Seven Leicester Tigers players were in international action this weekend as the 2025 Guinness Six Nations began.

Kicking off the tournament was France taking on Wales in the tournament opener, with Welsh Tigers Tommy Reffell and Nicky Smith both seeing plenty of minutes.

Reffell was an early blood substitute for Aaron Wainwright, recording a vintage turnover in a brief cameo before later replacing the No. 8 at half time, whilst Smith entered just after the break to win his 50th cap for his country.

Saturday's action saw Scotland defeat Italy to regain the Cuttitta Cup in Edinburgh, with Will Hurd coming off the bench to earn his first minutes in a Six Nations match.

Having earned his first international cap over the summer against Chile and signing a contract extension at Tigers in December, this was another step in the Ashby-born tighthead's progression that has seen him rise from age-grade rugby for Scotland all the way through to the senior squad.

From one local tighthead to another, the final match of the weekend saw Joe Heyes earn his first Six Nations appearance as well as his first international cap since November 2022 in England's defeat to Ireland.

Heyes won his eighth England cap coming off the bench, entering the field alongside Ollie Chessum in the final quarter of the match, with clubmates Freddie Steward and George Martin having started the game at the Aviva Stadium.