Six Nations: A beginner’s guide to Rugby’s Greatest Championship
Planet Rugby covers everything for the rugby fanatic, and we are taking it back to basics for those eager to learn more about the Six Nations.
We have collated responses to get you up to speed on the Six Nations, just in time for you to watch the 2023 competition drama unfold.
From the origin of the Six Nations competition to where you can watch the matches, your frequently asked questions – ANSWERED!
FAQs
1. What is the Six Nations?
– The Six Nations is a rugby union competition where six national teams compete against each other. The competing teams are England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
2. How often is the Six Nations?
– The Six Nations are held annually, ordinarily taking place from February to March.
3. How does the Six Nations work?
– Each team plays the other five unions once, having the home advantage in alternate years. This means that 15 matches are played in the competition. A breakdown of how the points are awarded after each game based upon different outcomes, are below.
– If a union…
Wins the game, they are awarded 4 match points.
Wins the game, and score 4 or more tries, they receive 5 match points.
Loses the game, they are awarded 0 match points.
Loses the game, but scores 4 or more tries, they receive 1 match point.
Loses the game, but scores 4 or more tires, AND loses within a 7-point margin, they are awarded 2 match points.
Draw with the opposite team, both unions will receive 2 match points.
– An additional point can be added to the total number of points gained from a match if a team scores 4 or more tries.
If a team wins all of their matches, this is known as a “Grand Slam” for which they will be awarded an extra three points. England currently have won the most Grand Slams in the history of the Six Nations competition.
4. Who won the 2022 Six Nations?
– France won the Grand Slam in 2022, claiming their first title for 12 years.
5. What channel is the Six Nations on in 2023?
– ITV will be showing all of the England, France and Italy home games. BBC are to broadcast all of the Scotland and Wales home fixtures.
6. Is the Six Nations rugby league or union?
– The Six Nations is one of the most prestigious rugby union competitions. The Six Nations’ reputation is comparable to that of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup and is an eagerly awaited competition among rugby union fans.
7. What is the Triple Crown?
– The Triple Crown is an award that can only be granted to one of the following “home” unions (England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales). The award is won if one union beats all of the other three home unions, in one championship. Currently, Ireland have won the most Triple Crowns in the competition.
8. How long is a rugby match in the Six Nations?
– Each Six Nations match will last for 80 minutes.
9. Who has won the most Six Nations?
– England and Wales have both won the most Six Nations titles, claiming 39 titles each. England, however, have won the most outright titles, claiming 29 overall.
10. What is the origin of the Six Nations competition?
– When the competition began in 1882, it was only the nations in the United Kingdom that took part in the competition and was named “The Home Nations Cup”.
– France joined in 1910, changing the competition to the “Five Nations”.
– The Five Nations stuck, until Italy joined the competition in 2000, and the Six Nations was born.
– France and Italy joined the competition after an increase in traction in rugby union in their countries.
11. What is the Calcutta Cup?
– You may have seen some trophies being awarded at the end of certain games throughout the competition. There are different cups and trophies to be awarded for certain games and they are as follows:
– Calcutta Cup: Goes to the winner of the Scotland v England match.
– Centenary Quaich: Goes to the winner of Scotland v Ireland.
– Millennium Trophy: Goes to the winner of the England v Ireland match.
– Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy: Goes to the winner of France v Italy.
– Wooden Spoon: Given to the union that finishes last in the championship table at the end of the competition.
12. Who has scored the most tries in the Six Nations history?
– Brian O’Driscoll has scored the most tries in the history of the competition, scoring 26 tries for Ireland.
So there’s our whistle-stop tour of the Six Nations. Now you can sit back and enjoy the 2023 Six Nations with no questions asked, and maybe even impress your mates with some of those facts!