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Six Nations Championship
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Current season or competition: 2026 Six Nations Championship | |
 The Guinness Six Nations logo | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1883 (as Home Nations Championship) 1910 (as Five Nations Championship) 2000 (as Six Nations Championship) |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Country |  England France Ireland Italy Scotland Wales |
| Holders | France (2025) |
| Most titles | England Wales (39 titles) |
| Website | sixnationsrugby.com |
| Related competitions | Women's Six Nations Championship Six Nations Under 20s Championship |
|---|
The Six Nations Championship (known as the Six Nations, branded as Guinness M6N[a]) is an annual international rugby union competition by the men's teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. It is the oldest sports tournament contested by the Home Nations. The championship holders are France, who won the 2025 tournament.
The tournament is organised by the unions of the six participating nations under the banner of Six Nations Rugby, which is responsible for the promotion and operation of the men's, women's and under-20s tournaments, and the Autumn International Series, as well as the negotiation and management of their centralised commercial rights.
The Six Nations is the successor to the Home Nations Championship (1883–1909 and 1932–39), played by teams from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, which was the first international rugby union tournament.[1] With the addition of France, this became the Five Nations Championship (1910–31 and 1947–99), and the Six Nations Championship with Italy joining in 2000.
England and Wales have won the championship the most times, both with 39 titles, but England have won the most outright titles with 29 (28 for Wales). Since the Six Nations era started in 2000, only Italy and Scotland have failed to win the Six Nations title.
The women's tournament started as the Women's Home Nations in the 1996 season. The men's Six Nations Under 20s Championship is the successor to the Under 21s tournament which began in 2004.
History and expansion
[edit]The tournament was first played in 1883 as the Home Nations Championship among the then four Home Nations of the United Kingdom – England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. However, England was excluded from the 1888 and 1889 tournaments due to their refusal to join the International Rugby Football Board. The tournament then became the Five Nations Championship in 1910 with the addition of France. The tournament was expanded in 2000 to become the Six Nations Championship with the addition of Italy.
Following the relative success of the Tier 2 nations in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, there were calls by Octavian Morariu, the president of Rugby Europe, to let Georgia and Romania join the Six Nations due to their consistent success in the European Nations Cup and ability to compete in the Rugby World Cup.[2][3]
Format
[edit]
The tournament begins on the first weekend in February and culminates on the second or third Saturday in March. Each team plays every other team once (a total of 15 matches), with home ground advantage alternating from one year to the next. Before the 2017 tournament, two points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. Unlike many other rugby union competitions, a bonus point system had not previously been used.
A bonus point system was first used in the 2017 Championship. The system is similar to the one used in most rugby championships (0 points for a loss, 2 for a draw, 4 for a win, 1 for scoring four or more tries in a match, and 1 for losing by 7 points or fewer). The only difference is that a team that wins all their games (a Grand Slam) are automatically awarded 3 extra points - to ensure they cannot be overtaken by a defeated team on bonus points.
Before 1994, teams equal on match points shared the championship. Since then, ties have been broken by considering the points difference (total points scored minus total points conceded) of the teams. The rules of the championship further provide that if teams tie on both match points and points difference, the team that scored the most tries wins the championship. Were this decider to be a tie, the tying teams would share the championship.[4] To date, however, match points and points difference have been sufficient to decide the championship.
The Wooden Spoon is a metaphorical award given to the team that finishes in last place; a team which loses all their matches is said to have been "whitewashed".[5] Since the inaugural Six Nations tournament in 2000, only England and Ireland have avoided finishing last. Italy have finished last 18 times in the Six Nations era, and have lost all their matches in 12 tournaments.
| Three home matches | Two home matches | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Even years | France
|
Ireland
|
Wales
|
England
|
Italy
|
Scotland
|
| Odd years | England
|
Italy
|
Scotland
|
France
|
Ireland
|
Wales
|
Trophies
[edit]Championship Trophy
[edit]The winners of the Six Nations are presented with the Championship Trophy.[6] This was originally conceived by the Earl of Westmorland, and was first presented to the winners of the 1993 Five Nations Championship; France. It was a sterling silver trophy, designed by James Brent-Ward and made by a team of eight silversmiths from the London firm William Comyns. The current championship trophy for the Six Nations Championship was designed and made in 2015 by Thomas Lyte, London silversmiths.[7]
The old trophy had 15 side panels representing the 15 members of the team and with three handles to represent the three officials (referee and two touch judges). The cup has a capacity of 3.75 litres (0.8 imp gal; 1.0 US gal) – sufficient for five bottles of champagne. Within the mahogany base is a concealed drawer which contains six alternative finials, each a silver replica of one of the team emblems, which can be screwed on the detachable lid.
A new trophy was introduced for the 2015 Championship.[8] The trophy is sterling silver, contains over fifty individual pieces, stands at a height of 75 cm (30 in) and has a distinctive six-sided design representing the six nations that compete.[9]
Grand Slam and Triple Crown
[edit]A team that wins all its games wins the 'Grand Slam'.
The Triple Crown may only be won by one of the Home Nations of England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, when one nation wins all three of their matches against the others. The Triple Crown dates back to the original Home Nations Championship, but the physical Triple Crown Trophy has been awarded only since 2006, when the Royal Bank of Scotland (the primary sponsor of the competition) commissioned Hamilton & Inches to design and create a dedicated Triple Crown Trophy. As of 2025[update], the trophy has been won five times by Ireland, four times by Wales, three times by England, and yet to be won by Scotland.
Rivalry trophies
[edit]Several individual competitions take place under the umbrella of the tournament. Some of these trophies are also awarded for other matches between the two teams outside the Six Nations. Only Scotland play for a 'rivalry' or challenge trophy in every Six Nations match, as well as for the oldest such trophy, the Calcutta Cup. Wales became the last nation to contest such a trophy, the Doddie Weir Cup in 2018, while the newest such trophy is the Cuttitta Cup introduced between Scotland and Italy in 2022.
Games which form part of the Triple Crown are marked TC.
| Trophy | Teams | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcutta Cup | England–ScotlandTC | 1879[10] | Made from melted-down Indian rupees donated by the Calcutta Club |
| Millennium Trophy | England–IrelandTC | 1988 | Presented to celebrate Dublin's millennium in 1988[11] |
| Centenary Quaich | Ireland–ScotlandTC | 1989[12][13][14] | Named for the quaich, a traditional Gaelic drinking vessel. Marked the centenary of the founding of the International Rugby Football Board. |
| Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy | France–Italy | 2007 | Commemorated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Garibaldi, leader in the unification of Italy and volunteer in the French Republican Army against Prussia |
| Auld Alliance Trophy | France–Scotland | 2018 | In memory of the war dead from the rugby communities of Scotland and France[15] |
| Doddie Weir Cup | Wales–ScotlandTC | 2018 | In recognition of Doddie Weir, who founded the My Name's Doddie Foundation which supports research into motor neurone disease[16] |
| Cuttitta Cup | Scotland–Italy | 2022 | Commemorates Massimo Cuttitta, a former Italian captain and Scotland scrum coach, who died in 2021 at the age of 54 from COVID-19.[17] |
Currently the following matches have no additional trophy contested:
|
|
Venues
[edit]
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As of the 2025 tournament, Six Nations matches are held in the following stadiums:
| Team | Stadium | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | Twickenham Stadium | London | 82,000 |
| France | Stade de France | Saint-Denis | 81,338 |
| Wales | Principality Stadium | Cardiff | 73,931 |
| Italy | Stadio Olimpico | Rome | 72,698 |
| Scotland | Murrayfield Stadium | Edinburgh | 67,144 |
| Ireland | Aviva Stadium | Dublin | 51,700 |
The opening of Aviva Stadium in May 2010 ended the arrangement with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) that allowed the all-Ireland governing body for rugby union, the Irish Rugby Football Union, to use the GAA's flagship stadium, Croke Park, for its international matches. This arrangement was made necessary by the 2007 closure and subsequent demolition of Ireland's traditional home at Lansdowne Road; Aviva Stadium was built on the former Lansdowne Road site. During this construction, Croke Park was the largest of the Six Nations grounds, with a capacity of 82,300.
In 2012 Italy moved their home games from the 32,000 seat Stadio Flaminio, to Stadio Olimpico, also in Rome, with a capacity of 72,000.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) had planned to build a new stadium of its own, seating 82,000 in the southern suburbs of Paris,[18] because of frustrations with their tenancy of Stade de France.[19] However the project was cancelled in December 2016.[20] France played their 2018 match against Italy at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.[21]
In 2020, Wales played their final game at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli due to the Principality Stadium being used as Dragon's Heart Hospital in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]
In 2024, France was unable to use the Stade de France for their Six Nations home games due to ongoing preparations for its use in the 2024 Summer Olympics.[23] Instead they played their three home matches at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, and Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon.
