The Six Nations Championship is perhaps the most highly anticipated Rugby Union tournament in the sport apart from the Rugby World Cup, and takes place annually from February to March. Our detailed Six Nations betting guide below has everything you need to know!
- Tournament Structure for the Six Nations
- Six Nations Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions
- 5 Reasons To Bet on the Six Nations
- Popular Six Nations Betting Markets
- Rugby Union Six Nations Individual Trophies
- History of the Six Nations
- Upcoming Sporting Events
- Similar Tournaments to the Six Nations
- Six Nations Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Tournament Structure for the Six Nations
- The nations that contest the event each year are England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Italy, and France. The format is easy enough to understand: each team plays every other team only once, alternating between home and away matches annually. Matches are played across Europe, with Twickenham in London, Stade de France in Paris, Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Murrayfield in Edinburgh, and the Stadio Olimpico in Rome acting as the venues for the tournament.
- There is no playoff or final match with the Six Nations Championship either – the winner is simply the team that finishes on top of the league when all points have been added up. Teams are awarded four points for winning a match, and two for a draw. Performance-based points can also be accumulated through scoring at least four tries or for losing by seven points or less. There are also three bonus points to be won should a team win the Grand Slam.
- The Six Nations Championship pits England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales against each other over the course of five rugby-packed weekends. The team that finishes last place is awarded the metaphorical Wooden Spoon award. Italy have won this award 15 times, and only England and Ireland have never finished bottom.
Six Nations Fixtures 2023
| Date and Time (GMT) Match | Fixture | Venue | Broadcast Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th February – 2.15pm | Wales vs Ireland | Principality Stadium | BBC |
| 4th February – 4.45pm | England vs Scotland | Twickenham | ITV |
| 5th February – 3pm | Italy vs France | Stadio Olimpico | ITV |
| 11th February – 2.15pm | Ireland vs France | Aviva Stadium | ITV |
| 11th February – 4.45pm | Scotland vs Wales | Murrayfield | BBC |
| 12th February – 3pm | England vs Italy | Twickenham | ITV |
| 25th February – 2.15pm | Italy vs Ireland | Stadio Olimpico | ITV |
| 25th February – 4.45pm | Wales vs England | Principality Stadium | BBC |
| 26th February – 3pm | France vs Scotland | Stade de France | ITV |
| 11th March – 2.15pm | Italy vs Wales | Stadio Olimpico | ITV |
| 11th March – 4.45pm | England vs France | Twickenham | ITV and BBC |
| 12th March – 3pm | Scotland vs Ireland | Murrayfield | BBC |
| 18th March – 12.30pm | Scotland vs Italy | Murrayfield | BBC |
| 18th March – 2.45pm | France vs Wales | Stade de France | ITV |
| 18th March – 5pm | Ireland vs England | Aviva Stadium | ITV |
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Six Nations Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions
The 2023 Six Nations Championship will begin on the 4th of February and end on the 18th of March. Things are set to start with a bang as Wales hosts Ireland at the Principality Stadium, while England entertain auld enemies Scotland at Twickenham. The opening weekend’s action will then be rounded off with Italy pitting their wits against France.
Six Nations 2023 Winner Odds
Six Nations Betting Tips & Predictions 2023
- The Six Nations always provides plenty of thrills and spills, and the 2023 edition will be no different. After a brilliant run at the Autumn Internationals, including a tight 13-10 win over Australia, Ireland seem like an obvious pick, and they certainly have the wind in their sails during World Cup year. Andy Farrell’s men have plenty of power in the scrum, and with Johnny Sexton in their ranks, anything can happen. While they haven’t lifted the Six Nations since 2018, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them complete the Grand Slam. Despite trading as second favourites at 11/8 with most bookmakers, they could emerge from the pack as champions, and they are worth keeping your eyes on.
- Currently, France are the outright favourites at 5/4 with most bookies to seal the Six Nations title. As the reigning champions, the French completed a clean sweep in 2022 with a 25-13 win over England. By ending their 12-year wait to be triumph, the wait was well worth it and Fabien Galthie’s side possess tactical nous and experience. However, they could come up short this time.
- England, meanwhile, are trading around the 5/1 mark. The 2022 campaign provided little joy, and a poor Autumn Nations proved to be the final straw for RFU officials, who decided to dispense with Eddie Jones. His prospective replacement — Steve Borthwick — is likely to be installed as Jones’ successor on Monday, and while Borthwick will bring some fresh ideas to the table, it might be tough to turn England into a winning machine before the Six Nations rolls around.
