Six Nations Championship

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Six Nations Championship
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024 Six Nations Championship
Guinness Six Nations.png
The Guinness Six Nations logo
Sport Rugby union
Instituted1883;141 years ago (1883)
(as Home Nations Championship)
1910;114 years ago (1910)
(as Five Nations Championship)
2000;24 years ago (2000)
(as Six Nations Championship)
Number of teams6
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Flag of France.svg  France
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
HoldersIRFU flag.svg  Ireland (2023)
Most titlesFlag of England.svg  England and Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales (39 titles)
Website sixnationsrugby.com
Six Nations Championship
Related competitions Women's Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Under 20s Championship

The Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) is an annual international men's rugby union competition between the teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The championship holders are Ireland, who won the 2023 tournament, while the 2024 Six Nations Championship is currently in progress.

Contents

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 between 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), which in turn became the Six Nations Championship with the addition of Italy 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.

History and expansion

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

The locations of the Six Nations participants Tournoi2.svg
The locations of the Six Nations participants

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, or alternatively by a team that loses all of its games in a championship. [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 every match 13 times.

Home advantage in the Six Nations
Three home matchesTwo home matches
Even yearsFlag of France.svg  France IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Odd yearsFlag of England.svg  England Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of France.svg  France IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales

Trophies

Championship Trophy

The Original Six Nations Championship Trophy (left, 1993-2014) and The Triple Crown Trophy Ireland 2009 6 nations triple crown.jpg
The Original Six Nations Championship Trophy (left, 1993–2014) and The Triple Crown Trophy

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 championship, France. It is a sterling silver trophy, designed by James Brent-Ward and made by a team of eight silversmiths from the London firm William Comyns.

It has 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 – 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. [7] The new trophy was designed and crafted by Thomas Lyte silversmiths and replaces the 1993 edition, which is being retired as it represented the nations that took part in the Five Nations Championship. Ireland were the last team to win the old trophy and the first team to win the new one. [8]

Grand Slam and Triple Crown

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. It has since been won four times by Ireland and Wales, and three times by England.

Rivalry trophies

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.

TrophyTeamsSinceNotes
Calcutta Cup England and Scotland1879 [9] Made from melted-down Indian rupees donated by the Calcutta Club
Millennium Trophy England and Ireland1988Presented to celebrate Dublin's millennium in 1988 [10]
Centenary Quaich Ireland and Scotland1989 [11] [12] [13] 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 and Italy2007Commemorated 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 and Scotland2018In memory of the war dead from the rugby communities of Scotland and France [14]
Doddie Weir Cup Wales and Scotland2018In recognition of Doddie Weir, who founded the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation which supports research into motor neuron disease [15]
Cuttitta Cup Scotland and Italy2022Commemorates Massimo Cuttitta, a former Italian captain and Scotland scrum coach, who died in 2021 at the age of 54 from COVID-19. [16]

Currently the following matches have no additional trophy contested:

Venues

Twickenham Stadium - May 2012.jpg
Murrayfield Autumn 2017.jpg
Millennium Stadium RWC2015.jpg
Aviva Stadium seen from Block 312.jpg
2012-03-17 ITA - SCO prematch.jpg
The national rugby union stadiums of five of the six countries host the events. France will play all their matches away from their normal venue.

As of the 2024 competition, Six Nations matches are held in the following stadiums:

TeamStadiumLocationCapacity
England Twickenham Stadium London 82,000
France Parc Olympique Lyonnais Lyon 59,186
Stade Pierre-Mauroy Lille 50,186
Stade Vélodrome Marseille 67,394
Wales Millennium 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, [17] because of frustrations with their tenancy of Stade de France. [18] However the project was cancelled in December 2016. [19] France played their 2018 match against Italy at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. [20]

In 2020, Wales played their final game at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli due to the Millennium Stadium being used as Dragon's Heart Hospital in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [21]

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. [22] 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

Overall

 Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
IRFU flag.svg
Ireland
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Scotland.svg
Scotland
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
Tournaments1279412924129129
Outright wins (shared wins)
Home Nations5 (4)4 (3)9 (2)7 (3)
Five Nations17 (6)12 (8)6 (5)5 (6)15 (8)
Six Nations765006
Overall29 (10)18 (8)15 (8)0 (0)14 (8)28 (11)
Grand Slams
Home Nations2 [23]
Five Nations116136
Six Nations243004
Overall131040312
Triple Crowns
Home Nations5276
Five Nations164311
Six Nations5705
Overall26131022
Wooden Spoons
Home Nations71056
Five Nations1012151510
Six Nations0101841
Overall171325182417

Home Nations (1883–1909)

YearChampions Grand Slam Triple Crown Calcutta Cup Wooden spoon [lower-alpha 1]
1883 Flag of England.svg  England Not contestedFlag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Not contested
1884 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1885 Not completedNot completed
1886 Flag of England.svg  England and Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1887 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1888 not completedEngland did not participate
1889 not completedEngland did not participate
1890 Flag of England.svg  England and Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England
1891 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1892 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1893 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1894 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1895 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland
1896 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1897 Not completedNot completedFlag of England.svg  England
1898 Not completedNot completed
1899 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England
1900 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales
1901 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England
1902 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1903 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England
1904 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1905 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England
1906 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland and Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England
1907 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England
1908 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1909 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland
  1. A team that loses all its games is "awarded" the Wooden Spoon.