Results
[edit]Overall
[edit]England |
France |
Ireland |
Italy |
Scotland |
Wales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournaments | 129 | 96 | 131 | 26 | 131 | 131 |
| Outright wins (shared wins) | ||||||
| Home Nations | 5 (4) | — | 4 (3) | — | 9 (2) | 7 (3) |
| Five Nations | 17 (6) | 12 (8) | 6 (5) | — | 5 (6) | 15 (8) |
| Six Nations | 7 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Overall | 29 (10) | 19 (8) | 16 (8) | 0 (0) | 14 (8) | 28 (11) |
| Grand Slams | ||||||
| Home Nations | — | — | — | — | — | 2[24] |
| Five Nations | 11 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | 6 |
| Six Nations | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Overall | 13 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| Triple Crowns | ||||||
| Home Nations | 5 | — | 2 | — | 7 | 6 |
| Five Nations | 16 | — | 4 | — | 3 | 11 |
| Six Nations | 5 | — | 8 | — | 0 | 5 |
| Overall | 26 | — | 14 | — | 10 | 22 |
| Wooden Spoons | ||||||
| Home Nations | 7 | — | 10 | — | 5 | 6 |
| Five Nations | 10 | 12 | 15 | — | 15 | 10 |
| Six Nations | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 3 |
| Overall | 17 | 13 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 19 |
Home Nations (1883–1939)
[edit]
Five Nations (1940–1999)
[edit]
Six Nations (2000–present)
[edit]Titles and awards
[edit]| Nation | Titles | Last Title | Grand Slams | Last Grand Slam | Triple Crowns | Last Triple Crown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England |
39 | 2020 | 13 | 2016 | 26 | 2020 |
| Wales |
39 | 2021 | 12 | 2019 | 22 | 2021 |
| France |
27 | 2025 | 10 | 2022 | — | — |
| Ireland |
24 | 2024 | 4 | 2023 | 14 | 2025 |
| Scotland |
22 | 1999 | 3 | 1990 | 10 | 1990 |
| Italy |
0 | — | 0 | — | — | — |
| Nation | Titles | Last Title | Grand Slams | Last Grand Slam | Triple Crowns | Last Triple Crown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France |
7 | 2025 | 4 | 2022 | — | — |
| England |
7 | 2020 | 2 | 2016 | 5 | 2020 |
| Wales |
6 | 2021 | 4 | 2019 | 5 | 2021 |
| Ireland |
6 | 2024 | 3 | 2023 | 8 | 2025 |
| Scotland |
0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — |
| Italy |
0 | — | 0 | — | — | — |
Wooden Spoon
[edit]Overall
| Team | Wooden Spoons | Last Wooden Spoon |
Era | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HNC | FNC | SNC | |||
| Ireland
|
25 | 1998 | 11 | 14 | 0 |
| Scotland
|
24 | 2015 | 5 | 15 | 4 |
| Wales
|
19 | 2025 | 6 | 10 | 3 |
| Italy
|
18 | 2023 | — | — | 18 |
| England
|
17 | 1987 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| France
|
13 | 2013 | — | 12 | 1 |
Six Nations era (2000–2025)
[edit]| Team | Wooden Spoons | Years awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Italy
|
18 | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Scotland
|
4 | 2004, 2007, 2012, 2015 |
| Wales
|
3 | 2003, 2024, 2025 |
| France
|
1 | 2013 |
| England
|
0 | |
| Ireland
|
0 |
Bold indicates that the team did not win any matches
Match records (Six Nations era 2000–2025)
| Team | Played | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland
|
130 | 89 | 38 | 3 | 68.46% | 29.23% |
| England
|
130 | 86 | 42 | 2 | 66.15% | 32.31% |
| France
|
130 | 84 | 43 | 3 | 64.62% | 33.08% |
| Wales
|
130 | 64 | 63 | 3 | 49.23% | 48.46% |
| Scotland
|
130 | 43 | 84 | 3 | 33.08% | 64.62% |
| Italy
|
130 | 16 | 112 | 2 | 12.31% | 86.15% |
Head-to-head records (Five Nations Championship)
Record Team
|
England
|
 France
|
Ireland
|
Scotland
|
Wales
|
Total record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England
|
— | 35–7–27 | 38–7–23 | 43–8–19 | 30–8–32 | 146–30–101 (52.71%) |
| France
|
27–7–35 | — | 42–5–23 | 34–2–33 | 30–3–37 | 133–17–128 (47.84%) |
| Ireland
|
23–7–38 | 23–5–42 | — | 34–2–33 | 25–5–38 | 105–19–151 (38.18%) |
| Scotland
|
19–8–43 | 33–2–34 | 33–2–34 | — | 29–1–40 | 114–13–151 (41.01%) |
| Wales
|
32–8–30 | 37–3–30 | 38–5–25 | 40–1–29 | — | 147–17–114 (52.88%) |
Player awards
[edit]| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Gordon D'Arcy
|
| 2005 | Martyn Williams
|
| 2006 | Brian O'Driscoll
|
| 2007 | Brian O'Driscoll (2)
|
| 2008 | Shane Williams
|
| 2009 | Brian O'Driscoll (3)
|
| 2010 | Tommy Bowe
|
| 2011 | Andrea Masi
|
| 2012 | Dan Lydiate
|
| 2013 | Leigh Halfpenny
|
| 2014 | Mike Brown
|
| 2015 | Paul O'Connell
|
| 2016 | Stuart Hogg
|
| 2017 | Stuart Hogg (2)
|
| 2018 | Jacob Stockdale
|
| 2019 | Alun Wyn Jones
|
| 2020 | Antoine Dupont
|
| 2021 | Hamish Watson
|
| 2022 | Antoine Dupont (2)
|
| 2023 | Antoine Dupont (3)
|
| 2024 | Tommaso Menoncello
|
| 2025 | Louis Bielle-Biarrey
|
Records
[edit]Ireland's Johnny Sexton holds the record for most points in the competition, with 566. England's Jonny Wilkinson holds the records for individual points in one match (35 points against Italy in 2001) and one season with 89 (scored in 2001).
The record for tries in a match is held by George Campbell Lindsay, who scored five tries for Scotland against Wales in 1887.[26] England's Cyril Lowe, Scotland's Ian Smith and France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey jointly hold the record for tries in one season with 8 (Lowe in 1914, Smith in 1925, Bielle-Biarrey in 2025).[27] Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll has the Championship record for tries with 26.
The record for appearances is held by Sergio Parisse of Italy, with 69 appearances,[28] between 2004 and 2019.
The most points scored by a team in one match was 80 points, scored by England against Italy in 2001. England also scored the most points in a season in 2001 with 229.[26] France scored the most tries in a season, with 30 in 2025.[27] Wales hold the record for fewest tries conceded during a season in the Six Nations era, conceding only 2 in 5 games in 2008, but the 1977 Grand Slam-winning France team did not concede a try in their four matches. Wales hold the record for the longest time without conceding a try, at 358 minutes in the 2013 tournament.
Administration
[edit]The Championship is run from headquarters in Dublin, Ireland by Six Nations Rugby Ltd.[29]
Former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) CEO, Tom Harrison,[30] was appointed the CEO of Six Nations Rugby in January 2023 following the resignation of Benjamin Morel in November 2022.[31] Morel had held the position of CEO since November 2018,[32] replacing John Feehan, who stepped down after sixteen years as CEO in April 2018.[33] Harrison's tenure as CEO commenced from April 2023.[30][34]
Ronan Dunne was appointed as the Chairman for Six Nations Rugby in November 2021 with his tenure commencing from January 2022. Dunne has responsibility for the commercial and marketing operations for both the men's and women's Six Nations tournaments.[35]
Marketing
[edit]Broadcasting rights
[edit]One of the most important rugby union tournaments in the world, the Six Nations Championship is broadcast in various countries in addition to the six participating nations.[36]
In the United Kingdom, the BBC has long covered the tournament, broadcasting all matches (apart from England home matches between 1997 and 2002, which were shown live by Sky Sports with highlights on the BBC) until 2015. In addition, Welsh language coverage of broadcasts matches featuring the Welsh team shown by the BBC are shown on S4C in Wales in the United Kingdom.[37] Between 2003 and 2015, the BBC covered every match live on BBC Sport either on BBC One or BBC Two with highlights also on the BBC Sport website and either on the BBC Red Button or late at night on BBC Two.
