France made a statement to the rest of the rugby world with a 36-14 victory over Ireland in their opening match of the Six Nations tournament. The reigning champions led 29-0 at one point in a game where they also secured a bonus point. Star Antoine Dupont made his long-awaited return to the international stage, 11 months after a serious knee injury.
Strasbourg advanced in the Coupe de France with a 3-1 win over Monaco. Strasbourg will face Reims in the quarter-finals in March.
Karim Benzema couldn’t have dreamed of a better debut with his new side Al-Hilal. The French striker scored a hat-trick in his team’s 6–0 win over Al-Okhdood.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are officially underway, with multiple competitions starting on Thursday. This included the women’s hockey tournament, where hosts Italy defeated France (4-1). The opening ceremony is set to take place across four different locations on Friday, with Mariah Carey as the main guest.