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History of the Six Nations: Origins, expansion and trophy

The Six Nations is an annual rugby union tournament featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

Established in 1883, it is a firm favourite with even casual sports fans thanks to its presence on terrestrial television, although there are reports it could go behind a paywall from next year.

The 2025 edition begins on 31st January and runs until 15th March.

Six Nations

History of the Six Nations

Six Nations Origins

England and Scotland played the first-ever international in 1871 and amid growing interest in the sport, with an increasing number of international friendlies taking place, the Home Nations joined together for an annual tournament.

The first Championship held in 1883 saw England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales meet, with the English sweeping the board in the first two years.

However, although they won all three of their fixtures, that was still known as the Triple Crown and that achievement did not become known as a 'Grand Slam' until Wales' success in 1908, as they also beat France in the same season.

Six Nations expansion

The four original countries met until 1910 when France joined the competition. However, the tournament reverted to the original four rivals between 1932 and 1939 before the French returned in 1947 to participate in the first event held after the Second World War, reforming the Five Nations.

That format survived until 2000 when Italy were invited to join, famously winning their inaugural game against the then-reigning champion Scots.    

Six Nations future?

Although among the most familiar sporting events on the calendar, the Six Nations has always been able to evolve and demonstrated a willingness to embrace new countries and ideas.

Italy have now been part of the competition for 26 seasons but their frequent indifferent runs of form have seen speculation they could be replaced by Argentina - before they joined the Rugby Championship in 2012 - and improving nations Georgia and Portugal, while Romania were also mooted.

The disagreements between the SANZAR nations and the South African teams' switch to the United Rugby Championship have even prompted suggestions the tournament could be extended to seven teams to include the Springboks.

However, adding a seventh or more would have financial, logistical and political ramifications. The sport is already struggling without having an agreed global calendar, so including more nations may provoke a change of format or the requirement for an international window - compromising the domestic game - in an already packed schedule.

The Six Nations organising body has repeatedly denied reports that South Africa could join, and any talks would see them come into direct competition with their Rugby Championship counterparts.

Although it might make sense with the South African clubs already involved in the URC, it may also split the game, upset traditionalists and, in a sport lacking money, allow SA Rugby to play the sides off against each other.

All options could be on the table if the tournament goes onto a satellite or online streaming platform, with different broadcasters potentially providing investment to change or extend the format.

History of the Six Nations Trophy

The current Six Nations trophy was first introduced for the 2016 Championship and was made by Thomas Lyte silversmiths and features a six-sided design and weighs 7kg.

The winners of the tournament were first presented with a trophy designed by James Brent-Ward's company in 1993, 110 years after the first-ever Championship, but that prize was retired as it was seen as a relic from the Five Nations and didn't represent Italy.

History of the Calcutta Cup

Among the annual highlights included in the Six Nations is the Calcutta Cup match between England and Scotland.

The Auld Enemies famously met on Christmas Day in Calcutta in 1872 and that location leant its name to the trophy first played for in 1879. They drew in Edinburgh, sharing the new trophy, which had been made from money withdrawn by the ailing Calcutta Rugby Football Club and melted down and presented to the RFU.

The Calcutta Cup is the most famous rivalry, but several other trophies are competed for between the countries:

  • Millennium Trophy - England v Ireland

  • Centenary Quaich - Ireland v Scotland

  • Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy - France v Italy

  • Auld Alliance Trophy - France v Scotland

  • Doddie Weir Trophy - Wales v Scotland - First played for in 2018 in recognition of late Scotland lock Doddie Weir's My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. 

  • Cuttitta Cup - Scotland v Italy - Introduced in 2022, in tribute to Massimo Cuttitta, a former Italy captain and Scotland scrum coach, who died in 2021.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

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