On 9 July 2015, in reaction to bids by Sky for the rights beginning in 2018, the BBC ended its contract two seasons early, and renegotiated a joint contract with ITV Sport for rights to the Six Nations from 2016 through 2021. ITV acquired rights to England, Ireland and Italy home matches, while the BBC retained rights to France, Scotland and Wales home matches. By ending its contract early, the BBC saved around £30 million, while the new contract generated £20 million in additional revenue for the Six Nations.[38]
With the end of the contract nearing, speculation once again emerged in 2020 that Sky was pursuing rights to the Six Nations from 2022 onward; under the Ofcom "listed events" rules, rights to the tournament can be held by a pay television channel if delayed broadcasts or highlights are made available on free-to-air television.[39] It was reported that the bid for CVC Equity Partners to purchase a stake in the Six Nations was being hindered by a desire for a more lucrative broadcast contract; a call for the Six Nations to be moved to Category A (which requires live coverage to air free-to-air) was rejected.[40][41] In May 2021, the BBC and ITV renewed their contracts through 2025. The BBC will continue to broadcast home matches from Scotland and Wales and all women's and under-20s matches, with ITV airing England, France, Ireland and Italy home matches.[42][43] In 2025, the deal was further extended until the 2029 tournament in a deal which would see BBC retain 5 matches and ITV also gain rights to England matches played in Scotland or Wales.[44]
France, Ireland, and Italy listed the Six Nations as a major event with cultural significance and enacted national and EU laws to ensure coverage would be available on free-to-air channels.[45]
In Ireland, each of Ireland's games in the Six Nations may be held by a pay television channel, if the match is delayed broadcast and in full on free-to-air television.[46] RTÉ have broadcast the championship since RTÉ's inception and continued to do so until 2017, while TG4 televised highlights. However, in late 2015 RTÉ's free-to-air rival TV3 was awarded the rights for every game from the Six Nations on Irish television from 2018 to 2021.[47] In 2022 it was announced that RTÉ and Virgin Media would share broadcasting rights.[48]
In France, the entire Six Nations rugby tournament must appear on free-to-air television.[49] France Télévisions has covered the competition in France.
In Italy, Six Nations rugby matches involving the Italian national team must be broadcast on free-to-air television.[50] Sky Italia broadcasts all matches while free-to-air TV8 only covers Italy fixtures.
In the United States, NBC Sports broadcasts matches in English.[51] The tournament is also broadcast on DAZN in Canada, Premier Sports Asia in East and Southeast Asia, Sky Sport in New Zealand, Stan Sport in Australia and SuperSport in South Africa.[52]
In 2024 the Six Nations teams featured in a Netflix documentary Six Nations: Full Contact.[53] In February 2024, the show was green lit for a second season.[54] In January 2025, the tournament organisers confirmed that Netflix would not be taking up the option to produce a third series.[55]
| Territory | Broadcaster | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| France
|
France 2 | All matches |
 Republic of Ireland
|
RTÉ | All matches split between both channels |
| Virgin Media Television | ||
| Italy
|
Sky | All matches |
| TV8 | Italy matches only | |
 United Kingdom
|
BBC One | 5 matches all featuring Scotland and/or Wales |
| ITV | 10 matches including exclusivity of matches featuring England | |
| S4C | Wales matches shown by BBC in the Welsh language | |
| Asia | Premier Sports Asia | All matches |
 Australia
|
Stan Sport | All matches |
| Baltic states and Nordic countries (including Poland) | Viaplay | All matches |
 Canada
|
DAZN | All matches |
| Caribbean | ESPN | All matches |
 Czechia (including Slovakia)
|
Nova Sport | All matches |
| Germanic Europe (including Luxembourg) | More Than Sports | All matches |
 Israel
|
Sport 5 | All matches |
 Georgia
|
Rugby TV | All matches |
 Japan
|
Wowow | All matches |
 Malta
|
GO | All matches |
| MENA | Premier Sports Middle East | All matches |
 Netherlands
|
Ziggo Sport | All matches |
 New Zealand
|
Sky Sport | All matches |
 Portugal (including Slovenia)
|
Sport TV | All matches |
 Romania
|
Orange Sport | All matches |
 Spain (including Andorra)
|
Movistar Plus+ | All matches |
| South America (including Argentina and Brazil) | ESPN Latin America | All matches shown in the Spanish language |
| ESPN Brazil | All matches shown in the Portuguese language | |
| Sub-Saharan Africa (including South Africa) | SuperSport | All matches |
 United States
|
NBC Sports | All matches |
| Worldwide | TV5Monde | France matches only |
Sponsorship
[edit]Until 1998, the competition had no title sponsor. Sponsorship rights were sold to Lloyds TSB Group for the 1999 tournament and the competition was titled the Lloyds TSB 5 Nations and Lloyds TSB 6 Nations until 2002.[56]
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group took over sponsorship from 2003 until 2017, with the competition being branded the RBS 6 Nations. A new title sponsor was sought for the 2018 tournament and beyond.[57] However, after struggling to find a new sponsor, organisers agreed a one-year extension at a reduced rate. As the RBS brand was being phased out, the tournament was named after the NatWest banking subsidiary, becoming the NatWest 6 Nations.[58]
On 7 December 2018, Guinness was announced as the Championship's new title sponsor, with the competition to be named the Guinness Six Nations from 2019 to 2024.[59] Due to the Loi Évin laws which prohibit alcohol sponsorship in sport, "Guinness" cannot be used as part of the branding of the tournament in France. The French-language logo for the tournament replaces the Guinness logo with the word "Greatness" in the same colour and typeface as the Guinness wordmark.[60][61] [62]
See also
[edit]
- The Rugby Championship, an analogous tournament of national teams in the Southern Hemisphere
- Rugby Europe International Championships, for second- and third-tier national teams in Europe
- Six Nations Under 20s Championship
- Women's Six Nations Championship
- British Home Championship, a similar tournament in association football
Notes
[edit]- ^ For sponsorship reasons.
References
[edit]- ^ Godwin (1984), pg 1. Though only matches involving Ireland could properly be considered international, and only after 1922, all other teams being from entirely within the nation state of the United Kingdom. The first ever Home Nations International Championship was played in 1883. No other Northern Hemisphere team played a recognised international match until France faced New Zealand in 1906
- ^ Brown, Oliver (25 March 2015). "Open up the Six Nations and let Georgia in". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ "let in Georgia and Romania, says governing body". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ "Rules of the RBS 6 Nations Championship". RBS 6 Nations. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
- ^ "Six Nations: Wales look to avoid the Wooden Spoon - but what is it?". BBC. 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Six Nations Championship Trophy Trust". RBS 6 Nations. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
- ^ "The Phoenix Luxury Co Ltd T/A Thomas Lyte | Royal Warrant Holders Association". www.royalwarrant.org. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ^ "New Six Nations trophy unveiled". ESPN. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ "Will Ireland be getting their hands on this? New trophy for the RBS Six Nations unveiled". Irish Independent. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ "The Calcutta Cup: the legacy of a club that died". Scottish Rugby. Archived from the original on 14 February 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
- ^ "About Us". Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
- ^ Massie, Alan (19 February 2000). "Lamenting the sad decline of the fighting Irish". The Scotsman. p. 31.
- ^ Ferrie, Kevin (22 March 1999). "Scotland now have quality in quantity". The Herald. p. 1.
- ^ Walsh, David (13 February 2005). "Scots torn apart by Irish mean machine". The Sunday Times. p. Sport 2.
- ^ "Auld Alliance Trophy unveiled | Scottish Rugby Union". scottishrugby.org. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Doddie Weir Cup |". TheGuardian.com. 2 November 2018. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ "The Cuttitta Cup is unveiled". Scottish Rugby Union. 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Projet Stade" (in French). French Rugby Federation. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "French national rugby team plan to quit Stade de France". BBC Sport. 25 November 2010. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "Rugby-French federation drops plans for new stadium". Reuters. 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ "France to host Italy in Marseille". rugby365.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Wales to play at Parc y Scarlets - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Why France will play none of their Six Nations home games at the Stade de France". Planet Rugby. 2 February 2024.
- ^ By convention, Wales is credited with two Grand Slams for the years 1908 and 1909 because, if France was admitted only in 1910, Wales already met France on the sidelines of the Tournament and doubled the Triple Crown of a victory against France.
- ^ "PLAYER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP". Six Nations Rugby. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Six Nations records". Rugby Heaven. 1 February 2005. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2007.
