Can Scotland make it five in a row against their oldest rivals in this year’s Calcutta Cup encounter?
Watch England v Scotland to see rugby’s oldest rivalry renewed at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, today. This guide contains all the information you need to watch this eagerly anticipated Six Nations 2025 match, wherever you are in the world.
Scotland head to London on the back of four consecutive wins in the annual Calcutta Cup encounter, but face an England team buoyed by their impressive last-minute victory over France two weeks ago. Scotland know they have what it takes to beat the hosts, but can Gregor Townsend’s men bounce back from their comprehensive defeat to Ireland in round two?
The big match kicks off at 4.45pm GMT this afternoon. You can watch England v Scotland live streams for free in Great Britain and Northern Ireland – read on to find out how to view the game in the UK and elsewhere in the world.
Key information
– England v Scotland date: Saturday 22 February 2025
– England v Scotland kick-off time: 4.45pm local (GMT) / 5.45pm CET / 11.45am ET / 6.45pm SAST / 3.45am AEDT (Sunday)
– England v Scotland venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, England
– England v Scotland on TV: ITV1, RTÉ 2, France 2
– England v Scotland streams: ITVX (free), RTÉ Player (free), FranceTV (free)
– Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free
How to watch England v Scotland in the UK – live stream the Six Nations for free
In the UK today? ITV has the rights to this eagerly anticipated Calcutta Cup match. England v Scotland is available to watch for free on both terrestrial channel ITV1 and streaming service ITVX.
ITVX is free to use, though you do need an up-to-date TV Licence to stream live TV in the UK. You’ll also need to complete a simple sign-up process to access the service.
ITV’s coverage starts at 4.00pm GMT ahead of the 4.45pm GMT kick-off.
Free coverage of every Six Nations match is available in the UK on either BBC or ITV, but ITV has the rights to all of England’s matches at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. It’s also the place to go to watch Italy v France on Sunday.
How to watch England v Scotland from overseas
Going to be abroad when this Calcutta Cup match kicks off today and worried about geo-blocking spoiling the fun? A VPN could come to the rescue.
Also known as Virtual Personal Networks, these clever pieces of software can change your IP address to make your laptop, smartphone or tablet appear to be in a different country. This allows you to log on to your favourite streaming platform as if you were back at home.
As well as being an essential piece of kit for globe-trotting sports fans, VPNs can also improve your internet security when you’re online – and that’s a big win.
TechRadar know a thing or two about gadgets and software, and have tested hundreds of VPNs. NordVPN comes out on top, particularly for unblocking streaming services. You can also make big savings during the Six Nations.
How to watch England v Scotland in Ireland
England v Scotland is also available to watch for free in Ireland, where RTÉ have the rights to this year’s Calcutta Cup clash.
If you want to tune in via traditional terrestrial TV, RTÉ 2 will be broadcasting the match live. Streamers should head for the RTÉ Player platform. Tuning is super-easy if you head for the website or app – you don’t even need to sign up to use the service.
Coverage of England v Scotland kicks off at 4.15pm ahead of the 4.45pm kick-off.
Every Six Nations 2025 match can be viewed for free in Ireland, with rights shared between RTÉ and Virgin Media. The weekend’s two other games, Wales v Ireland and Italy v France, are available on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Player.
How to watch England v Scotland in France
French fans also get to watch every single Six Nations match for free courtesy of France Télévisions.
England v Scotland will be broadcast on terrestrial channel France 2 and the FranceTV streaming platform. Both are free to view.
Coverage starts at 5.35pm CET ahead of the 5.45pm CET kick-off.
French fans who are abroad but want to tune in with their usual French language commentary can still access their France Télévisions coverage from abroad by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.
Other global streams
United States: NBC’s Peacock streaming service has the rights to every Six Nations game in the US. A subscription will set you back $7.99 per month.
Australia: Stan Sport will show England v Scotland down under. To tune in you’ll need a base Stan subscription plus $15 per month for Stan Sport. You’ll also need to get up very early (or stay up very late) to catch the 3.45am kick-off.
New Zealand: In New Zealand, England v Scotland is on Sky Sport, which costs $49.99 per month if you’re after a streaming subscription.
