Six Nations 2026: James Lowe dropped but Jeremy Loughman starts and Antoine Dupont returns as Ireland and France name teams for opener in Paris

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Ireland and France have named their teams for Thursday night's Six Nations opener. Andy Farrell's side will start with Jeremy Loughman at prop and Jacob Stockdale at left wing in the biggest surprise selections for the trip to Paris. France, meanwhile, welcome back influential captain Antoine Dupont, who returns from a knee injury. Damian Penaud and Gael Fickou will miss the clash with Ireland.

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James Lowe has been dropped from Ireland's team to face France in their 2026 Six Nations opener, but Jeremy Loughman will start at prop for the first time in over three years.

Head coach Andy Farrell has seen his front row options decimated by injury, with key man Tadhg Furlong out of action - and that has opened the door for Loughman, who last featured for Ireland two years ago in the Six Nations.

Left wing Lowe is out of the side, replaced by Jacob Stockdale, who has been rewarded for his fine form with Ulster this season.

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Meanwhile, Sam Prendergast won the battle to start at fly-half ahead of Jack Crowley and Harry Byrne.

Several important players are injured. Among them Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, Robbie Henhsaw and Bundee Aki.

On the inclusions of Loughman and Stockdale in Paris on Thursday, Farrell said: "Everyone who doesn't get a chance is always trying to fight to get back in.

"They have fought hard enough to earn the right to take responsibility in a big game. The opening game in Paris, it doesn't get any bigger. It's a fantastic opportunity."

Asked about Stockdale's improvement, Farrell added: "He's back to being himself this year, that's for sure. If you speak to him, he's delighted that he's simplified things and got back to what he's good at, which is beating people. We've seen that plenty this season."

Farrell also praised Prendergast, who is now captain at Connacht Rugby at the age of just 22.

"We feel he has matured a lot. The captaincy has helped a lot in Connacht as well, taking the responsibility and to channel his thoughts in another way.

"We were delighted with how he took his chance in the autumn. He is another who has been waiting for a big moment. He's across most things in his game. He's pretty impressive."

Ireland's coach provided an update on Furlong, too, with the prop potentially back for the home game against Italy on February 14.

"The right thing to do with Tadhg, for us and for him, is understand what history has told us," Farrell said. "To push hard for this game could have meant we end up with egg on our face on both sides.

"We expect him to be fully fit for the week after."

Finally, Farrell turned his attention to the Six Nations as a whole and Ireland's prospects of regaining the title from France.

"All we control is the controllables," he said.

"We want to be as good a team as we can possibly be and if we're pulling in the right direction and chasing that down, we need to prove to ourselves that we can also be the best team in the competition."

Dupont returns for France

The major team news for Six Nations holders France is the return of scrum-half Antoine Dupont, back on the international stage after months out with a knee injury.

He starts for Les Blues, as does last year's player of the tournament Louis Beille-Biarrey.

Damian Penaud and Gael Fickou are notable absentees in the backline, while prop Uini Atonio was forced to retire just before the tournament after suffering a heart attack.

France 23 to face Ireland

15. Thomas Ramos (Toulouse, 47 caps)
14. Theo Attissogbe (Pau, 8 caps)
13. Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux Begles, 7 caps)
12. Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux Begles, 36 caps)
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux Begles, 22 caps)
10. Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux Begles, 35 caps)
9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse, 59 caps) - captain

1. Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon, 40 caps)
2. Julien Marchand (Toulouse, 48 caps)
3. Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse, 23 caps)
4. Charles Ollivon (Toulon, 48 caps)
5. Mickael Guillard (Lyon, 13 caps)
6. Francois Cros (Toulouse, 39 caps)
7. Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle, 9 caps)
8. Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse, 35 caps)

Replacements:

16. Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse, 42 caps)
17. Rodrigue Neti (Toulouse, 4 caps)
18. Regis Montagne (Clermont, 5 caps)
19. Hugo Auradou (Pau, 10 caps)
20. Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse, 11 caps)
21. Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier, 2 caps)
22. Baptiste Serin (Toulon, 46 caps)
23. Kalvin Gourgues (Toulouse, 1 cap)

Ireland 23 to face France

15. Jamie Osborne (Naas/Leinster, 10 caps)
14. Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College/Leinster, 6 caps)
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster, 69 caps)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster, 23 caps)
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster, 40 caps)
10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster, 13 caps)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster, 46 caps)

1. Jeremy Loughman (Garryowen/Munster, 5 caps)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster, 35 caps)
3. Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College/Leinster, 10 caps)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster, 19 caps)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster, 65 caps)
6. Cian Prendergast (UCD/Connacht, 8 caps)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster, 75 caps)
8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster, 55 caps) - captain

Replacements:

16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster, 43 caps)
17. Michael Milne (UCD/Munster, 2 caps)
18. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht, 54 caps)
19. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster, 76 caps)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster, 55 caps)
21. Nick Timoney (Queen’s University/Ulster, 6 caps)
22. Craig Casey (Shannon/Munster, 24 caps)
23. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster, 30 caps)

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