🏉 Six Nations Rugby 2027 – Travel by Ferry
The Six Nations Rugby Championship returns in 2027, bringing five weekends of international rugby to England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy.
For travelling supporters, it is also a tournament that works surprisingly well with ferry travel. You could cross the Irish Sea for Ireland v England in Dublin, take the ferry for a weekend of rugby in Wales or Scotland, or travel across the Channel before continuing towards Paris. Taking your own car gives you even more freedom. Stay outside the host city, turn the match into a longer break or explore somewhere new before travelling home.
Here is how to start planning your Six Nations 2027 trip by ferry.
🏉 When is the Six Nations 2027?
The 2027 Men’s Six Nations Championship takes place from Friday 5 February until Saturday 13 March 2027. The tournament features:
- 🏴 England
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🏴 Scotland
- 🏴 Wales
There are 15 matches across five rounds, with each country playing five times. The tournament begins on Friday 5 February when Ireland host England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. It finishes on Saturday 13 March, when all six teams play on the final day.
Why Travel to the Six Nations by Ferry?
The Six Nations is made for a weekend away. Unlike flying, taking the ferry allows you to bring your own vehicle. That can give you much more flexibility once you arrive.
You can stay outside busy city centres, explore surrounding areas and carry everything you need for a longer trip. It can also work well when several supporters are travelling together. Most importantly, several of the tournament’s host cities have strong connections with existing Ferryto.eu routes and destination guides.
🇮🇪 Travel to Six Nations Rugby in Dublin by Ferry
Dublin is probably the strongest ferry opportunity of the entire 2027 Six Nations. Ireland play two home matches at the Aviva Stadium:
- Ireland v England – Friday 5 February 2027
- Ireland v France – Saturday 13 March 2027
Both matches kick off at 8:10pm. Supporters travelling from Great Britain have several ways to cross the Irish Sea.
Holyhead to Dublin
The Holyhead to Dublin ferry is one of the most direct options for reaching the Irish capital.
Once you arrive in Dublin, you are already in the host city. This makes the route particularly attractive for England supporters travelling to the opening match.
Explore Holyhead to Dublin Ferries →
Fishguard to Rosslare
Travelling from South Wales? The Fishguard to Rosslare ferry provides another option for reaching Ireland with your own vehicle. From Rosslare, you can continue north towards Dublin by road.
Explore Fishguard to Rosslare Ferries →
Pembroke to Rosslare
The Pembroke to Rosslare ferry is another useful option from South Wales. Again, bringing your car means you can drive onwards towards Dublin and potentially include other parts of Ireland in your trip.
Explore Pembroke to Rosslare Ferries →
For more options, visit our complete Ferries to Ireland guide.
🏴 Travel to Six Nations Rugby in Wales by Ferry
Cardiff hosts two matches during the 2027 championship:
- Wales v Ireland – Saturday 20 February
- Wales v England – Saturday 6 March
Both take place at the Principality Stadium.
Ferry travel is particularly relevant for supporters coming from Ireland. Passengers can cross from Dublin to Holyhead or Rosslare to Fishguard or Pembroke to Rosslare, before continuing towards Cardiff. Taking a car can also give you more choice over where you stay during a busy Six Nations weekend.
🏴 Travel to Six Nations Rugby in Scotland by Ferry
Scotland play three matches at Murrayfield in Edinburgh during the 2027 Six Nations:
- Scotland v Italy – Saturday 6 February
- Scotland v Wales – Saturday 13 February
- Scotland v Ireland – Friday 5 March
For supporters travelling from Northern Ireland, ferry routes into Scotland can make driving to Edinburgh possible.
Crossings between Belfast and Cairnryan and Larne and Cairnryan put you onto the Scottish road network. From there, you can continue across Scotland towards Edinburgh. This can be especially useful for Irish supporters travelling to Scotland v Ireland.
🇫🇷 Travel to Six Nations Rugby in France by Ferry
France host Wales and Scotland in Paris during the tournament:
- France v Wales – Saturday 6 February
- France v Scotland – Sunday 21 February
Travelling by ferry gives supporters from Britain several ways to reach France. Cross the Channel and then continue towards Paris by road. Depending on where your journey starts, routes such as Dover to Calais can provide a convenient option. Taking your own car also gives you the opportunity to extend the trip beyond Paris.
Which Six Nations Ferry Route Should You Choose?
Your best route will depend on which match you are attending and where your journey begins.
For Dublin, the Holyhead route offers direct access to the Irish capital. For travellers from South Wales, crossings to Rosslare may be more convenient. Supporters travelling between Northern Ireland and Scotland can consider Cairnryan crossings. Meanwhile, supporters heading to France have several Channel ferry routes available.
Compare the crossing time with the onward drive before booking. The shortest ferry crossing is not always the shortest overall journey.
Taking Your Car to the Six Nations
Taking a vehicle can make a Six Nations weekend much more flexible. You can pack everything into the car and avoid relying entirely on flights or airport transfers. It can also allow you to stay further away from the stadium. That may be useful during major rugby weekends when city-centre accommodation is in high demand.
However, you probably won’t want to drive directly to the stadium on match day. Check local parking and public transport options before you travel. Our Travelling by Ferry with a Vehicle guide explains what to expect when taking your car onboard.
Turn the Six Nations into a Longer Trip
You don’t have to travel all that way just for 80 minutes of rugby. One of the advantages of travelling by ferry is the opportunity to turn the match into a longer break. If you’re heading to Dublin, spend a few extra days exploring Ireland.
Travelling to Edinburgh? Extend your journey and explore more of Scotland. Alternatively, combine a match in Paris with a road trip through France. Having your own car gives you much more freedom to decide where you go next.
Book Early for Six Nations 2027
Major Six Nations weekends attract thousands of travelling supporters. Therefore, it makes sense to start planning early. Ferry crossings, hotels and other accommodation can become busier around major fixtures.
The Ireland v England match in Dublin on Friday 5 February is one fixture where early planning could be particularly useful. England Rugby’s official ticket information already lists the Dublin fixture for 5 February at 8:10pm.
When planning your journey, check:
- Match tickets
- Ferry availability
- Accommodation
- Vehicle requirements
- Ferry check-in times
- Driving distances
- Parking
- Public transport to the stadium
Booking the ferry and accommodation together in your planning can help avoid finding a great crossing but nowhere convenient to stay.
FAQ
Planning to go to the Six Nations 2027? These answers cover some of the most common questions about travelling by ferry.
🏉 Start Planning Your Six Nations 2027 Trip
The Six Nations is about much more than the match itself. It’s the journey, the atmosphere, the travelling supporters and the weekend away. Taking the ferry gives you the freedom to bring your car, travel together and turn your rugby trip into something bigger.
Start by exploring our Rugby by Ferry guide, compare your ferry options and begin planning your Six Nations Rugby 2027 adventure.