Six Nations Betting Promotions 2023
- If you want to have a great time betting on the Six Nations championship, then make sure you don’t miss out on the £20 Free Bet offer advertised by Coral.
- Meanwhile, bet365 have a solid betting promotion, which enables new customers to bet £10 and get £50 in free bets.
5 Reasons To Bet on the Six Nations
#1 For the passion of the fans.
#2 For the Home Nation rivalries.
#3 Because it’s the most watched annual international competition in rugby.
#4 For the top European rugby players.
#5 For the Calcutta Cup clash between England and Scotland.
Popular Six Nations Betting Markets
Following what is typically a quiet January, the Six Nations – which traditionally begins in early February – is arguably the first big sporting event of the year to entrance viewers.
As is the case with the Olympics, the FA Cup final, Wimbledon, the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championships and the Rugby World Cup final, it's not just the rugby zealots that end up glued to their screens. Non-rugby fans and general sports enthusiasts alike tend to find the time to watch these 80-minute wonders. The wide-ranging audience and hype built around these games make rugby betting and, indeed, Six Nations betting, intense and plentiful. Keep reading for the best six nations betting markets.
Outright Winner of the Six Nations Betting
This is a simple bet that is placed on the team you believe will finish the tournament on the top of the table and ultimately be crowned the winner. It is also a staple of the best rugby betting sites. Note, therefore, that your chosen team need not win the Triple Crown or the Grand Slam in order for you to collect on this bet.
Six Nations Triple Crown or Grand Slam Winner Betting
The Triple Crown CANNOT be won by either Italy or France. This particular award can only go to the competing Home Nations – those that make up the United Kingdom – which are England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. In order to win the Triple Crown, one of these teams must beat another British Home Nation team when they meet in a solitary campaign.
Although the award does add flavour to the competition, it has no real relevance outside of the tourney other than providing bragging rights. Should a team also go on to beat France and Italy, they will win the Grand Slam – the award for winning all five fixtures during a campaign. Both of these can be exploited for a Six Nations betting opportunity; either “Will a team win the Grand Slam?” or, for higher odds, “Will a specified team win the Grand Slam?”. Whatever you choose, it’s an exciting bet to make.
Winner of Individual Six Nations Trophies Betting
In the Six Nations, there are individual trophies awarded to the winners of certain fixtures (listed below), which can be bet on. Essentially, if you bet on the winner of the Calcutta Cup, you are backing the team you think will win when England play Scotland. You could even accumulate the various winners in a stacked bet for extra fun and extra awards, remembering to cash out if necessary.
Leading Six Nations Try Scorer Betting
This is the rugby equivalent of a Top Goalscorer bet in football or top run-maker in cricket. It is simply a bet on the player, usually a winger, who will record more tries in the tournament than any other. If you are unsure on who to pick for this bet, then we recommend read up on as many rugby betting tips you can find.
Rugby Union Six Nations Individual Trophies
Aside from the Six Nations Championship itself, there are a number of smaller, localised trophies awarded for winning a particular match or accomplishing specific achievements.
Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is awarded to the victorious team in a match between England and Scotland. Decorated with cobras and elephants, the trophy dates back to 1879, and was given its name because it was originally conceived in India. In the history of the Calcutta Cup, England are by far the more successful of the two sides.
Millennium Trophy
Despite its name, the Millennium Trophy only came into existence in 1988, and is fought for between Ireland and England. It became a Six Nations (then five nations) trophy one year later. Again, England are the most successful of the two competing sides.
Centenary Quaich
The Centenary Quaich – a Quaich being a Celtic drinking bowl – has been presented to the winner of Ireland vs Scotland since 1989, with Scotland winning the first trophy after a 37-21 win over Ireland.
Auld Alliance Trophy
First awarded in 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I, the Auld Alliance Trophy is a trophy handed to the winner of France vs Scotland in honour of the French and Scottish rugby players who never returned home from the frontline.
Doddie Weir Cup
Contested between Wales and Scotland, the Doddie Weir Cup was established in 2018 and takes its name from former Scotland international lock Doddie Weir, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease one year earlier. Whether in Cardiff or Edinburgh, some of the ticketing profits are paid towards MND charity My Name5 Doddie.
Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy
Named after the Italian revolutionary, and former French army general, Giuseppe Garibaldi, this trophy is awarded to winners when France and Italy meet each year. France are the more successful of the two nations.
