Rugby news: Six Nations Fantasy Game 2025 - Six good picks for each of the Six Nations
The 2025 Six Nations tournament is just around the corner, kicking off in Paris on January 31.
The Six Nations Fantasy Game is back for 2025, and we’ve got you covered right here on Sports News Blitz.
In this Fantasy rugby article, Sports News Blitz’s rugby union writer Luke Ebden looks at six good picks for each of the Six Nations.
Ireland
James Lowe (18 stars) has been a Fantasy rugby staple for a while now.
Lowe offers many routes to points.
Last year he ended with four tries, the fifth most kicks in play and joint-second most offloads and line breaks - eight and seven respectively.
He also managed more metres gained than anyone - 374.7m - making Lowe a very reliable option for your teams.
Dan Sheehan (18 stars) is another exceptional pick.
He was last year’s joint-top try-scorer - five tries - which would now score you an extra five points per try as per the new rule change.
The hooker is a key man in the Irish side.
Whilst he is returning from a serious injury, I’m confident he'll be straight back in the side if he’s fully fit for Round 1.
Tadhg Beirne (17 stars) is a personal favourite of mine.
Beirne has been a points-magnet in the past, and this year looks to be no different.
Beirne had the joint-most lineout steals last year - three.
The Irishman has scored two tries, as well as had two breakdown steals, showing his variety of routes to points.
Garry Ringrose (14 stars) is a central part of the Irish team - and their leadership group.
He has also been a reliable fantasy option over the years.
Ringrose was limited to a single game from the bench in Round 5 last year due to injury.
However, he comes into this tournament fully fit and firing, offering many routes to points - such as tries, offloads and his ability to beat defenders.
Mack Hansen (14 stars) offers a cheaper route into the Ireland back three.
Hansen missed the 2024 instalment of the championship in full due to injury.
However, if we look back at his 2023 stats, we can see his Fantasy value.
Hansen scored three tries in 2023, along with seven line-breaks and six offloads, which shows his Fantasy potential.
I’ve previously tipped the Australian-born Irishman to be the ‘Player to Watch’ for the opening weekend game in Dublin in a previous article.
He looks to be a great pick in the opening round and beyond.
Ronan Kelleher (13 stars) offers a different route to points.
Kelleher is Sheehan’s understudy and a phenomenal hooker at that. He is my tip for a great Supersub pick.
Forwards are now rewarded more points for scoring.
That being said, Kelleher is certainly no stranger to the tryline, scoring eight times in his 36 caps.
His threat from lineout mauls and his ball-carrying ability give him all the tools he needs to cross the line off the bench - this would result in a huge 45 points.
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Wales
Tommy Reffell (17 stars) was everywhere last year for Wales.
The Leicester Tigers back-row was phenomenal in the championship last year.
They managed 78 tackles (third highest) and a championship-leading eight breakdown steals - double second place’s total.
His defensive prowess is almost certain to offer more chances for Fantasy points this year.
Dafyyd Jenkins (15 stars) led from the front for Wales brilliantly last year.
The stand-in captain was monstrous especially without the ball - managing a team-leading 79 tackles and a lineout steal.
The sheer amount of tackles he made led to consistent scores.
If Jenkins can offer more of a threat with lineout steals, Jenkins looks a solid pick.
Taulupe Faletau (13 stars) is one of the best Number 8’s of his generation.
On his day, he is an absolute freak and can win games on his own.
It's been a while since we’ve seen this version of Faletau, but if he gets the starting jersey and replicates his form of old, his offensive ability is likely to lead to huge scores.
Certainly one to watch.
Josh Adams (13 stars) returning is a huge boost for Wales.
Adams is in fine form at club level and is comfortably Wales’s best eligible winger.
His finishing ability, even in games where his side are not favourites, makes him a decent option for 13 stars.
Elliot Dee (12 stars) offers a value option at hooker to go against the popular Mauvaka (15 stars) and Sheehan (18 stars).