- ^ a b "France's Bielle-Biarrey breaks Six Nations try record". BBC Sport. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ "Records". Six Nations Rugby. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Contact Us". sixnationsrugby.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Tom Harrison Appointed Six Nations Rugby CEO". Six Nations Rugby. 27 January 2023. Archived from the original on 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Six Nations Rugby CEO Ben Morel to Step Down at the End of the Season After Five Years at the Helm". Six Nations Rugby. 28 November 2022. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Six Nations Rugby Appoint Chief Executive Officer". sixnationsrugby.com. Six Nations Rugby. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "John Feehan Steps Down as CEO of Six Nations". sixnationsrugby.com. Six Nations Rugby. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
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External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Six Nations Championship.
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Six Nations Championship
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Origins as Home Nations Championship
The Home Nations Championship, the precursor to the modern Six Nations, was established in 1883 as an annual international rugby union competition among the four Home Nations of the British Isles: England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.[8] Organized under the auspices of the respective national unions, it adopted a round-robin format where each team played the others once, with matches alternated between home and away venues to promote fairness and build rivalries.[3] The inaugural tournament ran from late 1882 into early 1883, marking the formalization of regular international fixtures following sporadic earlier encounters.[8] England emerged victorious in the first edition, defeating all three opponents to secure the title and what is retrospectively recognized as the inaugural Triple Crown—a distinction awarded to the team that beats the other three Home Nations in a single championship.[9] Specific results from 1883 included England's 2 tries to nil win over Wales on 16 December at St. Helen's in Swansea, a 1 goal to nil victory against Ireland (Ireland 1 try) on 5 February at Whalley Range in Manchester, and a narrow 1 try to nil triumph versus Scotland on 17 March at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh. England repeated as champions in 1884, again claiming the Triple Crown, while Scotland secured their first title in 1886, shared with England.[10] The Triple Crown concept, though not officially named until later, was first referenced in contemporary reports following these early successes and became a prestigious informal honor by the mid-1880s.[9] Early years were marked by England's dominance, with the team winning or sharing five titles between 1883 and 1892, though the competition faced interruptions, such as the incomplete 1885 edition due to disputes over fixtures.[10] By 1909, England had accumulated multiple victories, underscoring their foundational influence, while other nations began to assert themselves—Scotland with seven titles, Wales with five (including back-to-back Grand Slams in 1908 and 1909), and Ireland with three.[10] The period also saw significant challenges, including disputes over match fixtures, venue arrangements, and player eligibility rules, particularly regarding amateur status and residency requirements during the 1880s and 1890s.[11] These tensions, exemplified by a controversial 1884 Scotland-England match where a disputed try highlighted inconsistencies in scoring and officiating, prompted the formation of the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) in 1886 by Scotland, Wales, and Ireland (with England joining in 1890) to standardize laws and resolve governance issues.[11]Transition to Five Nations
In 1910, the tournament expanded beyond the British Isles with the inclusion of France, marking a significant step toward broader European participation. The French Rugby Federation had been pushing for involvement since the early 1900s, and following successful test matches against England and Wales, France was formally invited to join. The first match of the expanded competition was Wales's 49–14 victory over France on 1 January at St. Helen's in Swansea. England defeated France 11–3 on 3 March at Stade de Colombes in Paris. This addition prompted the renaming of the event from the Home Nations Championship to the Five Nations Championship, reflecting the inclusion of the fifth nation. The interwar period from 1910 to 1939 saw the tournament evolve amid competitive balance and occasional disruptions. England and Wales dominated early on, but titles were frequently shared. England won outright in 1914 with a Grand Slam. France struggled initially, winning only three matches in their first nine campaigns, but achieved their first outright title in 1928 under the leadership of captain Marcel Communeau, defeating England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Key rivalries intensified during this era, particularly the France-England fixture, which drew large crowds and symbolized Anglo-French sporting tensions. Administratively, the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB, now World Rugby) oversaw growing standardization, including rules on forward passes and scrummaging. However, France faced temporary exclusion from 1932 to 1938 due to disputes over amateurism and governance within the French Rugby Federation, leading to the tournament reverting briefly to a Four Nations format; France was reinstated in 1939 following reconciliations brokered by the IRFB. The tournament was suspended twice due to global conflicts, profoundly impacting its continuity. World War I halted play from 1915 to 1919, with no official matches held as players served in the armed forces; an unofficial wartime international series among British teams was organized but not recognized as part of the championship. Similarly, World War II suspended the competition from 1940 to 1946, depriving the Five Nations of seven seasons amid widespread devastation in Europe, with resumption in 1947. During this period, ad hoc wartime internationals occurred sporadically between 1940 and 1944, involving teams like England and Scotland, but these were exhibition matches and excluded from official records. The resumption in 1947 rebuilt on the pre-war framework, with France's participation solidified despite lingering administrative challenges.Expansion to Six Nations and Modern Developments
In 2000, Italy was admitted to the tournament, expanding it from the Five Nations to the Six Nations Championship and marking a significant step in European rugby's inclusivity.[12][13] This inaugural edition saw England emerge as champions after securing victories in their first four matches, including a 15–9 win over France, though they lost 34–15 to Scotland in the final round.[14] The shift to professionalism following the 1995 Rugby World Cup profoundly influenced the Six Nations, transforming it from an amateur competition into a high-stakes professional spectacle with enhanced athleticism and tactical depth.[15][16] This era elevated overall competitiveness, as evidenced by Ireland's ascent, culminating in their 2018 Grand Slam victory—their third in history—achieved through a decisive 24-15 win over England at Twickenham.[17][14] Throughout the 2010s, discussions emerged regarding potential alignments with broader international structures, such as integrating elements of a Nations League format to enhance global rugby development, though these proposals did not materialize into changes for the Six Nations.[18] Paralleling the men's tournament, the women's Six Nations grew steadily since its inception as the Women's Home Nations in 1996, expanding to include France in 1999 and Italy in 2007, fostering increased participation and professionalism.[19] By 2025, sustainability initiatives gained prominence, with talks of format adjustments—like shortening the tournament window—to reduce player fatigue and environmental impact, alongside World Rugby's broader ESG commitments.[20][21] Ireland won the 2024 championship, followed by France in 2025—their first title since 2022.[5] Evolving eligibility rules under World Rugby Regulation 8 have diversified player pools across the Six Nations, allowing representation through birth, ancestry, or residency, which has bolstered teams like Ireland with talents such as Bundee Aki, born in New Zealand but qualified via Irish heritage, contributing to their sustained success.[22][23] Notable milestones include France's commanding 2022 Grand Slam, their first since 2010, sealed by a 25-13 victory over England in Paris, showcasing a blend of power and precision.[24] In 2023, England's performances sparked debates on diminishing home advantage, as studies highlighted varying win rates influenced by crowd presence and venue familiarity amid post-pandemic adjustments.[25][26]Participating Teams
Team Overviews and Qualifications
The Six Nations Championship features six permanent teams: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. These nations represent the premier rugby union powers in Europe, with participation fixed since the tournament's expansion in 2000, ensuring annual competition without promotion or relegation. This structure reflects their status as Tier 1 nations in World Rugby's classifications, emphasizing geographical proximity, historical significance, and competitive strength within the European rugby framework.[1][5] The teams are governed by their respective national unions, which oversee player development, domestic leagues, and international representation. Each squad plays home matches at a primary national stadium, fostering deep cultural ties to the sport, while traditional kit colors symbolize national identity and heritage. The following table summarizes key profiles:| Team | Governing Body | Home Base | Kit Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | Rugby Football Union (RFU) | Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), London | White jersey, navy shorts and socks |
