France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey has been named the 2026 Six Nations Player of the Championship, beating Italy's Tomasso Menoncello, Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey, and Scotland winger Kyle Steyn to claim the award. Bielle-Biarrey's career achievements include an all-time Six Nations try tally of 18, and he broke into the French senior rugby team at age 19 in 2023. He emulates the feat of France teammate Antoine Dupont, who claimed the Six Nations Player of the Championship award in 2022 and 2023, by winning back-to-back awards.
In a statement, Bielle-Biarrey expressed happiness and credited the team's hard work, noting that defending their title two years in a row was a significant achievement. France's dramatic 48-46 win over England in the 2026 Six Nations was a last-gasp victory that ensured France topped the standings. The total number of votes cast in the fan vote for the award has not been disclosed, and the specific criteria used to determine the winner remain unclear, though other nominees beyond those mentioned may have been considered.
I'm just really happy, honestly. It's yet another reward for the team's hard work throughout the tournament.
We were able to defend our title. Winning the tournament two years in a row is no small feat. We're very happy to have done it.