With captain Dewi Lake ruled out of the championship, Dee looks set to once again deputise in his absence, as he did last year.
Dee managed some impressive stats last year, managing 46 tackles, two breakdown steals and a lineout steal.
In Round 2 when the four favourites play one another and the predicted ‘Wooden Spoon Match’ takes place, Dee may be an excellent differential pick.
Dan Edwards (11 stars) offers a similar differential option in Round 2.
Whilst it is unclear if he will get the 10 jersey for the championship, a start against Italy in Rome is probable.
For the cheap price of 11 stars, Edwards could allow you to focus your budget on the talismans of the main teams in Round 2.
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Scotland
Finn Russell (20 stars) is the joint-most expensive player in the game.
There’s a reason why.
Russell is the Scottish talisman, and many people’s - including mine - pick for the Lions 10 shirt this summer.
His Fantasy output is phenomenal, especially compared to other players in his position, hence his premium price point.
Russell managed a joint-high three try assists last year, in addition to 11 penalties and conversions each, and five offloads.
In addition, the fly-half had 31 more kicks from hand than any other player last year.
This shows his expansive style, and his potential for 50-22 points too.
He also has huge potential for Player of the Match awards, due to his central role in the way Scotland play, boosting him as an option.
In my opinion, he fully justifies a 20-star price tag.
Duhan van der Merwe (19 stars) is another iconic Fantasy rugby name.
Van der Merwe managed five tries last year, joint-top, and you’d feel if Scotland were to make a bid for the title, he would be a central figure.
In addition to his impressive try-scoring record, VDM also managed six linebreaks, and three offloads, and carried the ball 345.6 metres.
Similar to Russell, he is also a regular Player of the Match contender
If you can stretch your budget to afford him, it is certainly worth upgrading to him from other Scottish back-three assets such as Kinghorn (17 stars) and Graham (16 stars).
Jack Dempsey (16 stars) is a colossal player in the back-row for Scotland.
Last year, he combined 64 tackles with two breakdown steals and three offloads.
He also had the joint-fourth most carries in the tournament (53), carrying the ball 261.9m.
Dempsey is a shoo-in for the Scotland team.
His work in the back row will be pivotal to Scotland’s chances of winning the championship - which should hopefully equate to some Fantasy points.
Huw Jones (16 stars) is another of those well-recognised Fantasy names.
Whilst I’m not trying to pick template players in this article, leaving Jones out was impossible.
Last year, Jones got the joint-most assists - three - carried 326.8m and made six offloads.
In the absence of Tuipulotu, Jones will need to step up and be dominant in attack and defence for Scotland.
George Horne (10 stars) is my differential tip for Scotland.
Horne is a great 9 and has long been battling for the starting spot with Ben White (14 stars).
This championship has the potential to be a real breakout one for him.
Even if he doesn’t start, the pace he brings to the game off the bench could mean he is an interesting differential for a Supersub.
His sniping potential could see him pick up a try or assist.
Stafford McDowall (8 stars) looks in pole position to be the starting 12 for Scotland following the unfortunate injury to Scotland’s captain, Tuipulotu.
McDowall deputised excellently last year in a narrow Round 5 defeat in Dublin.
He is a seasoned leader, having captained club-side Glasgow Warriors in the past.
McDowall will be tasked with the tough distribution role we’ve become accustomed to with Tuipulotu.
However, he certainly is a top centre and has the potential to reach similar scores as Tuipulotu has in the past in Fantasy.
The best part is, he’s only eight stars.
To have 16 players from your 230-star budget, your average player needs to cost 14.3 stars.
The six stars you would save picking McDowall would allow for extra upgrades elsewhere, so for some people, picking McDowall in isolation might not seem smart.
However, in combination with what else he allows your squad to do, he’s a great pickup if he starts.
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France
Antoine Dupont (20 stars) is the best player in the world.
That’s about all I really need to say to justify him.
But if, like me, you like data, in 2023 when Dupont last played he got the joint-most try assists (4), a breakdown steal, six offloads, carried 255.5m and a mammoth - for a back - 54 tackles.