| France | Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) | Stade de France, Paris | Blue jersey, white shorts and socks |
| Ireland | Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | Green jersey, navy shorts and socks |
| Italy | Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) | Stadio Olimpico, Rome | Azure blue jersey, white shorts and socks |
| Scotland | Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) | Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh | Navy blue jersey, white shorts and socks |
| Wales | Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) | Principality Stadium, Cardiff | Red jersey, white shorts and socks |
Historical Performance Trends
England has been the most successful nation in the history of the tournament, securing 29 outright championship titles, more than any other team.[33] Wales follows closely with peaks of dominance in the interwar period and a golden era during the 1970s, when they won seven titles in that decade alone (including shared championships), reflecting a period of innovative play and strong forward packs.[33] Ireland experienced a notable surge in the 2010s, capturing two championships between 2009 and 2019: the 2009 Grand Slam—their first since 1948—and the 2018 title, driven by structured attacking strategies that elevated their consistency against top opponents. Ireland continued this success with titles in 2023 and 2024.[33] In the early years before 1910, during the Home Nations era, competition favored the original four teams, with England and Scotland often prevailing due to superior organization and home advantage in bilateral fixtures. France's integration in 1910 initially yielded limited success, but post-1950s growth saw them emerge as a powerhouse, winning 19 outright titles through flair-based rugby and physicality honed in domestic leagues, including recent victories in 2022 and 2025. Since the expansion to six nations in 2000, the competition has become more balanced, with no single team exceeding 40% of overall wins in the professional era, as evidenced by distributed championships among all but Italy and Scotland.[34] Italy, joining in 2000, has primarily played a spoiler role, accumulating 16 victories in 130 matches as of 2025, including breakthrough wins that disrupted title races, such as their 2013 victory over Ireland. Their longest winless streak of 36 games ended in 2022 with a victory over Wales; in 2024, they secured a home win over Scotland—ending an 11-year home winless streak—and finished with one victory in a highly competitive campaign. In 2025, they added another win over Wales. All-time win percentages underscore these dynamics: England at approximately 45%, France and Ireland around 60-65% in recent decades (Six Nations era), while Italy stands at 12%, highlighting persistent challenges in depth and infrastructure.[35][35][36][37][38] Shifts in performance have been influenced by key factors, including the advent of professionalism in 1995, which professionalized training and player development, leading to elevated standards across nations but widening gaps for underfunded teams like Italy and Scotland. Coaching innovations, such as Joe Schmidt's tenure with Ireland from 2013 to 2019, resulted in three Six Nations titles and a 2018 Grand Slam through data-driven tactics and squad rotation. Economic disparities in funding—England and France benefiting from larger rugby ecosystems—have also shaped trends, enabling sustained investment in academies and facilities that bolster long-term competitiveness.[39][40][39]Format
Tournament Structure and Scheduling
The Six Nations Championship operates as an annual round-robin tournament featuring six national teams—England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales—where each team competes against every other once, totaling 15 matches across five rounds. The structure ensures a balanced schedule, with each team playing five games, three at home and two away in alternating years to provide equitable home advantage.[41] Matches follow standard rugby union rules: 80 minutes of play divided into two 40-minute halves, with 15 players per side on the field and up to eight substitutes, and no extra time for tournament fixtures.[42] The tournament unfolds over 6 to 8 weeks, typically from late January or early February to mid-March, with three matches per round spread across Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, incorporating one or two rest weeks to allow recovery.[43] Scheduling adheres to a predetermined order of pairings to distribute rivalries evenly across rounds, though specific fixtures rotate based on the home-away cycle.[41] For the 2026 edition, organizers have adjusted the calendar to eliminate the second rest week, starting with a Thursday night opener followed by three consecutive weekly rounds, a fallow weekend, and the final two rounds, aiming to align with broader international scheduling demands.[44] In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 tournament was conducted entirely behind closed doors at home venues, without spectators, to comply with health restrictions across participating nations.[45] The women's Six Nations Championship, which began in 1996 as a four-team competition and expanded to six teams by 2007, mirrors this structure with its own round-robin format, annual scheduling, and home-away alternations.[19]Points System and Tiebreakers
The points system in the Guinness Men's Six Nations Championship determines team standings based on match points accumulated over the five-match round-robin tournament. A team earns 4 match points for a win, 2 for a draw, and 0 for a loss.[4] Additionally, bonus points are awarded to encourage attacking rugby: 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match, regardless of the result, and another 1 bonus point for a losing team if the margin of defeat is 7 points or fewer.[4] Thus, a winning team scoring four or more tries receives 5 points total, a drawing team with four or more tries gets 3, and a losing team can earn up to 2 bonus points if it meets both criteria.[4] A team achieving a Grand Slam by winning all five matches receives 3 additional match points.[4] Prior to 2017, the system was simpler, awarding 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw, with no bonus points, which often led to more conservative play.[46] The 2017 changes aligned the tournament with international standards, doubling base points and introducing bonuses to reward tries and close contests, a move intended to boost spectator appeal through higher-scoring games.[46] This system was made permanent after its trial in 2017, with the 7-point losing margin threshold specifically designed to incentivize competitiveness in defeats.[47] If teams finish with equal match points, tiebreakers are applied in sequence: first, the greatest points difference (total points scored minus total points conceded across all matches); second, the most tries scored (including penalty tries); and if still tied, the teams share equal placement.[4] These criteria prioritize overall attacking efficiency and margin of victory over head-to-head results. For instance, in a hypothetical 30–25 victory where the winning team scores four tries, it would earn 4 points for the win plus 1 bonus for the tries, totaling 5 points; the losing team, defeated by 5 points (within 7), would receive 1 bonus point despite the loss.[4] The system's emphasis on tries and narrow margins has notably increased scoring, as seen in the 2025 tournament, where a record 829 points were tallied across matches, surpassing the previous high of 803 from 2000 and contributing to dramatic finales.[48]Trophies and Honors
Championship and Triple Crown
The Six Nations Trophy is awarded annually to the team that accumulates the most points over the course of the tournament, determined by the competition's points system of four points for a win, two for a draw, plus bonus points: one for scoring four or more tries, and one for losing by seven points or fewer.[49] Crafted by London silversmiths Thomas Lyte and introduced in 2015, the trophy weighs 7 kilograms in sterling silver, measures 75 centimeters in height, and required over 200 hours of craftsmanship; it features 15 facets symbolizing the players on the field and three handles representing the match officials.[49][50] Prior to this design, a simpler trophy was presented starting in 1993, with France as the inaugural recipients.[50] The Triple Crown represents a distinct honor within the Six Nations, exclusively contested among the four Home Nations—England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—and awarded to the team that defeats the other three in the same championship year.[9] Originating in the inaugural Home Nations Championship of 1883, when England became the first winners, the achievement has been recorded 72 times across 129 tournaments through 2025, despite interruptions from world wars and other cancellations.[9][51] Unlike the overall championship, the Triple Crown carries no physical trophy for much of its history—earning it the nickname "invisible cup"—though a dedicated silverware piece, featuring emblems of the four nations under a crown, was introduced in 2006.[52] France and Italy, despite their participation since 1910 and 2000 respectively, are ineligible, emphasizing the Triple Crown's focus on intra-Home Nations rivalry.[9] Symbolizing supremacy among the British Isles' original rugby powers, the Triple Crown embodies intense national pride and historical ties, often serving as a benchmark of dominance even if the overall title eludes the winner.[53] For instance, Wales' 2021 triumph—their 22nd—highlighted this prestige, as they secured victories over England, Ireland, and Scotland amid a championship-crowning campaign.[53] By 2025, England led with 26 wins, followed by Wales with 22, Ireland with 14 (their latest in 2025 with a 27-18 win against Wales in Cardiff), and Scotland with 10.[9][54] Early iterations faced controversy, notably in 1884 when England's winning try against Scotland sparked a refereeing dispute, leading both nations to boycott their 1885 matchup and halting the championship's completion that year due to unresolved scheduling conflicts with Ireland and Wales as well.[55]Grand Slam Achievement
A Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship is achieved when a team wins all five of its matches in a single edition of the tournament, marking an undefeated campaign against every opponent. This pinnacle of success was first realized by Wales in 1908 during the Home Nations era, when they defeated England, Ireland, Scotland, and France without concession. The feat underscores a team's dominance across the competition's rigorous round-robin format.[56][3] By 2025, a total of 42 Grand Slams had been completed across the tournament's history, spanning its evolutions from the Home Nations to the modern Six Nations. England holds the record with 13, closely followed by Wales with 12 and France with 10; Ireland has four, Scotland three, while Italy has yet to secure one despite over two decades of participation. Notable milestones include Ireland's inaugural Grand Slam in 2009, clinched by Ronan O'Gara's dramatic drop goal in a 17-15 victory over Wales at the Millennium Stadium, ending a 61-year drought since their previous in 1948. France's 2022 triumph, their 10th overall, came amid disruptions from COVID-19, with key players like Damian Penaud returning from isolation to contribute to wins including a 25-13 defeat of England.[57][58][59] The rarity of the Grand Slam stems from the tournament's intensity, where fatigue from consecutive high-stakes fixtures often hampers repeat attempts. Consecutive achievements are exceptionally uncommon, occurring only twice: Wales in 1908–1909 and England in 1991–1992, the latter featuring gritty defenses that repelled late challenges in Paris both years. Overall, Grand Slams have featured in approximately 33% of the 129 tournaments since 1883, highlighting their status as elusive benchmarks of excellence.[60][56]Rivalry-Specific Trophies
The Six Nations Championship features several perpetual trophies contested exclusively between pairs of nations, adding layers of historical and emotional intensity to specific fixtures beyond the overall tournament points. These rivalry-specific awards, often rooted in cultural, historical, or commemorative contexts, are held by the winner until the next encounter between the two teams. As of 2025, no new such trophies have been introduced, maintaining the established set that underscores key bilateral rivalries. The Calcutta Cup, the oldest international rugby trophy, is awarded to the winner of the annual England versus Scotland match. Crafted in 1878 by Indian silversmiths from melted-down silver rupees donated by members of the now-defunct Calcutta Rugby Club—formed by British expatriates in Kolkata in 1873—it was presented to the Rugby Football Union and Scottish Rugby Union in 1879 to symbolize their ongoing competition. The trophy's distinctive elephant's head design, with tusks forming the handles, has been contested 131 times by 2025, with England holding it 83 times and Scotland 48 times, including England's 16-15 victory in 2025 that ended Scotland's four-year possession. Scotland's dramatic 29-23 victory in 2023 allowed them to retain possession for the third consecutive year. This fixture's stakes are heightened by the cup's prestige as the original symbol of Anglo-Scottish rivalry, predating the formal championship by four years.[61][62] The Millennium Trophy is presented to the victor of the England versus Ireland encounter, introduced in 1988 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of Dublin's founding. Shaped like a horned Viking helmet to evoke Ireland's ancient history, it was first awarded during Ireland's home fixture that year, with England claiming the inaugural win 9-6. By 2025, England has secured it 21 times compared to Ireland's 17, though Ireland dominated recent contests, winning in 2023 (32-20), 2024 (23-20), and 2025 (27-22). The trophy elevates the match's narrative, blending modern competition with historical commemoration and intensifying the cross-channel rivalry that has produced some of the tournament's most memorable clashes.[63][64] Contested between France and Italy since 2007, the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy honors the 19th-century Italian general and patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi, who played a pivotal role in Italy's unification and had historical ties to France through his military campaigns. Designed by former France captain and sculptor Jean-Pierre Rives, the bronze trophy depicts Garibaldi on horseback and was first lifted by France after a 30-7 win in Rome. France has dominated, winning 17 of the 19 editions through 2025, with Italy's sole successes in 2011 (22-21) and 2024 (25-13, via a last-gasp try); France reclaimed it in 2025 with a 73-24 victory. Its introduction marked Italy's integration into the championship, providing a dedicated symbol for their growing competitiveness against the perennial powerhouse.[63] The Auld Alliance Trophy, introduced in 2018, is awarded to the winner of the France versus Scotland fixture, drawing its name from the 1295 treaty that forged a historic diplomatic and military pact between the two nations against England. Commissioned jointly by the Scottish Rugby Union and French Rugby Federation, it specifically commemorates the rugby players from both countries who perished in World War I, including pre-war captains Eric Milroy of Scotland and Marcel Communeau of France, both killed in action. Crafted in silver with engravings of thistles and fleur-de-lis, it was first won by Scotland 32-26; by 2025, France holds it six times to Scotland's two, with Scotland's 2021 triumph (27-23) standing as a highlight of renewed rivalry, alongside their 2018 inaugural win. France won the 2025 edition 35-16 to secure the title. The trophy adds poignant historical depth, transforming the match into a tribute to shared sacrifice while fueling competitive fervor.[65] Not all Six Nations pairings feature dedicated trophies, reflecting the tournament's selective emphasis on historically charged rivalries; for instance, the France-Wales and Italy-Wales fixtures, despite their intensity, lack perpetual awards as of 2025, with no verified plans for introduction amid ongoing discussions about expanding such honors. Similarly, while Scotland contests trophies in five of its matches—the most of any nation—no equivalent exists for Italy-Wales, underscoring the uneven distribution of these symbols across the competition. These absences highlight how rivalry trophies primarily celebrate longstanding or culturally resonant contests, enhancing the championship's tapestry without universal coverage.Results
Overall Tournament Winners
England and Wales share the record for the most Six Nations Championship titles, with 39 each, encompassing both outright victories and shared championships across the tournament's history from 1883 to 2025.[5] France and Ireland follow with 27 titles each, Scotland with 22, while Italy has not secured a title since joining in 2000.[10] These totals reflect the cumulative achievements in the Home Nations, Five Nations, and Six Nations eras, where shared titles were common in the early years due to tiebreaker systems based on points differences or try counts. There have been 20 instances of shared championships, the last occurring in 1988 between France and Wales, after which all titles have been decided outright.[10] Notable patterns include the absence of any team achieving three consecutive outright titles since the tournament's inception, with the longest streaks limited to two in a row, such as England's successes in 1913–1914, 1923–1924, 1991–1992, 1995–1996, 2000–2001, and 2016–2017.[66] The 2020 edition was uniquely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with matches postponed and eventually completed in October, awarding the title to England based on their leading position.[67] Post-2000, the inclusion of Italy has contributed to greater parity, with four teams—England, France, Ireland, and Wales—sharing all 26 titles, preventing any single nation from dominating as in earlier eras.[5]| Team | Total Titles (Outright + Shared) | Outright Titles | Shared Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 39 | 29 | 10 |
| Wales | 39 | 28 | 11 |
| France | 27 | 19 | 8 |
| Ireland | 27 | 18 | 9 |
| Scotland | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- 1883: England
- 1884: England
- 1886: England, Scotland
- 1887: Scotland
- 1888: Ireland, Scotland, Wales
- 1889: Scotland
- 1890: England, Scotland
- 1891: Scotland
- 1892: England
- 1893: Wales
- 1894: Ireland
- 1895: Scotland
- 1896: Ireland
- 1899: Ireland
- 1900: Wales
- 1901: Scotland
- 1902: Wales
- 1903: Scotland
- 1904: Scotland
- 1905: Wales
- 1906: Ireland, Wales
- 1907: Scotland
- 1908: Wales
- 1909: Wales
- 1910: England
- 1911: Wales
- 1912: England, Ireland
- 1913: England
- 1914: England
- 1920: England, Scotland, Wales
- 1921: England
- 1922: Wales
- 1923: England
- 1924: England
- 1925: Scotland
- 1926: Ireland, Scotland
- 1927: Ireland, Scotland
- 1928: England
- 1929: Scotland
- 1930: England
- 1931: Wales
- 1932: England, Ireland, Wales
- 1933: Scotland
- 1934: England
- 1935: Ireland
- 1936: Wales
- 1937: England
- 1938: Scotland
- 1939: England, Ireland, Wales
- 1947: England, Wales
- 1948: Ireland
- 1949: Ireland
- 1950: Wales
- 1951: Ireland
- 1952: Wales
- 1953: England
- 1954: England, France, Wales
- 1955: France, Wales
- 1956: Wales
- 1957: England
- 1958: England
- 1959: France
- 1960: England, France
- 1961: France
- 1962: France
- 1963: England
- 1964: Scotland, Wales
- 1965: Wales
- 1966: Wales
- 1967: France
- 1968: France, Wales
- 1969: Wales
- 1970: France, Wales
- 1971: Wales
- 1973: England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales
- 1974: Ireland
- 1975: Wales
- 1976: Wales
- 1977: France
- 1978: Wales
- 1979: Wales
- 1980: England
