History of the Six Nations Tournament
🎓 Tickets for the 2027 Six Nations Tournament
→ View available ticketsThe Six Nations Championship is the oldest international rugby competition still being played today. First held in 1883 as the Home Nations Championship, it now brings together England, Scotland, France, Ireland, Italy and Wales every year between February and March. In 2026, France retained their title by beating England 48-46 at the Stade de France thanks to a last-second Thomas Ramos penalty, becoming the most successful nation since the competition expanded to six teams. This page looks back at the history of the competition, its greatest moments and its complete honours list, updated after the 2026 Championship.
Last updated: August 2026, following the 27th edition of the Six Nations Championship.
The origins of the tournament
The Home Nations (1883)
The history of the Six Nations Championship dates back to 1883, when the four Home Nations — England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales — competed in the first edition of the Home Nations Championship. At the time, rugby was still a relatively young sport, having been codified only a few decades earlier, and the rules varied from one union to another. England won the inaugural tournament.
The historical context helps explain how the competition came about. The 19th century was marked by industrialisation and the expansion of the British Empire. Rugby, which originated in English public schools, quickly spread throughout the British Isles and beyond. The Home Nations Championship played an important role in standardising the rules: a disagreement over the validity of a try during an England-Scotland match in 1884 eventually led to the creation of the International Rugby Football Board in 1886, the organisation now known as World Rugby.
France joins and the Five Nations begins (1910)
France’s inclusion in 1910 transformed the competition into the Five Nations Championship. This expansion reflected the growth of rugby in continental Europe, particularly in south-western France, and added a new dimension to the tournament. France’s journey was not straightforward, however: the country had to wait until 1954 to win its first title, shared with England and Wales, and until 1959 to claim its first outright Championship.
France’s participation was suspended from 1932 to 1939, with the British unions criticising French rugby for disguised professionalism and violence in its domestic championship. This episode had a lasting influence on the identity of the tournament and highlighted the importance attached at the time to the values of amateurism and fair play. France did not return to the competition until after the Second World War, in 1947.
The birth of the Six Nations (2000)
The year 2000 opened a new chapter with the inclusion of Italy, creating the Six Nations Championship as we know it today. Italy’s admission followed several years of debate about expanding the competition and developing rugby across Europe. It came five years after rugby union officially became professional in 1995, a change that profoundly transformed both the standard and the economics of the game.
Italy’s arrival broadened rugby’s supporter base across Europe and opened up a new media market. For many years, it also raised questions about competitive balance, as Italy finished bottom in the vast majority of their campaigns. That trend has changed significantly in recent years, culminating in a fourth-place finish and a historic first victory over England in 2026.
Recent changes to the format
- 2017: introduction of the try bonus point (for scoring 4 tries) and losing bonus point (for losing by 7 points or fewer), together with an additional 3 points for completing a Grand Slam, ensuring that an unbeaten team could not be overtaken in the standings.
- 2018: further development of bilateral trophies, including the creation of the Auld Alliance Trophy (France-Scotland) and the Doddie Weir Cup (Scotland-Wales).
- 2026: the Championship was shortened from seven to six weeks and opened on a Thursday evening for the first time, creating a more condensed schedule that produced a record-breaking tournament for the number of tries scored.
Six Nations Championship honours
Across all eras of the competition — the Home Nations, Five Nations and Six Nations — England and Wales share the record with 39 titles each. Since the Championship expanded to six teams in 2000, however, France lead the way with 8 titles, moving clear at the top after winning back-to-back Championships in 2025 and 2026.
All-time honours since 1883
| Nation | Titles | Shared titles | Grand Slams | Triple Crowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 39 | 10 | 13 | 26 |
| Wales | 39 | 11 | 12 | 22 |
| France | 28 | 8 | 10 | — |
| Ireland | 24 | 8 | 4 | 15 |
| Scotland | 22 | 8 | 3 | 10 |
| Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Every winner since 2000
| Year | Winner | Grand Slam |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | France | No |
| 2025 | France | No |
| 2024 | Ireland | No |
| 2023 | Ireland | Yes |
| 2022 | France | Yes |
| 2021 | Wales | No |
| 2020 | England | No |
| 2019 | Wales | Yes |
| 2018 | Ireland | Yes |
| 2017 | England | No |
| 2016 | England | Yes |
| 2015 | Ireland | No |
| 2014 | Ireland | No |
| 2013 | Wales | No |
| 2012 | Wales | Yes |
| 2011 | England | No |
| 2010 | France | Yes |
| 2009 | Ireland | Yes |
| 2008 | Wales | Yes |
| 2007 | France | No |
| 2006 | France | No |
| 2005 | Wales | Yes |
| 2004 | France | Yes |
| 2003 | England | Yes |
| 2002 | France | Yes |
| 2001 | England | No |
| 2000 | England | No |
The 2026 Championship: France retain their title
The 2026 Championship will be remembered as one of the most spectacular in history, with a record 111 tries scored. France edged out Ireland despite a remarkable 50-40 defeat at Murrayfield that ended their hopes of a Grand Slam — becoming the first team in the history of the tournament to score more than 40 points and still lose. The title was decided on the final weekend by a Thomas Ramos penalty with the last kick of an extraordinary France-England match (48-46).