He’s pretty good.
Thomas Ramos (19 stars) is one of the very best in Fantasy rugby in my humble opinion.
He’s the first person I immediately picked this year.
As I mentioned in my last article, in this Fantasy game, there is no designated ‘Kicker.’
This means anyone can score points in Fantasy from off the tee in your team, not just one person.
Ramos is the regular French kicker, so gets a guaranteed source of points every game. Picking him along with any other nations fly-half means you get two goal-kickers in one squad.
However, Ramos is not just good for his kicking.
Last year was sub-par for him - as it was for the whole French team.
Even still, the fullback made 237.5 metres and scored 63 points off the tee in 2024 - from three starts at 15 and two at 10.
But go back to 2023, and Ramos was the real deal in Fantasy rugby. He scored three tries, got two try assists, carried 504.3 metres and made 5 linebreaks.
If he - and France - can recapture this form, Ramos is one of the few essentials to own in the game.
Damian Penaud (19 stars) is the best winger in the Northern Hemisphere.
Despite France underperforming in 2024, Penaud did not.
He notched up a try, joint-top three try assists, carried 422.3m, made 11 offloads and 11 linebreaks and even got a breakdown steal.
In 2023, he scored five times and assisted another. He also carried 406.4m and made 3 offloads.
In games where France are the favourites, Penaud is near essential.
Fitting Penaud and Ramos in together is very tricky, especially this year, so you may be forced to choose.
Peato Mauvaka (15 stars) is the other obvious choice at hooker alongside Sheehan.
No stats to back up this one, simply the eye test.
Mauvaka is one of the best in the world in his position.
He certainly didn’t have the Six Nations he or France planned for last year.
I mean, he was dropped to the bench for the final two games.
However, Mauvaka is a monster. He is a seriously tough ball carrier and is very strong over the ball as well.
He has all the attributes and potential, and I’m predicting this will be the year Mauvaka goes big in Fantasy.
Thibaud Flament (12 stars) is another Fantasy rugby hero.
In 2024, he only managed two games as he was injured for the first half of the tournament.
However, look back to 2023, and he was immense.
He made the second-most tackles - 81 - and secured a lineout steal.
However, most notably he scored three tries.
Flament’s try-scoring potential combined with the incredible work he gets through in defence makes the French lock a great - and underpriced in my opinion - option.
Yoram Moefana (12 stars) offers a risky option with a high reward.
Injuries to Gael Fickou and Jonathan Danty mean he’s the only French centre in the squad with over three caps.
He therefore almost certainly starts, likely 12, but maybe 13 if Ntamack starts in the centres.
Moefana is a high-class player, and given the starting job and some big responsibility, he could step up and deliver in Fantasy.
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Italy
Monty Ioane (16 stars) is a top-tier winger.
Last year, he managed two tries and an assist, in addition to 394.1m carried, eight offloads and seven linebreaks.
If Italy are to avoid the Wooden Spoon again, he’ll be a key asset.
He’s appropriately priced as Italy’s most expensive player, and a great option, especially in Round 2.
Michele Lamaro (15 stars) is Italy’s leader, both as captain and in defence.
He made a simply absurd 103 tackles last year. 24 more than anyone else.
In addition, he had 2 breakdown turnovers and 35 carries in last year's tournament.
Lamaro’s consistency in previous years has earned him a price rise to 15 stars, which is pretty pricey.
However, the captain does deliver consistent, though not flashy points, and is certainly a good pickup in Fantasy.
Lorenzo Cannone (14 stars) is another excellent option - and another whose minutes were limited through injury in 2024.
Looking back at 2023, the Benetton star racked up 55 tackles, and three offloads and carried the ball 308m.
He scored four tries in his first 16 appearances but hasn’t scored from caps 17-23.
If he can rediscover his scoring form, combined with his excellent underlying numbers, Cannone can once again reach his high and consistent points tallies of 2023.
Federico Ruzza (14 stars) is Italy’s main set-piece man.
