Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Nicky Smith gets the nod ahead of Rhys Carre as the starting loose-head prop, which means he will be going up against his Leicester team-mate Joe Heyes.

Smith gave the tight-head some serious problems when he was at the Ospreys and they caused an upset at Welford Road.

Heyes has made big strides since and the Sale-bound prop is a big fan.

Smith said last week: "Over the last 18 months he has been one of the in-form tight-heads in the world," said Smith about his friend.

"If I do have the opportunity to go up against him then I know that I have to be at my absolute best to make it a competition and a good battle."

Read the full story here.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

England were impressive in the autumn while Wales suffered three heavy defeats.

Wales have not won a Six Nations match since March 2023 but Tandy remains optimistic.

"Wales v England is always a special game with all the history behind the fixture," said Tandy.

"We know they're playing some outstanding rugby and they're in great form, but I know how much it means to our players playing for the nation and representing Wales.

"The way the squad trained this week has been great.

"I want to see us get out and really attack the game on Saturday and give the best account of ourselves.

"Opening the Six Nations at Twickenham is historic and it's something we can't wait to do."

What do you make of Steve Tandy's first Wales Six Nations team?

Let us know using the 'Send us your views' box on the left-hand side of the page.

The 2026 Six Nations gets under way this evening with England, France and Ireland the favourites to win the title.

Defending champions France take on 2024 winners Ireland in a blockbuster opening match at the Stade de France in Paris.

There will be only one fallow week this year, which will take place after the third round of matches on 21-22 February.

The last round of games is on Saturday, 14 March, with France v England at the Stade de France the final match.

Here is how you can follow the whole tournament with the BBC.

Image source, gett

In just under half hour's time, we will have live coverage of Wales head coach Steve Tandy's press conference following today's team announcement.

Tandy is expected to talk to the media at 12:30 GMT. Click the play button at the top of the page to watch.

Dewi Lake insists his team will "never give up fighting" despite the turmoil surrounding the domestic game in Wales.

Lake captains his country into the 2026 Six Nations on the back of major upheaval around regional rugby.

Going into this tournament the stats for Wales do not make pretty reading.

• They’ve suffered a national record of 11 successive defeats in the Six Nations with their last win coming against Italy in Rome in March 2023.
• Six Nations champions as recently as 2021, they have collected the Wooden Spoon in back-to-back tournaments for the first time.
• They have lost 21 of their last 23 Test matches with their only two victories in that time coming against Japan.
• Their 18-match losing streak came to a halt with a 31-22 victory against Japan in July. That ended a 21-month, 644-day run without a win stretching back October 2023 v Georgia at the Rugby World Cup.
• Wales' last match ended in a 73-0 defeat to South Africa in November. That marked the second worst defeat in their history behind a 96-13 loss to the Springboks in 1998, and their biggest defeat at home, surpassing the previous mark which had only been set by England eight months previously.

Since winning the 2021 Six Nations title Wales have managed just two wins in their subsequent 20 matches.

They beat Scotland 20-17 at home in 2022 and enjoyed a 29-17 victory in Rome over Italy in 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

To help get you in the mood, can you solve these anagrams to reveal 12 players hoping to make an impact over the next six weeks?

There are two each from the England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales squads.

Just unscramble the letters and type in your answers here.

At just 25, Louis Rees-Zammit has already played in three Six Nations, a World Cup and toured with the British and Irish Lions.

However, the Wales full-back has never run out for Wales at Twickenham.

"I'm looking forward to it, it's the first game as well. It's kind of the unknown with Wales – what have we done to bring a more consistent performance from the autumn to now?

"All of the boys are raring to go. There's no bigger game than Wales England."

Read more from Rees-Zammit here.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

A reminder of what Wales will be going up against after England named their side early on Monday.

Steve Borthwick has named his captain Maro Itoje on the bench after he missed the start of their training camp to attend his mother’s funeral in Nigeria.

Hooker Jamie George leads the side in his absence – until the lock is called into action – while there is a first start since the 2023 World Cup for Bath wing Henry Arundell.

