Rugby Story

08 January 2009 03:47 BST

Six Nations to introduce Friday night game in 2009

Grand slam champions Wales will feature in the first-ever Friday night match in the Six Nations when they take on France in Paris next season.

The match will take place on the evening of February 27th – the third round of the competition.

Organisers say they were influenced by the success of Friday evening matches at the Rugby World Cup in France last year, which boosted crowd numbers as well as TV audiences.

All the other rounds will feature two matches on Saturday with the one remaining fixture to be played on Sunday.

The only other exception to this will be the final weekend, when all three games will take place back-to-back on Saturday March 21st.

This 'Super Saturday' lineup will begin with Italy v France in Rome at 13:15 GMT, followed by the Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland at Twickenham at 15.30.

The day will conclude with defending champions Wales against Ireland from Cardiff's Millennium Stadium at 17:30.

Wales' defence of their crown will begin against Scotland at Murrayfield in the featured match on Sunday February 8th, with England taking on Italy and Ireland against France both the previous day.

Full RBS Six Nations 2009 fixture list (all times GMT)-

Round one:

Saturday February 7th
England v Italy (15.00)
Ireland v France (17.00)

Sunday February 8th
Scotland v Wales (15.00)

Round two:

Saturday February 14th
France v Scotland (15.00)
Wales v England (17.30)

Sunday February 15th
Italy v Ireland (14.30)

Round three:

Friday February 27th
France v Wales (20.00)

Saturday February 28th
Scotland v Italy (15.00)
Ireland v England (17.30)

Round four:

Saturday March 14th
Italy v Wales (15.00)
Scotland v Ireland (17.00)

Sunday March 15th
England v France (15.00)

Round five:

Saturday March 21st
Italy v France (13.15)
England v Scotland (15.30)
Wales v Ireland (17.30)