Six Nations 2026: Why will France play in light blue against England?

France will wear a special light blue shirt for Saturday’s Six Nations match in Paris to mark 120 years of the rivalry against England.

With England playing in white, the change has raised concerns about potential clashes between kits.

A bonus-point win over Steve Borthwick’s side will ensure France win the Six Nations title for a record eighth time.

A statement from the French Federation said: “Based directly on the history of the rivalry, the design of the match shirt – and its replica – refers to the original light blue shirt worn by the French team in 1906 in its first match against England.”

“The 1927 French Football Federation crest emblazoned on the kit refers to the year in which the French team achieved their first victory over England, while the ‘tricolor’ stripes are a nod to French rugby kits of the late 1980s and 1990s, when Adidas was the kit supplier to the Federation.”

Reports indicate, external England, aware of the possibility of conflict between the teams, will stick to wearing its traditional white shirt.

France usually play in dark blue, so wore their white away shirt during Edinburgh’s 50-40 defeat to Scotland last weekend.

The Six Nations will no longer allow red and green shirts in the Wales v Ireland match due to the difficulty colour-blind spectators may have in distinguishing between the teams.

Wales wore a white shirt last weekend in Dublin, which appeared light compared to Ireland’s dark green shirt.