Six Nations Championship

Publication date: 17 Jul 2025

About the Six Nations Championship

The Six Nations Championship (6NC, Rugby Union, Guinness Six Nations) is an annual international rugby union competition. Moreover, one of the most prestigious rugby tournaments. It brings together six European teams from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. As a result, this tournament not only brings together historic rivalries, but also showcases rugby at the very highest level.

Official website

Rugby Union 2026

One of the most prestigious rugby tournaments in Europe, the Six Nations Cup, will be held in 2026 from February 5 to March 14. The competition traditionally involves the six strongest teams on the continent: France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Italy. Teams will play each other in a single round-robin format – each will play 5 matches in total.

The games will be held in six countries – from Paris and Dublin to Rome and Edinburgh. The first match will open the tournament on February 5: the French team will host Ireland at home. This immediately sets a high pace – after all, these two teams are considered the main favorites.

France is the current champion and is confidently moving towards defending the title. Ireland is one of the most stable participants in recent years, having won the tournament in 2023 and 2024. The English can also intervene in the fight for victory, but Scotland is traditionally considered a potential “dark stallion” – capable of a surprise. Wales and Italy are the underdogs, although anything can happen in rugby.

The final round of the tournament, the so-called “Super Saturday”, when three decisive matches are held at once, will take place on March 14. That is when the winner of the 2026 6NC will be determined.

History of the championship

The first major rugby competition took place in 1883. The competition was held between the 4 national teams of the United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. For two years the English team were excluded from the championship. This was due to their refusal to join the International Rugby Union. As a result, they did not take part in the competition in 1888 and 1889.

Since 1910, the championship has been played between 5 national teams – the French team joined.

In 2000, the Italian team joined the competition and it became known as the Six Nations Tournament.

Traditionally, the Rugby Cup starts on the 1st weekend in February and ends on the 2nd or 3rd Saturday in March. Teams play each other once. A total of 15 matches are played. The team that finishes last, or loses all its matches, is awarded a figurative honour – a wooden spoon. Throughout the history of the tournament, the Italian team has won enough points to be awarded this honour 15 times.

Characteristics and uniqueness of the competition

The Cup’s uniqueness lies in its historical significance, the high standard of play and the special atmosphere. In terms of the trophy, it is the pride and heritage of European rugby.

6NC history’s biggest bet

One of the biggest bets was placed in 2019. A punter backed Wales to win at odds of 3.5. He won a substantial sum after their triumph. This incident highlights the interest in the tournament among sports betting enthusiasts.

Championship results over the last 3 years

Year  Venue  Winning team
2025 England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales France
2024 England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales Ireland
2023 England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy Ireland

2027 Guinness Six Nations

The 6NC remains the beating heart of European rugby. In fact, it brings together the best teams and the best fans from all over the world. Both its history and the modern level of play make it a tournament to watch. It maintains its status as one of the most anticipated events in the world of sport. The 2027 competition is expected to be full of outstanding performances from Europe’s best players. The fixture list for the next championship will be announced at a later date.

Keep an eye on the dates of rugby tournaments and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.

Did you like the article?

Share it with your friends via favorite social media

Read more

The Football World Cup (FIFA World Cup, World Cup, Mundial) is the main international football …

The DreamLeague is one of the oldest and most respected Dota 2 tournament series, founded …

About the UCI Road World Championships The Bicycle Road Cycling World Championships (official name: UCI …

About the Tour de France The Tour de France is a prestigious annual men’s cycling …

About the Tour de France Femmes The Women’s Tour de France (Tour de France Femmes) …

The Spanish football championship, known as La Liga or Primera, is the highest division of …

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice (Intel Extreme Masters Kraków), one of the most prestigious and exciting …

About the Grand National The Grand National Festival Race Card the most famous English steeplechase …

The Pro Bowl (All-Star Match, AFC–NFC Pro Bowl) is the National Football League (NFL) all-star …

The Super Bowl match in American football is the final match of the season of …