Six Nations Championship News

The Six Nations Championship, known as the Guinness Six Nations, is an annual competition featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The tournament dates back to 1883, when it was founded as the Home Nations Championship.

As the oldest international rugby tournament in the world, the inaugural Home Nations (1883-1909, 1932-39) was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In 1909, the tournament expanded. France joined the competition and it was renamed as the Five Nations Championship (1910-31, 1947-99).

No other major changes occurred until 2000, when the tournament welcomed Italy. The competition was subsequently rebranded as the Six Nations Championship.

Six Nations News & Records

The annual Six Nations Championship kicks off in early February and concludes in March. The tournament consists of 15 matches, with three games played per weekend. In total, each nation plays the other teams once, either at home or away. Home ground advantage in each fixture alternates from one year to the next.

To date, England have claimed more Six Nations titles than any other team. They have celebrated 29 outright wins, 26 Triple Crowns and 13 Grand Slams. Since the Six Nations era started in 2000, only Italy and Scotland have failed to win the tournament.

In addition to the Six Nations trophy, teams also compete for so-called rivalry trophies: The Auld Alliance (France vs. Scotland), Calcutta Cup (England vs. Scotland), Centenary Quaich (Ireland vs. Scotland), Cuttitta Cup (Italy vs. Scotland), Doddie Weir Cup (Scotland vs. Wales), Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (France vs. Italy) and the Millennium Trophy (England vs. Ireland).

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