Rugby Union · Explainer
How the Six Nations works: bonus points, the Grand Slam and the Triple Crown
Five rounds, fifteen matches and a points system that rewards attack. Everything you need to follow England through a championship that dates back to 1883.
Photo: Aaarry / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
The Six Nations is the oldest international rugby championship in the world. England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales each play the other five once, over five rounds in February and March, with home advantage alternating from one year to the next.
England's championship record
- Titles
- 39
- 10 of them shared
- Grand Slams
- 13
- Most recently in 2016
- Triple Crowns
- 26
- Since the first in 1883
How the points work
A win earns four points and a draw two. Since 2017 there have also been bonus points: a side that scores four or more tries in a match earns one, and so does a side that loses by seven points or fewer.
A team that wins all five games is given three extra points. That rule exists for a reason.
Explainer
Why the Grand Slam bonus exists
Without it, a side could win all five matches and still finish behind a team that lost once but collected more bonus points along the way. The three extra points mean a clean sweep always tops the table.
The trophies within the trophy
- Grand Slam: beating all five opponents in a single championship.
- Triple Crown: beating the other three home nations, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
- Calcutta Cup: England against Scotland, played for every year since 1879.
- Wooden spoon: the unwanted label for whoever finishes bottom.
From Home Nations to Six Nations
The championship has changed its name three times as it has grown, and England's record runs through every version of it.
- 1883 The first Home Nations Championship England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. England win it outright, with a Triple Crown.
- 1910 France join: the Five Nations England are champions in the first Five Nations.
- 1932 Back to four France are left out and the Home Nations Championship returns until 1939.
- 1947 The Five Nations resumes France return after the Second World War.
- 2000 Italy join: the Six Nations England are the first Six Nations champions.
- 2016 England's 13th Grand Slam Their most recent clean sweep.
England's record
England's titles span every era of the championship, from the first in 1883 to the most recent in 2020. Their Grand Slams include back-to-back clean sweeps in 1913 and 1914, 1923 and 1924, and 1991 and 1992.
Rugby Union · England
2016 Six Nations Championship
- Record
- P5 W5 D0 L0
- Head coach
- Eddie Jones
- Captain
- Dylan Hartley
-
6 Feb
Six Nations Championship
@ Scotland
15–9
England won
-
14 Feb
Six Nations Championship
@ Italy
40–9
England won
-
27 Feb
Six Nations Championship
v Ireland
21–10
England won
-
12 Mar
Six Nations Championship
v Wales
25–21
England won
-
19 Mar
Six Nations Championship
@ France
31–21
England won
The latest table
The table below is the most recent men's championship, and it updates as results come in.
Standings
2026 Six Nations Championship
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 21 |
| 2 | Ireland | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| 3 | Scotland | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
| 4 | Italy | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| 5 | England | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| 6 | Wales | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
The Red Roses play their own Women's Six Nations, and have won it with a Grand Slam in each of the last three years. Follow every England fixture, result and the outright market on our Six Nations hub.
Six NationsExplainer
Keep reading
Read next
Lionesses · Euros