Six Nations Championship

History and Origins

The Six Nations Championship traces its roots back to 1883, when England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales first contested the Home Nations Championship. France joined in 1910, expanding the tournament to five nations, and Italy completed the current roster in 2000. What began as a gentlemanly affair between the British Isles’ founding rugby nations has since evolved into one of the most commercially valuable and fiercely contested annual events in world sport.

The championship has survived two world wars, political boycotts and seismic shifts in how rugby is governed. Through it all, the tournament has retained an identity rooted in national pride and territorial rivalry that few other sporting competitions can match.

Format

The Six Nations is played over five rounds, typically from early February to mid-March. Each team plays five matches — facing every other nation once — with home advantage alternating from year to year. In one edition a team might host three matches and travel for two; the following year, that arrangement reverses.

Teams earn four points for a win, two for a draw and zero for a defeat. Bonus points are awarded for scoring four or more tries in a match and for losing by seven points or fewer. The team with the most points at the end of the five rounds takes the title. If points are level, the championship is decided on points difference, then tries scored.

Grand Slam, Triple Crown and Calcutta Cup

Within the championship sit several prestigious sub-prizes. A Grand Slam is achieved when a team wins all five of its matches — a feat that remains genuinely rare and celebrated. The Triple Crown is awarded to whichever home nation (England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales) beats all three of the others in a single campaign. France and Italy are not eligible for this prize, which predates the championship itself.

The Calcutta Cup is the oldest of all: a trophy contested between England and Scotland since 1879, forged from melted-down Indian rupees withdrawn when the Calcutta Football Club disbanded. It is played for as part of the Six Nations, adding an extra layer of intensity to an already fraught Anglo-Scottish encounter.

The Modern Era

France and Ireland have emerged as the dominant forces of the 2020s. Ireland secured back-to-back titles and Grand Slams in 2023 and 2024 under Andy Farrell, playing a brand of rugby built on relentless organisation, a brutally efficient set piece and an attacking game that could shift tempo at will. France, meanwhile, have rediscovered their flair after years of underperformance, producing a generation of players — led by Antoine Dupont — capable of winning matches from almost any position on the pitch.

England have experienced a rebuilding period, while Wales have struggled for consistency despite moments of promise. Scotland continue to develop as credible contenders, regularly threatening the top two, and Italy have shown marked improvement, no longer occupying the role of perennial wooden spoon recipients.

Where to Watch

The Six Nations is broadcast free-to-air in the United Kingdom, shared between BBC and ITV. Coverage alternates depending on the fixture, with both broadcasters providing full studio analysis before and after each match. Streaming is available via BBC iPlayer and ITVX at no additional cost. This free-to-air status has been central to the championship’s enduring popularity and its ability to draw audiences far beyond rugby’s traditional heartlands.

For the full broadcast schedule, see our UK TV Schedule.

Recent Winners

Explore the World Rugby Rankings to see how Six Nations results affect the global standings, or visit the Women’s Six Nations page for coverage of the women’s championship.