South Africa: SuperSport should be your destination to watch England v Scotland in South Africa.
Italy: England v Scotland is available on subscription service Sky Sports Italia in Italy.
- For a full list of global broadcasters, check out our full guide to how to watch Six Nations 2025.
England v Scotland preview
This is arguably the hardest of the weekend’s matches to call. Both sides come into the game with one victory and one defeat to their name, separated by a single bonus point.
Home advantage and recent results would point to an England win, after Steve Borthwick’s side earned a surprise late victory over a much-fancied France team, and Gregor Townsend’s men suffered an 11th consecutive defeat to a rampant Ireland side. At the same time, form doesn’t always matter in the Calcutta Cup, especially as Scotland are on a run of four wins in a row against their oldest rivals. Remarkably, Townsend has only lost once in seven games against England.
The hosts will be looking to prove that their last-minute victory over France wasn’t a false dawn. England had developed a habit of surrendering leading positions to top-tier opposition, but the French result may have got that particular monkey off their back. Borthwick’s selections have been remarkably consistent of late, as he builds a club-like ethos in the side. The one change he’s made to the starting XV sees Ollie Chessum coming into the second row. Although George Martin had originally dropped to the bench, he’s subsequently been ruled out by injury. Ted Hill takes Martin’s place among the replacements.
The England selectors have, unsurprisingly, kept faith with the big switch they made for the France game. Coming into the side for his first-ever international start, Northampton Saints fly-half Fin Smith put in a player-of-the-match performance, and arguably improved the balance of the team. Namesake Marcus continues at full-back, and England will be hoping their two talented playmakers can cause the visitors plenty of problems in defence.
There’s no doubting the talent among England’s ranks, but there remains a persistent sense that they’re a work in progress. Putting together back-to-back Six Nations victories for the first time in a year would suggest they may be on the right track.
Unfortunately for the hosts, Scotland are the ultimate Six Nations banana skin. In fact, England have beaten Argentina, Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Wales – and drawn with New Zealand – since the last time they lifted the Calcutta Cup. The question is, can Townsend harness that significant psychological advantage?
Having come into the tournament looking like potential contenders, they’ve not recovered from the loss of star centre and captain Sione Tuipulotu. Their backs division, the envy of most sides on the planet, has rarely played at its brilliant best, while the entire team received a humbling rugby lesson when the brilliant Irish came to Murrayfield. The team is also waiting for talismanic fly-half Finn Russell to put in one of the match-changing performances that have become his trademark.
He’ll have a chance today, however, as he returns to the side after missing most of the Ireland game following a nasty collision of heads with teammate Darcy Graham. Graham is not yet fit to play. Besides, like many of this experienced Scotland side, Russell has a habit of saving his best performances for matches against England. Indeed, England’s defence will have been doing extensive homework on the prolific Duhan van der Merwe, who’s scored five tries in his last two matches against England. He already holds the record for the most ever tries in Calcutta Cup matches, with teammate Huw Jones not far behind. Who’d bet against him adding to his tally today?
England v Scotland teams and officials
England have made a solitary change to the starting line-up that beat France, with Ollie Chessum coming in for George Martin in the second row. Martin is ruled out by injury, so Ted Hill takes his place on the bench.
Scotland have made three changes to the XV defeated by Ireland. Kyle Rowe comes in on the wing in place of Darcy Graham, Pierre Schoeman replaces Rory Sutherland at loosehead, and Jamie Ritchie is selected over Matt Fagerson at blindside flanker.
ENGLAND
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
SCOTLAND
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Kyle Rowe
13. Huw Jones
12. Tom Jordan
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
9. Ben White
1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Jonny Gray
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey
Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman
17. Rory Sutherland
18. Will Hurd
19. Sam Skinner
20. Gregor Brown
21. Matt Fagerson
22. Jamie Dobie
23. Stafford McDowall
Pierre Brousset of France is the referee for England v Scotland, with Luc Ramos (France) and Andrew Brace (Ireland) as his assistants. France’s Tual Trainini is the TMO.
Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.
Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).
2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.