For the French, the trophy of the Six Nations Cup after 12 years
Finally, the French won the title in the Six Nations Cup. After 11 years of domination, the so-called "home nations", the Tricolors managed to reach the most valuable representative trophy of the northern hemisphere by winning the last round in Paris against England 25:13. The Irish imposed pressure on the French because they did what was up to them. They beat Scotland 26:5 and took first place in a short time. If France had lost to England by any chance, the title would have ended on the Emerald Isle.
But that scenario could not happen. France has once again shown that it is the best team this year and practically solved the issue of the winner in the first half, as it led 18:6. In the second half, both teams scored a try. First Steward for the guests and then Dupont for the new champion. To confirm the victory and the title. France not only took the main trophy but also won the Grand Slam for all five victories. The last time France won this competition and it did so in 2010, it also won the competition without a single defeat. The champion from 2021, Wales, ended the competition in an infamous way. They were defeated in his Millennium by the worst team in Italy 22:21.
What is this competition like?
The Six Nations Championship is one of the most prestigious rugby competitions in which six European national teams participate. Among those six national teams are three national teams from the United Kingdom: England, Scotland and Wales. In addition to the mentioned selections, France, Ireland and Italy are also participating in this competition, which was the last to join this elite rugby competition. The competition has a very long tradition and before the current one it had several other names. This competition was the first international rugby competition and was originally called the Home Nations Championship. Today, home nations are all the countries that participated in this competition, namely England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
The competition changed its name to the Five Nations Championship when France joined as a participant. Italy joined this competition as the last participant in 2000, and since then the competition has had the name it still has today, the Six Nations Championship. England and Wales have the most titles won so far. Both national teams were champions 39 times. Scotland and Italy are the only two national teams that have not won a title.
History
As we mentioned the Six Nations Championship has a very long tradition and the competition has changed several names throughout history. The Six Nations Championship is the first international competition that was founded back in 1883 but at that time only four national teams that were called "home nations" participated. That is how the competition was originally called: Home Nations Championship. This competition was named in the period between 1883 and 1909, ie between 1932 and 1939. After this name, the competition changed its name to the Five Nations Championship, and this competition was named in the periods 1910-1931 and 1947-1999. The competition got its name because France joined. At the beginning of this millennium, Italy joined the competition, which had not had much success in the previous two decades.
The Italians mostly won the popular "wooden spoon", ie they are the team that most often took the last place. It is a great success for them when they manage to beat a national team in this eminent competition. This competition is also held in the women's competition, but it does not have as long a tradition as when it comes to men. The first Six Nations Championship in women's competition was held in 1996. At one time, a couple of years ago, there was an idea to expand the competition and to include Georgia and Romania in the Six Nations Championship. Those national teams had quite good results, but considering that the president of the Rugby Union Federation at the time was the former Romanian rugby player Octavian Morariu, it is not surprising that this idea came to light but was not implemented.
System of Competition
As is well known the Six Nations Championship is held every year in February and March. Each team plays five games against other rivals. In that way, a total of 15 matches are played in one edition of this prestigious competition. Each team played two games on its own and three on the away field. Against the teams against which she was the host next year, she will play on the visiting field and vice versa, against the teams against which she was the guest in the next edition, she will meet them at home. For a while, one scoring system was valid, but that changed after 2017. Each victory until then brought two points, one point for a draw and zero points for defeat.
After 2017, as in many other rugby competitions, the so-called bonus point system was introduced. According to this way of scoring, each victory brings four points, two points for a draw, and zero points for defeat. Due to the bonus scoring system, each team that scores more than four tries in one match receives an additional one point. One point is awarded for a victory greater than seven points difference. France achieved all five victories in the last edition of this competition, which is popularly called the Grand Slam. In this situation, the team that achieves such an effect gets three extra points. Until almost three decades ago, it happened many times that several national teams shared the championship title. Until 1994, national teams that finished the competition with an equal number of points won the title together.
After that, the rule was introduced that if two national teams with the same number of points are in the first place, the ratio of the achieved points and the points that the opposing team achieved against that team decides. In general, that factor is enough to decide who will be the champion. If the teams are equal according to that factor, then the number of attempts made by a team can be seen
Championship Trophy
The team that wins the Six Nations Championship gets a trophy called the Championship Trophy designed by James Brent-Ward. The trophy is made of sterling silver and was awarded for the first time to the team that became the champion in 1993. Because each team has 15 members in its composition and because justice is shared by one main and two touch referees trophy has 15 side panels and three handles . That trophy was replaced with a new trophy in 2015, as the competition no longer had five teams, so the previous trophy was withdrawn from use. The new trophy was designed by Thomas Lyte. The previous trophy was the first to be lifted by France, while the last time was done by Ireland, which had the opportunity to be the first to lift the newly designed trophy.