| Pos. | Team | W | L | Points scored / conceded | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 4 | 1 | 211 / 130 | 21 |
| 2 | Ireland | 4 | 1 | 146 / 108 | 19 |
| 3 | Scotland | 3 | 2 | 143 / 144 | 16 |
| 4 | Italy | 2 | 3 | 79 / 117 | 9 |
| 5 | England | 1 | 4 | 153 / 151 | 8 |
| 6 | Wales | 1 | 4 | 90 / 172 | 6 |
Three major moments stood out above the rest: Italy beat England for the first time in their history (23-18), at the 33rd attempt; Ireland retained the Triple Crown, the 15th in their history and their 9th since 2000; and Wales ended a run of 15 consecutive defeats spanning 1,099 days, although they were still unable to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
Grand Slam, Triple Crown and Wooden Spoon: what is at stake?
- The Grand Slam is achieved by a team that wins all five of its matches. It is the most prestigious achievement in the Championship. England have completed 13 Grand Slams, Wales 12, France 10, Ireland 4 and Scotland 3. France’s most recent Grand Slam came in 2022, while the most recent overall was achieved by Ireland in 2023.
- The Triple Crown is awarded to a Home Nation that defeats each of the other three Home Nations. Neither France nor Italy can win it. England hold the record with 26 Triple Crowns.
- The Wooden Spoon is the unofficial title given to the team that finishes bottom of the standings. Italy have collected the most since joining the competition in 2000; Wales received it in 2026.
- A “whitewash” refers to a team losing all five of its matches, a feat that is rarer than it might appear.
Bilateral trophies
In addition to the main Championship trophy, several fixtures have their own trophy at stake, giving individual matches extra significance even when the overall title is out of reach.
| Trophy | Fixture | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Calcutta Cup | England – Scotland | 1879 |
| Millennium Trophy | England – Ireland | 1988 |
| Centenary Quaich | Scotland – Ireland | 1989 |
| Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy | France – Italy | 2007 |
| Auld Alliance Trophy | France – Scotland | 2018 |
| Doddie Weir Cup | Scotland – Wales | 2018 |
| Cuttitta Cup | Scotland – Italy | 2022 |
Key moments and Six Nations records
Legendary matches
Italy 34-20 Scotland (2000) — In their very first match in the Championship, in Rome, Italy stunned Scotland, the reigning and final Five Nations champions. Exceptional goal-kicker Diego Domínguez scored 29 of Italy’s 34 points. The message was clear: the Azzurri were far more than a symbolic addition to the competition.
Wales 31-24 Scotland (2010) — Trailing 24-14 with five minutes remaining, Wales scored a try through Leigh Halfpenny, drew level with a Stephen Jones penalty and then snatched victory through Shane Williams with the final play of the match, taking advantage of Scotland’s Phil Godman being sent off. It remains one of the most remarkable comebacks of the modern era.
“Super Saturday” (2015) — The final round produced 27 tries across three matches. Wales thrashed Italy, Ireland defeated Scotland and England then beat France 55-35 but failed to achieve the points difference they needed. Ireland retained the title by a points difference margin of just six.
France 48-46 England (2026) — The highest-scoring edition of Le Crunch in Championship history. England recorded their highest-ever points total in France… and still lost, as a Thomas Ramos penalty after the final whistle secured the title for Les Bleus.
