Ireland's opening match of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations will be held in Marseille, it has been has confirmed.
Six Nations confirmed that the opening game of the tournament will take place in the Orange Velodrome in Marseille, venue of the 2022 Heineken Champions Cup final in which Leinster lost to La Rochelle.
Defending Grand Slam champions Ireland will face Les Bleus on Friday, 2 February with an 8pm kick-off.
The stadium has a capacity of 67,394 and is home to football club Olympique Marseille.
France usually host their home games in the Stade de France in Paris but played Italy at the same venue in the 2018 tournament.
The stadium will be unavailable due to preparation works ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup hosts will also take on Italy at the Decathlon Arena in Lille on 25 February and England at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon on 16 March.
Ireland’s World Cup matches against Romania and Tonga take place in Bordeaux and Nantes, respectively, on 9 and 16 September, while their final two Pool B games, against South Africa and Scotland, on 23 September and 7 October, are in the Stade de France.
2024 Six Nations fixtures
Round 1
Friday 2 February – France v Ireland, 8pm
Saturday 3 February – Italy v England, 2.15pm
Saturday 3 February – Wales v Scotland, 4.45pm
Round 2
Saturday 10 February – Scotland v France, 2.15pm
Saturday 10 February – England v Wales, 4.45pm
Sunday 11 February – Ireland v Italy, 3pm
Round 3
Saturday 24 February – Ireland v Wales, 2.15pm
Saturday 24 February – Scotland v England, 4.45pm
Sunday 25 February – France v Italy, 3pm
Round 4
Saturday 9 March – Italy v Scotland, 2.15pm
Saturday 9 March – England v Ireland, 4.45pm
Sunday 10 March – Wales v France, 3pm
Round 5
Saturday 16 March – Wales v Italy, 2.15pm
Saturday 16 March – Ireland v Scotland, 4.45pm
Saturday 16 March - France v England, 8pm