He is the master of their lineout, receiving the ball 33 times, 14 more than second place.
More importantly for Fantasy though, in 2024 Ruzza achieved two lineout steals and 62 tackles.
Being the focal point of the lineout, he is likely to play 80 most games and reward consistent defensive returns, making him a viable option.
Danilo Fischetti (12 stars) is one of the best loose-head props in the competition overall, but THE best in Fantasy.
Fischetti is a world-class player in a weak Italian front row.
Last year, he notched up 49 tackles and two breakdown steals.
In the absence of Spagnolo, as reported in my Six Nations Round 1 preview article, Fischetti is likely to play even more minutes than he usually does.
Props are not usually high scorers in Fantasy.
Therefore, having a prop with such good minutes, who is mobile around the park is a massive plus, and why he is currently sat in my team - more on that next week.
Martin Page-Relo (10 stars) is a name most people wouldn’t have expected in this article.
Page-Relo was excellent at scrum-half last year for Italy.
It’s a real problem position for them - though I think he is their best 9.
If he gets the start, he can offer impeccable value at just 10 stars, allowing you to spread your budget elsewhere.
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England
Ben Earl (20 stars) has been England’s best player over the last two years, and one of the best Fantasy options too.
Earl had a brilliant 2024 Six Nations, with two tries and an assist.
He also made 63 tackles, got a breakdown steal, and carried the ball 418.6m.
He has had a dip in form since however, but if England are to get anything better than 4th place this year, he will need a big championship.
Earl is expensive as can be at 20 stars, however, picking him in the right rounds could lead to huge scores.
Maro Itoje (17 stars) is a proven Fantasy asset.
The new England captain has been leading from the front for a long time now.
Last year, he made 54 tackles, got one assist, and made one lineout steal and two breakdown steals.
However, Itoje’s discipline has been a concern in the past and will concern Fantasy managers as this will lose them points.
He is better than he was, though he does still concede an above-average amount of penalties, along with the odd card.
Itoje looks back to his very best and will need to lead from the front once more to get England a result this year - and us some Fantasy points along the way.
Ollie Chessum (13 stars) is another great pick from Steve Borthwick’s side.
Listed as a second-row in the game, he may actually play at 6 at times in the Six Nations.
A master of the lineout, last year he achieved a joint championship-high three lineout steals.
His minutes, however, are what makes him a great pick. Borthwick can be unpredictable with his bench, and when they come on.
Chessum almost always plays 80, as he can shift from second-row to back-row and vice versa accordingly.
He is very much one of Borthwick’s favourites and was missed in November.
His return should excite England fans and Fantasy players alike.
Luke Cowan-Dickie (12 stars) looks set to start with Jamie George out injured.
Cowan-Dickie is an explosive hooker, much more dynamic around the park than George.
He is known for his very aggressive tackling technique, practically diving at people’s feet.
Given Borthwick doesn’t seem to trust Theo Dan, I expect Cowan-Dickie to get a lot of minutes in this championship.
He can offer great value at just 12 stars.
Freddie Steward (12 stars) is another name you weren’t expecting to see.
Steward divides opinion as a 15 amongst fans and coaches, as he has very good strengths, but some very poor weaknesses.
With Furbank injured and Daly and Marcus Smith the only other options for the 15 shirt, I expect him to start 15 in the big games this championship.
His metres made through contact is a likely route to points this year.
With the new kicking laws, full-backs often face competition as soon as they land from claiming a high ball.
Steward is one of the few full-backs in the world who often rides this first hit, and makes metres.
These points won’t be game-changing, but enable Steward as a budget option.
Will Stuart (9 stars) is the final player in this article and the only tight-head prop.
Stuart had a breakout year in 2024, especially in November, when he started to make England’s very weak Number 3 jersey his own.
Whilst England’s scrum is not the best, and Stuart is not an exciting pick, he offers a cheap route into the starting English front row.
I see Stuart very much as an enabler, allowing you to free up funds for other positions.