Five Nations (1910–1931)

YearChampions Grand Slam Triple Crown Calcutta Cup Wooden spoon
1910 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of France.svg  France
1911 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1912 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland and Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of France.svg  France
1913 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of France.svg  France
1914 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1915–19Not held due to World War I
1920 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland, Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales and Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1921 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1922 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England
1923 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1924 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1925 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of France.svg  France
1926 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland and Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of France.svg  France
1927 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland and Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1928 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1929 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of France.svg  France
1930 Flag of England.svg  England
1931 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland

Home Nations (1932–1939)

YearChampions Grand Slam Triple Crown Calcutta Cup Wooden spoon
1932 Flag of England.svg  England, IRFU flag.svg  Ireland and Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1933 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1934 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1935 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1936 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1937 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales
1938 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1939 Flag of England.svg  England, IRFU flag.svg  Ireland, Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland

Five Nations (1940–1999)

YearChampions Grand Slam Triple Crown Calcutta Cup Millennium Trophy Centenary Quaich Wooden spoon
1940–46Not held due to World War II Not contested
1947 Flag of England.svg  England and Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1948 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1949 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of England.svg  England
1950 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1951 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of England.svg  England
1952 Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1953 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1954 Flag of England.svg  England, Flag of France.svg  France and Flag of Wales (1953-1959).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1955 Flag of France.svg  France and Flag of Wales (1953-1959).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England
1956 Flag of Wales (1953-1959).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England
1957 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of France.svg  France
1958 Flag of England.svg  England
1959 Flag of France.svg  France
1960 Flag of England.svg  England and Flag of France.svg  France Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1961 Flag of France.svg  France Flag of England.svg  England
1962 Flag of France.svg  France
1963 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1964 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland and Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1965 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
1966 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1967 Flag of France.svg  France Flag of England.svg  England
1968 Flag of France.svg  France Flag of France.svg  France Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1969 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England
1970 Flag of France.svg  France and Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1971 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1972 Not completedFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England
1973 Flag of England.svg  England, Flag of France.svg  France, IRFU flag.svg  Ireland,
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland, Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Flag of England.svg  England
1974 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1975 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England
1976 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England
1977 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1978 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1979 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
1980 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England
1981 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1982 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1983 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France and IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1984 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1985 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of England.svg  England
1986 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France and Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1987 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of England.svg  England
1988 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France and Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England
1989 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1990 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
1991 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1992 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1993 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1994 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1995 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
1996 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1997 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
1998 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland
1999 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland

Six Nations (2000–present)

YearChampions Grand Slam Triple Crown Calcutta Cup Millennium
Trophy
Centenary
Quaich
Giuseppe
Garibaldi
Trophy
Auld Alliance
Trophy
Doddie Weir
Cup
Cuttitta
Cup
Wooden spoon [lower-alpha 1]
2000 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Not contestedNot contestedNot contestedNot contestedFlag of Italy.svg  Italy
2001 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2002 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2003 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
2004 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
2005 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2006 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2007 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
2008 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2009 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2010 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2011 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2012 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
2013 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
2014 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2015 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
2016 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2017 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2018 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2019 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2020 Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England Flag of England.svg  England IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France.svg  France Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2021 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France.svg  France Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2022 Flag of France.svg  France Flag of France.svg  France IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France.svg  France Flag of France.svg  France Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2023 IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland IRFU flag.svg  Ireland Flag of France.svg  France Flag of France.svg  France Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
2024 Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of England.svg  England Flag of France.svg  France Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
  1. the team finishing in last place

Titles and awards

Grand Slams and Triple Crowns (All Time)
NationGrand SlamsLast Grand SlamTriple CrownsLast Triple Crown
Flag of England.svg  England 132016262020
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 122019222021
Flag of France.svg  France 102022
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 42023132023
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 31990101990
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0
Grand Slams and Triple Crowns (Six Nations)
NationGrand SlamsLast Grand SlamTriple CrownsLast Triple Crown
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 4201952021
Flag of France.svg  France 42022
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 3202372023
Flag of England.svg  England 2201652020
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 00
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 0

Wooden Spoon

Wooden Spoons (last place)
TeamWooden SpoonsLast
Wooden Spoon
HNCFNCSNC
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 25199811140
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 2420155154
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 18202318
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1720036101
Flag of England.svg  England 1719877100
Flag of France.svg  France 132013121

Six Nations

Wooden Spoon winners (last place)
TeamWooden SpoonsYears awarded
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 18 2000, 2001 , 2002 , 2005 , 2006 , 2008, 2009 , 2010, 2011, 2014 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , 2021 , 2022, 2023
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 4 2004 , 2007, 2012 , 2015
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1 2003
Flag of France.svg  France 1 2013
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 0
Flag of England.svg  England 0

Bold indicates that the team did not win any matches.

