There’s few rugby competitions around the globe that can hold a candle to the mystique and history of the Six Nations Championship.

But, in terms of seeing the young European stars of the game shine, there’s no better place to find them than in the U20 version of the competition that goes along with the senior one each season.

The two most successful countries in the competition, England and France, are once again projected to lead the field at the U20 Six Nations that gets going in February. There are dark horses, though, and the likes of Ireland and Wales should be in the thick of the hunt—especially if they or others manage to steal points against the favorites.

With a plethora of upstart, young talent on display, check out below what to expect from each teams in the U20 Six Nations before watching the competition live on FloRugby

NOTE: All first pitch times are listed in Eastern Time and are subject to change.

England U20

2021 result: Champions

A look ahead: The most successful nation in the Six Nations U20—the English have won seven of those titles since it switched to a U20 format in 2008—ran roughshod in the 2021 tournament, scoring the most tries (25) and allowing the fewest (nine) as it went unbeaten to beat runner-up France by nine points in the final table. Ten players in this year’s squad have already been capped at U20 level including fly-half Fin Smith, who started four of five games in the U20 Six Nations a year ago and was England’s main source of conversion kicks throughout the competition. 

Six Nations matches:
vs. Scotland U20, Feb. 4 2:30 p.m.
vs. Italy U20, Feb. 11 1:30 p.m.
vs. Wales U20, Feb. 25 1:30 p.m.
vs. Ireland U20, March 12 1:45 p.m.
vs. France U20, March 19 3:30 p.m.

France U20

2021 result: Second place

A look ahead: Les Bleuets are three-time winners of the U20 Six Nations but have finished runner-up in five of the last six tournaments (with the exception of 2018, which they won), potentially signaling a lack of a killer instinct in the French camp. That was no more evident than in the first matchweek of last year’s competition against England, when the future champions stormed past the French in a second-half comeback after winger Nelson Epee pulled off a 20-minute hat trick. Nonetheless, France is still undoubtedly a strong side that’ll be in the running this year, with back-rower Theo Ntamack (younger brother of senior team star Romain Ntamack) one of the more recognizable names in the squad after a strong 2021 competition.

Six Nations matches:
vs. Italy U20, Feb. 4 2:30 p.m.
vs. Ireland U20, Feb. 11 2:30 p.m.
vs. Scotland U20, Feb. 25 2:30 p.m.
vs. Wales U20, March 10 2:30 p.m.
vs. England U20, March 19 3:30 p.m.

Ireland U20

2021 result: Third place

A look ahead: The 2019 champions have nearly entirely revamped their squad from the 2021 team that placed behind the English and French, with just four players from last season’s competition named to this year’s squad by coach Richie Murphy. Two of those selections are teammates at club level, with Leinster in prop Jack Boyle and second row Mark Morrissey. But it’s Ulster back row Reuben Crothers that was named captain of the side headed into Ireland’s competition opener against Wales, of which he’ll lead a squad that also features an emerging talent in Chay Mullins, who was in the Ireland Sevens squad recently in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Six Nations matches:
vs. Wales U20, Feb. 4
vs. France U20, Feb. 11 2:30 p.m.
vs. Italy U20, Feb. 25 2:30 p.m.
vs. England U20, March 12 1:45 p.m.
vs. Scotland U20, March 19 12:30 p.m.

Wales U20

2021 result: Fourth place

A look ahead: If there’s a dark horse in this year’s competition, it’s Wales. Back row Alex Mann was the captain in last year’s U20 Six Nations and retains the armband for a second year from a side that beat Scotland and Italy last season. Mann is highly-touted as the future of Welsh rugby as the Cardiff player already made his senior rugby debut against Harlequins in a Champions Cup tie in December. Taking Wales back to the top of the U20 Six Nations table for the first time since 2016 could be a tall order with the current might of the English and French, but with 10 returners in a 38-man squad, many critical pieces have already been faced with the challenge before at this level.

Six Nations matches:
vs. Ireland U20, Feb. 4
vs. Scotland U20, Feb. 11 2:30 p.m.
vs. England U20, Feb. 25 1:30 p.m.
vs. France U20, March 10 2:30 p.m.
vs. Italy U20, March 19 9:30 a.m.

Italy U20

2021 result: Fifth place

A look ahead: The Italians have the dubious honor of having the most Wooden Spoons (last-place finishes) in the U20 Six Nations’ history, but avoided the distinction in 2021 when they demolished Scotland 43-3 in the third matchweek. However, avoiding the bottom spot could be much harder this time around as two of the top talents from that U20 team a year ago—center Tommaso Menoncello and fly-half Leonardo Marin—were called up to the senior team for its own Six Nations campaign, leaving a hole in production in the Italian squad. Italy U20 coach Massimo Brunello hasn’t selected a squad that he plans to play in the competition (as of Sunday), but no matter who is named, it’ll be an uphill battle for the Italians to compete.

Six Nations matches:
vs. France U20, Feb. 4 2:30 p.m.
vs. England U20, Feb. 11 1:30 p.m.
vs. Ireland, Feb. 25 2:30 p.m.
vs. Scotland, March 11 1:30 p.m.
vs. Wales U20, March 19 9:30 a.m.

Scotland U20

2021 result: Sixth place

A look ahead: There’s no sugarcoating it, Scotland’s 2021 U20 Six Nations campaign was downright humiliating. WIth a -122 point differential and a 40-point loss to fellow basement-dwellers Italy, coach Sean Lineen was shelved in favor of new boss Kenny Murray, who selected a 30-man squad with almost half (14) of the team featuring names that played in the 2021 competition. Blindside flanker Rhys Tait is captain following a 2021 U20 Six Nations in which he played in all five of Scotland’s matches, and how he and the rest of his country’s squad perform in this year’s opener against defending champions England will likely be a good barometer of how the rest of Scotland’s tournament is going to go. 

Six Nations matches:
vs. England U20, Feb. 4 2:30 p.m.
vs. Wales U20, Feb. 11 2:30 p.m.
vs. France U20, Feb. 25 2:30 p.m.
vs. Italy, March 11 1:30 p.m.
vs. Ireland U20, March 19 12:30 p.m.