Major individual records
| Record | Holder | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Most points (career) | Johnny Sexton (Ireland) | 566 points |
| Most tries (career) | Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) | 26 tries |
| Most appearances | Sergio Parisse (Italy) | 69 matches (2004-2019) |
| Most points in a single match | Jonny Wilkinson (England) | 35 points against Italy, 2001 |
| Most tries in a single Championship | Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France) | 9 tries in 2026 |
Louis Bielle-Biarrey epitomises the new generation: named Player of the Championship in 2026, the French winger scored in ten consecutive rounds — a record — and became France’s all-time leading try scorer in the competition with 18 tries. Among the goal-kickers, Thomas Ramos finished as the Championship’s leading points scorer for the fourth consecutive year, with 74 points in 2026.
Cultural, social and economic impact
A symbol of national identity
The Six Nations Championship plays a unique role in shaping national identities and maintaining rivalries that have become annual traditions. Every match is an occasion for collective pride, with supporters wearing their national colours and singing their anthems — Flower of Scotland, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau and Ireland’s Call, the anthem created to represent both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland within a single rugby team.
These annual fixtures have helped shape rugby’s place within each country. In France, the Championship has reinforced rugby’s image as a sport deeply rooted in local communities and traditional values. In Italy, it has helped establish a sport that was long overshadowed by football. In Wales, rugby is a genuine national symbol and an integral part of the country’s cultural identity.
Historic rivalries — such as the Calcutta Cup between England and Scotland, contested since 1879, or Le Crunch between France and England — add another dimension to these matches. Fierce on the pitch, they have generally helped foster mutual respect and cultural exchange between the nations, particularly through the tradition of the post-match third half.
Economic and media impact
Beyond its sporting and cultural importance, the Six Nations Championship has a considerable economic impact on the participating nations. Match weekends attract tens of thousands of supporters, including a significant proportion of international visitors, and provide a major boost to the local economies of host cities such as Paris, London, Dublin, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Rome. The benefits extend well beyond the stadiums to hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and other local businesses.
Partnerships with international sponsors and television broadcasting rights account for a significant proportion of the unions’ revenues and help fund rugby at every level, including the development of young players. The growing popularity of the Championship has also encouraged major investment in infrastructure, including improvements to Twickenham, the Principality Stadium and the Aviva Stadium.
Media coverage has evolved along the same lines, from the earliest radio broadcasts to high-definition television and streaming platforms, as well as documentary series providing behind-the-scenes access to the teams. This exposure has turned the Championship into a global showcase: performances are closely watched by selectors ahead of the Rugby World Cup, while the competition has provided a springboard for many international careers.
Ticketing for the Championship has become a major issue, with demand far exceeding supply for the most sought-after fixtures. This has led to the creation of websites such as ours, which compare available tickets for each match. You can view the full 2027 Six Nations fixtures, with dates and kick-off times shown in French local time, or find all the practical information you need on our dedicated Six Nations Championship page.
Frequently asked questions about the history of the Six Nations
Who won the 2026 Six Nations Championship?
France won the 2026 Six Nations Championship with 21 points, finishing ahead of Ireland on 19 points. The title was decided in the final match, when France beat England 48-46 at the Stade de France thanks to a Thomas Ramos penalty after the final whistle. It was France’s second consecutive Six Nations title.
Which nation has won the most Six Nations titles?
Across all eras of the competition since 1883, England and Wales are tied with 39 titles each. Since the competition became the Six Nations in 2000, France are the most successful nation with 8 titles, ahead of England (7), Ireland (6) and Wales (6).
When was the Six Nations Championship created?
The competition began in 1883 as the Home Nations Championship, featuring four teams. It became the Five Nations Championship in 1910 when France joined, before becoming the Six Nations Championship in 2000 following the inclusion of Italy.
What is a Grand Slam in rugby?
A Grand Slam is achieved when a team wins all five of its matches in the Championship. England have completed 13, Wales 12, France 10, Ireland 4 and Scotland 3. Italy have never achieved a Grand Slam. Since 2017, completing a Grand Slam has earned a team 3 additional bonus points in the standings.
Have Scotland or Italy ever won the Six Nations?
No. Scotland have won 22 Championship titles overall, but none since the competition became the Six Nations in 2000: their most recent title came in the 1999 Five Nations Championship. Italy have never won the competition since joining in 2000; their best finish is fourth place, achieved in 2007, 2013 and 2026.
When will the 2027 Six Nations Championship take place?
The 28th edition of the Six Nations Championship will take place from 5 February to 13 March 2027. France will host Wales and Scotland at the Stade de France and travel to Twickenham, Rome and Dublin. The detailed match-by-match schedule is available on our website.