Grand Slam
The popular name Grand Slam is also known to us from some other sports. We mentioned that the Grand Slam when it comes to the Six Nations Championship means that a certain national team wins this competition without experiencing a single defeat, as France did in the last edition of the Six Nations Championship. The first national team that managed to achieve this achievement was Wales, which back in 1908 managed to beat all its rivals. So far, we have had the opportunity to see this situation a total of 40 times. England managed to win the Six Nations Championship the most times without a single defeat. The English have won this competition 13 times without defeat.
The winning national team did not receive any trophy for this achievement, but it is an informal recognition. In addition to the English in this way, many times the competition was won by Wales, which did it 12 times, and France, which did it 10 times. Scotland and Ireland have managed to finish the competition three times so far without defeat. Italy is the only team that has not won the competition so far and therefore did not have the opportunity to reach this achievement, although for them every victory is a great success and in the last edition of this competition they managed to defeat the winner of 2021, Wales. None of the national teams managed to win the Grand Slam more than twice in a row. Each team that manages to win the competition without defeat received three extra points.
Other Trophies
Triple Crown
This trophy is intended for the best team among Home Nations to beat all three remaining rivals. England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland are fighting for this title. This trophy has been awarded since 2006 when it was designed by the Royal Bank of Scotland. So far, Ireland and Wales have had the most success as they have won this trophy four times. The English did it three times. Ireland managed to win the trophy in the last edition of this competition, which recently ended.
Calcutta Cup
England and Scotland are fighting for this trophy. This is the oldest in addition to the main trophy that rivals in the Six Nations Championship are fighting for. In the last edition, Scotland won this trophy, but the English have had much more success, winning this title 71 times compared to 42 titles in Scotland. As the name suggests, the goblet is designed in the spirit of India, so you can see an elephant and cobras on it.
Millennium Trophy
The Millennium Trophy is a trophy intended for the better from the duel between England and Ireland. This prestigious trophy has been awarded since 1988, and the English have won more success so far, winning the trophy 20 times, while the Irish have won the trophy 15 times. However, in the last edition of the Six Nations Championship, Ireland won this trophy. The trophy resembles a Viking helmet.
Centenary Quaich
As for the Irish and the Scots, they are fighting for this trophy. The Irish were better than Scotland in the last edition of this competition. Since 1989, when the fight for this trophy was introduced, Ireland has had more success, winning this title 19 times. Scotland managed to win the Gaelic drinking vessel 14 times.
Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy
France and Italy are fighting for this trophy. This title has been awarded since 2007 and France dominates. The French have won this title fourteen times, while the Italians have won this trophy only twice. Having won the last edition of the Six Nations Championship without defeat, the French once again managed to win this trophy named after the revolutionary who is the creator of a united Italy and also fought in the Franco-Prussian War.
Auld Aliance Trophy
France and Scotland are fighting for this trophy. The fight for this trophy does not have a long tradition. Only since 2018, have the mentioned teams are fighting for this trophy. The French managed to win the trophy in 2022, but the Scots are more successful so far with three titles won. The trophy is dedicated to all players who lost their lives during the First World War and is named after the Alliance between the two countries in the 13th century.
Doddie Weir Cup
Like the previously mentioned trophy, teams have been fighting for this trophy since 2018. Scotland and Wales are fighting for this cup. The trophy is named after a former Scottish rugby player who suffered from motor neuron disease. Wales is the current winner of this trophy and so far has had more success as he has won four trophies. Scotland has won this title only once.
Cuttitta Cup
The fight for this trophy has been introduced in 2022. Scotland defeated Italy in the first fight for this trophy, named after former Italian rugby player Massimo Cuttitta who passed away from COVID-19.
Fun Facts
The stadium with the largest capacity is the stadium where the English play, and that is Twickenham Stadium, which has a capacity of 82,000 seats. Italy has been competing in the Six Nations Championship since 2000, and so far it has finished last 17 times. From the mentioned selection is the player with the most appearances in this competition, Sergio Parisse, who recorded 69 appearances. The English are the record holders with the most points in one match (80 against Italy). As expected, Jonny Wilkinson is the record holder with 35 points won in one match. Irishman Brian O Driscoll holds the record with the most tries in the championship (26). France won the title in 1977 and none of their opponents managed to make a try.