire.
Among the England replacements in the 14th March fixture were Bath’s Max Hooper and Ben Allen.
England U18 now head to the U18 Six Nations Festival in France, where they will face Ireland on Friday 3rd April, Georgia on Tuesday 7th April and Italy on Saturday 11th April.