- 1981: France
- 1982: Ireland
- 1983: France, Ireland
- 1984: Scotland
- 1985: Ireland
- 1986: France, Scotland
- 1987: France
- 1988: France, Wales
- 1989: France
- 1990: Scotland
- 1991: England
- 1992: England
- 1993: France
- 1994: Wales
- 1995: England
- 1996: England
- 1997: France
- 1998: France
- 1999: Scotland
- 2000: England
- 2001: England
- 2002: France
- 2003: England
- 2004: France
- 2005: Wales
- 2006: France
- 2007: France
- 2008: Wales
- 2009: Ireland
- 2010: France
- 2011: England
- 2012: Wales
- 2013: Wales
- 2014: Ireland
- 2015: Ireland
- 2016: England
- 2017: England
- 2018: Ireland
- 2019: Wales
- 2020: England
- 2021: Wales
- 2022: France
- 2023: Ireland
- 2024: Ireland
- 2025: France
Home Nations Era (1883–1939)
The Home Nations Championship, the precursor to the modern Six Nations, was established in 1883 as an annual competition among the rugby union teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, with the winner determined by the team securing the most victories across three matches each. From 1910, France joined to form the Five Nations Championship, expanding to five teams and four matches each until 1939. Early editions faced scheduling irregularities; for instance, the 1885 tournament was abandoned due to a refereeing dispute between England and Scotland, while the 1897 and 1898 campaigns were incomplete after Ireland and Scotland boycotted matches against Wales amid allegations of professionalism in Welsh rugby.[8] The competition was fully suspended from 1915 to 1919 owing to World War I, resuming in 1920 with heightened national rivalries.[10] England exerted significant dominance in the pre-World War I phase, claiming outright or shared titles in 1883, 1884, 1886, 1890, 1892, and 1910, often leveraging superior forward play and home advantage to overpower opponents. Scotland also enjoyed success, winning five outright titles between 1887 and 1907, while Wales emerged as a force from the late 1890s, securing four championships from 1900 to 1909 through innovative backline tactics that emphasized passing and territorial gains.[10] The Triple Crown—awarded to the team defeating the other three Home Nations (England over Ireland, Scotland, and Wales)—originated in this era as a prestigious sub-honor and has continued in subsequent formats. It was first achieved by England in 1883, underscoring the intense Anglo-Celtic contests that defined the tournament's identity.[8] In the interwar years from 1920 to 1939 under the Five Nations format, competition became more balanced, with all five nations tasting championship glory amid economic hardships and evolving rules that favored open play (France's first title came in 1954).[10] England continued their strong record with six titles, including a run of four consecutive Grand Slams from 1921 to 1924—beating all opponents in the process—while Wales claimed three victories (1922, 1931, 1936), highlighted by robust pack performances that challenged English superiority. Scotland and Ireland each secured four titles, often sharing honors in tied seasons, reflecting the era's parity and the absence of a single dominant power. Overall, this period featured 10 shared championships, the highest concentration in the tournament's history, typically resolved by equal win tallies under the simple victory-based system where each win counted equally without bonus points.[10]Home Nations Proper (1883–1909)
| Year | Winner(s) | Wins (for winner(s)) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 | England | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1884 | England | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1885 | Not competed | - | Abandoned due to disputes |
| 1886 | England & Scotland | 2 each | Shared |
| 1887 | Scotland | 2 | - |
| 1888 | Ireland, Scotland & Wales | 1 each | Shared among three |
| 1889 | Scotland | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1890 | England & Scotland | 2 each | Shared |
| 1891 | Scotland | 2 | - |
| 1892 | England | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1893 | Wales | 2 | - |
| 1894 | Ireland | 2 | - |
| 1895 | Scotland | 2 | Triple Crown |
| 1896 | Ireland | 2 | Triple Crown |
| 1897 | Not competed | - | Incomplete due to boycotts |
| 1898 | Not competed | - | Incomplete due to boycotts |
| 1899 | Ireland | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1900 | Wales | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1901 | Scotland | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1902 | Wales | 2 | - |
| 1903 | Scotland | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1904 | Scotland | 2 | - |
| 1905 | Wales | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1906 | Ireland & Wales | 2 each | Shared |
| 1907 | Scotland | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1908 | Wales | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1909 | Wales | 3 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
Early Five Nations (1910–1939)
| Year | Winner(s) | Wins (for winner(s)) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | England | 3 | Triple Crown (drew with France) |
| 1911 | Wales | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1912 | England & Ireland | 3 each | Shared; both Triple Crown |
| 1913 | England | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1914 | England | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1915–1919 | No tournament | - | Suspended (World War I) |
| 1920 | England, Scotland & Wales | 2 each | Shared among three |
| 1921 | England | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1922 | Wales | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1923 | England | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1924 | England | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1925 | Scotland | 3 | Triple Crown |
| 1926 | Ireland & Scotland | 2 each | Shared; Ireland Triple Crown |
| 1927 | Ireland & Scotland | 2 each | Shared; Ireland Triple Crown |
| 1928 | England | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1929 | Scotland | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1930 | England | 3 | - |
| 1931 | Wales | 3 | Triple Crown |
| 1932 | England, Ireland & Wales | 2 each | Shared among three |
| 1933 | Scotland | 3 | - |
| 1934 | England | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1935 | Ireland | 3 | Triple Crown |
| 1936 | Wales | 3 | - |
| 1937 | England | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1938 | Scotland | 4 | Triple Crown and Grand Slam |
| 1939 | England, Ireland & Wales | 2 each | Shared among three |
Five Nations Era (1947–1999)
The Five Nations Championship resumed in 1947 following a suspension during World War II, marking the return of annual international rugby union competition among England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. England and Wales shared the inaugural post-war title after both finished with three wins and one draw, reflecting the competitive balance restored after years of disruption.[14] Over the subsequent 52 years through 1999, the tournament maintained a consistent format of each team playing the others once, with winners determined by match victories (awarding two points until 1992, then three points thereafter) and tiebreakers evolving from head-to-head results to points difference by the late 1980s to resolve frequent deadlocks.[3] This era saw 45 outright championships and eight shared titles, underscoring the era's parity before the advent of professionalism.[68] France emerged as a dominant force, securing their first Grand Slam in 1959 by defeating all opponents, including a 14-0 shutout of England at Twickenham, which propelled them to the top after years of integration challenges since joining in 1910. Earlier, France achieved back-to-back titles in 1954 (shared with England and Wales) and 1955, showcasing their growing prowess with disciplined forward play. The 1970s marked Wales' golden era, during which they claimed four outright championships (1975, 1976, 1978, and 1979), often powered by innovative attacking rugby led by figures like Gareth Edwards and Barry John, including a 1978 Grand Slam capped by a 37-7 rout of France.[5] By contrast, the 1999 tournament highlighted underdog triumphs, with Scotland clinching the title on points difference after a 36-22 victory over France at Stade de France, while Wales' dramatic 32-31 upset of England at Wembley Stadium eliminated the hosts from contention.[69]| Year | Winner(s) | Notable Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | England & Wales | Shared title; post-war resumption with balanced results.[14] |
| 1948 | Ireland (Grand Slam) | Ireland's first Slam since 1899, defeating Wales 11-5 in final match.[10] |
| 1949 | Ireland | Ireland defended title with key win over England.[14] |
| 1950 | Wales (Grand Slam) | Wales' first Slam in 39 years, beating France 21-0.[10] |
| 1951 | Ireland | Ireland secured third straight title via points difference.[14] |
| 1952 | Wales | Wales edged England 5-3 in Cardiff.[10] |
| 1953 | England | England won with victory over Scotland.[14] |
| 1954 | England, France & Wales | Shared after three teams unbeaten; France's first title.[10] |
| 1955 | France & Wales | Shared; France's first outright title shared.[14] |
| 1956 | Wales | Wales triumphed with home wins.[10] |
| 1957 | England | England clinched via Scotland win.[14] |
| 1958 | England | England defended with strong performances.[10] |
| 1959 | France (Grand Slam) | France's historic first Slam, shutting out England.[70] |
| 1960 | England & France | Shared after intense competition.[14] |
| 1961 | France | Second straight title for France.[10] |
| 1962 | France | France's third consecutive championship.[14] |
| 1963 | England | England broke France's streak with Wales win.[10] |
| 1964 | Scotland & Wales | Shared; Scotland's upset over England key.[14] |
| 1965 | Wales | Wales dominated with home victories.[10] |
| 1966 | Wales | Back-to-back for Wales.[14] |
| 1967 | France | France returned to form.[10] |
| 1968 | France & Wales | Shared after intense competition.[14] |
| 1969 | Wales (Grand Slam) | Wales' Slam with 24-12 win over France.[10] |
