Following the Six Nations squad announcements and with the action closing in, our focus turns to the players set to miss part or in some cases all of the Championship.
There’s some serious talent sitting on the sidelines, and while they may still feature in the tournament, for the moment, they will be watching from their TV screens.
Six Nations Injured XV
Backs:
15 Ange Capuozzo: The full-back fractured his finger in Toulouse’s final match of 2025 and, as a result, will miss the opening of the Six Nations at the very least. With a whole host of Italian stars missing for this year’s tournament, the Azzurri will hope that their little magician will return sooner rather than later.
14 Mack Hansen: The Ireland star is set to be out for the remainder of the season after suffering from a foot injury that has plagued him for quite some time. His wing teammate, James Lowe, and stalwart fullback Hugo Keenan are also both absent, so the back three will have an entirely new look to it when Ireland open the competition in Paris against France.
13 Robbie Henshaw: After recovering from a finger injury in January, the 32-year-old fell foul of a knee issue, which has since ruled him out of the start of the tournament at least. With Bundee Aki suspended for the opening three matches, Ireland are looking desperately thin in the midfield.
12 Jonathan Danty: The La Rochelle centre suffered a serious right knee injury in October 2025, and following surgery in January, is still recovering. His impact has been felt within the squad already, as without many out-and-out inside centres, Yoram Moefana has needed to step into the position.
11 Edoardo Todaro: One of the most exciting youngsters in the Gallagher PREM, the 19-year-old looked set for his international breakthrough this tournament, but has sadly torn his cruciate ligament in his knee, leaving him facing a long lay-off from both domestic and international rugby.
10 Romain Ntamack: The French fly-half is suffering from a kidney injury that will keep him sidelined for the first two weeks of the Six Nations. Although he is a regular starter for both Toulouse and France, his absence will not likely prove disastrous for Fabien Galthié’s side, as he has the majestic Matthieu Jalibert set to slot into ten. Tommaso Allan is another class operator for the Azzurri who is sidelined, with the 32-year-old usually providing cover at full-back and fly-half.
9 Maxime Lucu: The Bordeaux maestro stepped up to the plate last year in the Six Nations when Antoine Dupont sustained a season-ending injury against Ireland and has been Galthie’s go-to man when the skipper is unavailable. Lucu and Nolann Le Garrec’s setbacks have created the opportunity for Baptiste Serin to return to the French fold as Les Bleus flex their scrum-half depth.
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Forwards:
8 Ben Curry: After undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury at the back end of 2025, Curry has not played since December, and will continue his rehabilitation with his club. The Sale Sharks man will watch on as his brother joins the hotly contested England back row.
7 Jac Morgan: One of the stars of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, the 26-year-old is out after dislocating his shoulder in the autumn series opener against Argentina at the start of November. Wales will desperately be trying to avoid the wooden spoon again this year, and the absence of their best player will not help.
6 Sebastian Negri: A recurring ankle injury sustained while playing for Benetton Rugby has resulted in the hard-hitting Italian missing the opening of the Six Nations. Negri is yet another name that Gonzalo Quesada has been forced to add to his ever-growing injury list. France are also without the tireless Paul Boudehent.Â
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5 Ryan Baird: A broken bone in his foot during the latter stages of 2025 has caused the giant lock to be sidelined, as Ireland look to rebuild after a wholly disappointing Autumn Nations campaign. Baird’s absence is not only a setback in the second row but the loose trio too.Â
4 Tom Ahern: Despiteinitially being named in Andy Farrell’s wider training squad, lock Tom Ahern has since been withdrawn due to a neck injury. Ireland’s squad are noticeably ageing, and the withdrawal of the 25-year-old Munsterman will not help that.
3 Tadhg Furlong: The Leinster prop has returned to training following a recent calf injury, but has not been deemed fit enough to return for the opener against France. With the absence of his long-term prop partner, Andrew Porter, Ireland could struggle in the scrum.
2 Gianmarco Lucchesi: Another one of Italy’s high-profile absentees, the Toulon hooker has worked brilliantly in tandem with Giacomo Nicotera in recent times for the Azzurri.
1 Andrew Porter: Out with a calf injury he suffered in training at the start of January, the 30-year-old has not played since, and leaves behind a giant hole in the Irish scrum.