Player awards

Player of the championship [24]
YearWinner
2004 IRFU flag.svg Gordon D'Arcy
2005 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Martyn Williams
2006 IRFU flag.svg Brian O'Driscoll
2007 IRFU flag.svg Brian O'Driscoll (2)
2008 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Shane Williams
2009 IRFU flag.svg Brian O'Driscoll (3)
2010 IRFU flag.svg Tommy Bowe
2011 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Masi
2012 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dan Lydiate
2013 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Leigh Halfpenny
2014 Flag of England.svg Mike Brown
2015 IRFU flag.svg Paul O'Connell
2016 Flag of Scotland.svg Stuart Hogg
2017 Flag of Scotland.svg Stuart Hogg (2)
2018 IRFU flag.svg Jacob Stockdale
2019 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Alun Wyn Jones
2020 Flag of France.svg Antoine Dupont
2021 Flag of Scotland.svg Hamish Watson
2022 Flag of France.svg Antoine Dupont (2)
2023 Flag of France.svg Antoine Dupont (3)

Records

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 Scotsman George Campbell Lindsay who scored five tries against Wales in 1887. [25] England's Cyril Lowe and Scotland's Ian Smith jointly hold the record for tries in one season with 8 (Lowe in 1914, Smith in 1925). 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, [26] since his Six Nations debut in 2004.

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 ever points in a season in 2001 with 229, and most tries in a season with 29. [25] 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

The Championship is run from headquarters in Dublin, Ireland by Six Nations Rugby Ltd. [27]

Former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) CEO, Tom Harrison, [28] was appointed the CEO of Six Nations Rugby in January 2023 following the resignation of Benjamin Morel in November 2022. [29] Morel had held the position of CEO since November 2018, [30] replacing John Feehan, who stepped down after sixteen years as CEO in April 2018. [31] Harrison's tenure as CEO commenced from April. 2023. [28] [32]

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. [33]

Marketing

Broadcasting rights

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. [34]

In the UK, 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. [35] 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. [36]

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. [37] 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. [38] [39] 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. [40] [41]

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. [42]

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. [43] 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. [44] In 2022 it was announced that RTÉ and Virgin Media would share broadcasting rights. [45]

In France, the entire Six Nations rugby tournament must appear on free-to-air television. [46] 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. [47] Sky Italia broadcasts all matches while free-to-air TV8 only covers Italy fixtures.

In the United States, NBC Sports broadcasts matches in English. [48] 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. [49]

In 2024 the Six Nations teams featured in a Netflix documentary Six Nations: Full Contact. [50] In February 2024, the show was green lit for a second season. [51]

TerritoryBroadcasterSummary
Flag of France.svg France France 2 All matches
Flag of Ireland.svg Republic of Ireland RTÉ All matches split between both channels
Virgin Media Television
Flag of Italy.svg Italy Sky All matches
TV8 Italy matches only
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom BBC One All home matches from Scotland and Wales
ITV1 All home matches from England, France, Ireland and Italy
S4C Wales matches shown by BBC in the Welsh language
Asia Premier Sports Asia All matches
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Stan Sport All matches
Baltic states and Nordic countries (including Poland) Viaplay All matches
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada DAZN All matches
Caribbean ESPN All matches
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechia (including Slovakia) Nova Sport All matches
Germanic Europe (including Luxembourg)More Than SportsAll matches
Flag of Israel.svg Israel Sport 5 All matches
Flag of Japan.svg Japan Wowow All matches
Flag of Malta.svg Malta GO All matches
MENA Premier Sports Middle EastAll matches
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Ziggo Sport All matches
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Sky Sport All matches
Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal (including Slovenia) Sport TV All matches
Flag of Romania.svg Romania Orange Sport All matches
Flag of Spain.svg 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
Flag of the United States.svg United States NBC Sports All matches
Worldwide TV5Monde France matches only

Sponsorship

Until 1998, the Championship 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. [52]

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. [53] 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. [54]

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. [55] 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 color and typeface as the Guinness wordmark. [56] [57] [58]

See also

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