| 1970 | France & Wales | Shared; Wales continued dominance.[14] |
| 1971 | Wales | Third straight for Wales.[10] |
| 1972 | Not competed | - |
| 1973 | England, France, Ireland, Scotland & Wales | Rare five-way share; all teams unbeaten in wins.[10] |
| 1974 | Ireland | Ireland sole winners post-share.[14] |
| 1975 | Wales (Grand Slam) | Wales' golden era Slam, beating Scotland 32-4.[10] |
| 1976 | Wales | Continued Welsh success.[14] |
| 1977 | France (Grand Slam) | France's Slam with 16-13 Ireland win.[10] |
| 1978 | Wales (Grand Slam) | Wales' second Slam of decade.[14] |
| 1979 | Wales | Fourth 1970s title for Wales.[10] |
| 1980 | England | England ended Welsh run.[14] |
| 1981 | France | France's strong forward display.[10] |
| 1982 | Ireland | Ireland's resilience shown.[14] |
| 1983 | France & Ireland | Shared; close finishes.[10] |
| 1984 | Scotland | Scotland's upset-heavy campaign.[14] |
| 1985 | Ireland | Ireland's title with Triple Crown.[10] |
| 1986 | France & Scotland | Shared; tiebreakers refined post-tournament.[14] |
| 1987 | France | France's fifth in decade.[10] |
| 1988 | France & Wales | Shared; points difference adopted for future ties.[14] |
| 1989 | France | France repeated title.[10] |
| 1990 | Scotland (Grand Slam) | Scotland's only Slam, beating England 13-7.[14] |
| 1991 | England | England began resurgence.[10] |
| 1992 | England | Back-to-back for England.[14] |
| 1993 | France | France's late dominance.[10] |
| 1994 | Wales | Wales' comeback title, beating England 9-6.[14] |
| 1995 | England | England with World Cup momentum.[10] |
| 1996 | England | Back-to-back for England.[14] |
| 1997 | France | France's pre-professional peak.[10] |
| 1998 | France | France defended title.[14] |
| 1999 | Scotland | Scotland's points-difference win; 36-22 over France decisive.[69] |
Six Nations Era (2000–2025)
The Six Nations Championship entered a new phase in 2000 with the inclusion of Italy, marking the transition from the Five Nations and reflecting the growing professionalization of rugby union across Europe following the sport's shift to professionalism in 1995. This era has seen intensified competition, driven by increased investment in domestic leagues, enhanced player development, and the influence of the Rugby World Cup cycles, with teams like England and France leveraging their successes to dominate early tournaments. Over 26 editions from 2000 to 2025, the championship has produced 26 outright winners, with no shared titles, underscoring the tiebreaker system's role in resolving close contests. England leads with seven victories, followed by France and Wales with six each, Ireland with five, and Scotland and Italy yet to claim a title.[33][5] Italy's debut in 2000 brought fresh energy, as they secured a historic opening win against Scotland (34–20) in Rome, showcasing competitive spirit despite finishing last with just that single victory in five matches. The tournament was won by England, who edged out France on points difference after both finished with four wins. This period also highlighted the synergy between club and international rugby, with players from professional leagues like the English Premiership and French Top 14 elevating the standard of play.[33][71] England's 2003 Grand Slam victory provided a significant momentum boost en route to their Rugby World Cup triumph later that year, with captain Martin Johnson leading a dominant campaign that included a 42–24 win over France and a 24–5 defeat of Ireland. The era has featured memorable upsets, such as Italy's 22–15 victory over Ireland in 2013, which propelled Italy to their best-ever finish (fourth place) and denied Ireland a potential title. Other notable shocks include Italy's 36–28 win over France in 2011 and Scotland's 20–17 defeat of England in 2021 at Murrayfield.[33][72] The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 edition, suspending play after three rounds in March; the remaining matches were completed in October and November without spectators, with the Italy–England fixture cancelled due to quarantine issues, allowing England to claim the title on 18 competition points. In 2021, the tournament proceeded amid strict health protocols, including postponed games like France–Scotland, but all fixtures were hosted at home venues with limited or no crowds, culminating in Wales' Grand Slam win. By 2025, France secured their seventh title with a 35–16 victory over Scotland on the final day, though no team achieved the Grand Slam after Ireland's loss to France.[73][74][75]| Year | Winner | Grand Slam |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | England | No |
| 2001 | England | Yes |
| 2002 | France | Yes |
| 2003 | England | Yes |
| 2004 | France | Yes |
| 2005 | Wales | Yes |
| 2006 | France | No |
| 2007 | France | Yes |
| 2008 | Wales | Yes |
| 2009 | Ireland | Yes |
| 2010 | France | Yes |
| 2011 | England | No |
| 2012 | Wales | Yes |
| 2013 | Wales | Yes |
| 2014 | Ireland | No |
| 2015 | Ireland | No |
| 2016 | England | Yes |
| 2017 | England | Yes |
| 2018 | Ireland | No |
| 2019 | Wales | Yes |
| 2020 | England | No |
| 2021 | Wales | Yes |
| 2022 | France | Yes |
| 2023 | Ireland | Yes |
| 2024 | Ireland | No |
| 2025 | France | No |
Records
Team and Tournament Records
England and Wales share the record for the most Six Nations Championship titles, with 39 each, comprising 29 outright wins and 10 shared for England, and 28 outright plus 11 shared for Wales.[5] France follows with 19 outright titles, Ireland with 16, and Scotland with 15; Italy has yet to win the championship.[33] These totals encompass the tournament's evolution from its predecessors, the Home Nations (1883–1909 and 1932–1939) and Five Nations (1910–1931 and 1947–1999), to the modern Six Nations era (2000–present).[10] Wales holds the record for the longest winning streak in the championship, achieving 11 consecutive victories from late 2017 through early 2019, spanning parts of three tournaments.[36] Conversely, Italy endured the longest losing streak, suffering 36 straight defeats from 2007 to 2021 before breaking it with a 22–21 victory over Wales in 2022.[77] England recorded the largest winning margin in a single match, triumphing 80–23 over Italy in 2001, a 57-point difference that remains unmatched.[78] The 2025 tournament set multiple benchmarks, including a record 101 tries scored across all matches, surpassing the previous high of 91 from 2023, and a total of 829 points, exceeding the 803 from 2000.[48] France established a new team record with 30 tries in that edition, the most by any side in a single championship, en route to their seventh title in the Six Nations era.[48] Earlier, England amassed the highest pre-bonus-point total in 2001, securing 25 points from five wins (equivalent to 28 under modern scoring with bonuses).[79] Draws remain rare, with the 2016 edition featuring the most in the Six Nations era at two, though historical Five Nations tournaments like 1973 saw three.[80] Record attendances underscore the event's popularity, with 81,916 spectators at Twickenham for England's 25–21 win over Wales in 2015 marking the highest single-match crowd.[81] The championship's all-time standings, calculated by match points since the bonus-point system began in 2017 (with earlier eras adjusted for wins), reflect Ireland's recent dominance; as of 2025, Ireland leads with 247 points, followed closely by France.[82] [Note: The original table contained inaccurate match counts across eras; removed for accuracy. Detailed era-specific tables are covered in the Results section per article structure.]Individual Player Records
The individual player records in the Six Nations Championship highlight the enduring contributions of players across appearances, scoring, and accolades within the tournament framework. Sergio Parisse holds the record for the most caps with 69 appearances for Italy between 2004 and 2019, a testament to his longevity and leadership in a challenging era for the Azzurri.[83] Cian Healy follows closely with 66 caps for Ireland from 2010 to 2025, while Alun Wyn Jones also amassed 67 for Wales between 2007 and 2023.[83] In terms of scoring, Johnny Sexton is the all-time leading points scorer with 566 points for Ireland from 2010 to 2023, surpassing Ronan O'Gara's previous mark of 500 through a combination of 106 penalties (318 points), conversions, and occasional tries.[84][85] Brian O'Driscoll leads in tries with 26 for Ireland across his career from 2000 to 2014, edging out Ian Smith's 24 for Scotland (1925–1938) and George North's 23 for Wales (2010–2021).[86] Shane Williams, known for his elusiveness, scored 22 tries for Wales between 2000 and 2011, many of which showcased his finishing prowess in high-stakes matches.[87] The Player of the Championship award, introduced in 2004 and voted on by fans and media, recognizes outstanding individual performances each year; notable winners include Dan Biggar for Wales in 2018, who excelled in playmaking and kicking during a title-winning campaign.[88] Brian O'Driscoll also stands out for participating in a record five Grand Slams with Ireland (2009, 2011, 2014, and two others in the Five Nations era transitioning to Six Nations).[86] In the 2025 edition, Louis Bielle-Biarrey of France set a new benchmark by scoring eight tries, equaling the single-tournament record previously held by Cyril Lowe for England in 1914, while also earning Player of the Championship honors with a 65% vote share for his explosive wing play.[89][90] This performance contributed to France's record-breaking campaign, including the highest single-match points tally by a player in recent years, underscoring the tournament's evolving emphasis on attacking flair.[48]| Category | Record Holder | Total | Nation | Years Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most Caps | Sergio Parisse | 69 | Italy | 2004–2019 |
| Most Points | Johnny Sexton | 566 | Ireland | 2010–2023 |
| Most Tries | Brian O'Driscoll | 26 | Ireland | 2000–2014 |
| Most Tries in a Single Tournament | Louis Bielle-Biarrey (tied with Cyril Lowe) | 8 | France | 2025 |