Triple Crown
The Triple Crown is an award that Italy and France cannot compete for. It is a prize that only the four home unions – England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland – are able to win, and only when one of these teams beats all three of the other home nation sides. As such, the Triple Crown is not guaranteed to be awarded every year.
Grand Slam
If a team wins all five of their Six Nations matches, then they have achieved the Grand Slam. England, Wales and France have won the Grand Slam more than any other team, while it is a feat that Italy have never attained.
The Wooden Spoon
When you put a bet on the winner of the Wooden Spoon, you are placing a wager on the team that you believe will finish at the bottom of the Six Nations table. For the record, since joining the competition in 2000, Italy have finished bottom on 12 occasions, while Scotland have finished last four times, leaving Wales and France to prop up the table one time each.
History of the Six Nations
The inaugural Six Nations Championship was held in 1883, 12 years after England and Scotland contested the first ever Rugby Union International. The championship only included England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, which was still part of the United Kingdom at the time.
Back then, the event was labelled the Home Nations Championship and was initially won by the English and the Scottish before Wales enjoyed a period of domination. It wasn’t until 1894 that Ireland recorded their first ever Six Nations win. In 1888 and 1889, England were excluded from competing after their refusal to sign up to the International Rugby Football Board.
Although they had competed in four tournaments previously, France didn’t officially join until 1910. This, naturally, meant that the tourney became known as the Five Nations. In 1931, following professionalism accusations, France were expelled from the competition, not participating again until re-joining in 1939.
However, due to conflict in Europe, international rugby was paused until 1947, meaning France would have to wait to get involved. The French would go on to win their first title in 1959 before enjoying substantial success throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
France lifted their first Six Nations title in 12 years, and by beating England in the final game, they also completed the final leg of the Grand Slam. Despite making some handling errors, Fabien Galthie’s men did enough to cap off an excellent campaign in front of their home fans.
Recent Six Nations Winners
| Year | Winners | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | France | Ireland |
| 2021 | Wales | France |
| 2020 | England | France |
| 2019 | Wales | England |
| 2018 | Ireland | Wales |
| 2017 | England | Ireland |
| 2016 | England | Wales |
| 2015 | Ireland | England |
| 2014 | Ireland | England |
| 2013 | Wales | England |
| 2012 | Wales | England |
| 2011 | England | France |
Six Nations Key Stats
- England are the most successful team in the Six Nations, with seven titles to their name.
- England is also the team with the most Grand Slams – a total of 13.
- In over 100 games played since they joined the competition in 2000, Italy have only won 12 matches and have claimed 14 wooden spoons.
- Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll is the all-time leading try scorer in the competition, having carried the ball over the line a whopping 26 times. He’s followed by Ian Smith with 24 tries.
- Ronan O’Gara, also of Ireland, is the leading points scorer in the history of the championships, having amassed an incredible 557 points in his career.
- And Johnny Sexton, of Ireland, has also contributed the most conversions in the tournament’s history (92).
Upcoming Sporting Events
Similar Tournaments to the Six Nations
- 12th August 2023, Challenge Cup Final: The final of the Challenge Cup will return to Wembley after the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosted it in 2023.
- 5th – 26th August 2023, Summer Internationals (Summer Nations): With the World Cup starting shortly after, the Summer Internationals will replace the Autumn Internationals, and are set to be a good warm-up.
- 8th September – 28th October 2023, Rugby World Cup: The Rugby Union World Cup will take place in France in 2023.
Six Nations Betting FAQs
According to our research, the best Six Nations sports betting sites are Coral, Betfred and the Paddy Power betting site.
Viewers in the UK can watch all the action live on both BBC 1 and ITV 1.
The Six Nations gets underway on 4th February, with Wales vs Ireland the curtain-raiser for the tournament.
England have won the Six Nations seven times, one more than Wales, who are in second place with six wins.
Yes – this is called the Wooden Spoon, and most bookies will accept bets on the recipient.
Yes, online bookmakers will offer real-time odds as the game is ongoing.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The Rugby Union Six Nations tournament is considered to be the second biggest Rugby Union competition in the world, even though only England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Italy contest it each year.
It is this closeness and unpredictability that makes the Six Nations betting so exciting, with all manner of bet types available. From picking the winner of the championships, the Triple Crown or Grand Slam (should there even be one), to predicting the potential “winner” of the Wooden Spoon, there is always something to bet on with the Rugby Union Six Nations!