The Six Nations Explained: Scoring, Trophies and the Grand Slam

The Six Nations is one of the oldest and most loved rugby union tournaments. This guide explains how it is scored and why certain fixtures carry special trophies.

The six teams

England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales compete in a round-robin where each team plays the other five once. Italy joined in 2000, turning the earlier Five Nations into the Six Nations.

How points are scored

In rugby union a try is worth five points, a conversion two, and a penalty kick or drop goal three each. Understanding these values explains why teams sometimes choose to kick for goal, run a penalty or go for the line.

The table and bonus points

• Win: four table points.
• Draw: two table points.
• Try bonus: one point for scoring four or more tries.
• Losing bonus: one point for losing by seven points or fewer.
• Grand Slam bonus: three extra points to a team that wins all five matches.

Special honours

A Grand Slam goes to a team that beats all five opponents. The Triple Crown is contested only by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales: a team that beats the other three wins it. The last-place finisher is traditionally said to receive the “wooden spoon” in jest.

Fixture trophies

Several rivalries have their own prizes, including the Calcutta Cup between England and Scotland, the Millennium Trophy between England and Ireland, and the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy between France and Italy.

Why it is special

The tournament combines tradition, intense rivalries and packed stadiums. It is also a platform for debate about competition structure and the place of emerging nations.

Details such as scheduling and bonus-point rules can change; verify with the official tournament site.