The Northampton pair of Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman have been paired in midfield despite strong displays by Max Ojomoh.

England: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George (capt), Heyes; Coles, Chessum; Pepper, Underhill, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith

Louis Rees-Zammit started his return to rugby union in his familiar position on the wing for Bristol Bears, but switched to full back in December.

He scored three tries in his first two games at 15 and has stayed there since.

This will be his fourth start at full-back for Wales in what is his first Six Nations appearance since 2023.

"I love it," the 25-year-old says of his positional switch. "It allows me to get more touches on the ball in open field, it suits my game."

"I much prefer it. I've played 15 in the past for Wales, but I think now I'm kind of seen as a 15 that can play on the wing.

"I've got the licence to not do what I want, but when I've got the ball back there I have to make a decision and back myself."

Image source, Getty Images

We will be hearing from Steve Tandy later but here is what the Wales coach said about Josh Macleod in the press release announcing his team.

Tandy said: "Josh has had some rough luck with injuries, but the way he's come back, the way he leads, his attention to detail around his week plan, the way he trains, the intensity he brings to everything he does is excellent.

"It’s going to be awesome to see him on the weekend."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales have matched England by going with six forwards on the bench, with both Taine Plumtree and Harri Deaves selected as replacements.

The two backs are replacement scrum-half Kieran Hardy and fit-again Cardiff back Mason Grady, who will certainly bring physicality.

The front row replacements are strong in the shape of Cardiff captain Liam Belcher and props Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis while Dragons skipper Ben Carter makes his first Six Nations appearance since 2022.

However, a reminder of what England will be bringing off the bench – Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Itoje, Tom Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Marcus Smith.

Gulp!

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales go with Louis-Rees Zammit at full-back and Ellis Mee and Josh Adams get the nod at the wings.

Tandy has gone with the tenacity of Scarlets flanker Josh Macleod at openside. His return to fitness means that Alex Mann shifts back to blind-side.

It's Scarlets' Eddie James who wins selection at 13 in the absence of the injured Max Llewellyn.

James, who missed the autumn campaign with a back injury, is a promising prospect and will go up against Lions back Tommy Freeman.

The pair locked horns in the Champions Cup last month in Northampton.

Image source, Getty Images

Here is the Wales team to face England at Twickenham.

The big news is that Louis Rees-Zammit has been moved to full-back.

Wales: Rees-Zammit; Mee, James, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Macleod, Wainwright.

Replacements: Belcher, Carre, Francis, Carter, Plumtree, Deaves, Hardy, Grady.

Here comes the announcement...

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales' half-backs are nailed-on - scrum-half Tomos Williams and fly-half Dan Edwards will start.

However, who is outside them is tougher to call with Joe Hawkins and Ben Thomas having shared the 12 jersey in the autumn.

Owen Watkin and Eddie James are back in the mix from injury at 13 while the aerial game will dominate who gets the nod in the back three.

Blair Murray struggled at full-back in the autumn and Louis Rees-Zammit has been shifted to 15 by Bristol recently.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales are, of course, without inspirational captain Jac Morgan and that leaves Tandy with a tough decision about the make-up of his back row.

Aaron Wainwright is a shoo-in but could Olly Cracknell come in to add physicality against England?

Versatile Alex Mann featured at open-side in the autumn but he has now been joined in the squad by Josh Macleod.

The tenacious Scarlets flanker started in Japan last summer but missed out in November through injury.

James Botham, Harri Deaves and Taine Plumtree are other options.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

And this was Tandy’s line-up when they went up against New Zealand in their last autumn international with a full contingent - they were without those who play outside Wales for the hammering by South Africa.

There are 18 players in bold who are in the current squad, with Llewellyn and Assiratti both absent through injury.

Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, Llewellyn, Hawkins, Rogers; Edwards, T Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Assiratti, D Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Deaves, Plumtree.

Replacements: Coghlan, G Thomas, Griffin, F Thomas, Morse, Hardy, J Evans, Tompkins.