Six Nations: what it is and how Europe’s favourite rugby tournament works

If one tournament stops rugby fans across Europe every winter, it’s the Six Nations. Five weekends between February and March, six teams, a rivalry more than a century old — and for us Italians, the biggest stage of all.

The six nations

Italy, France, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Italy joined in 2000, turning the old Five Nations into the tournament we know today.

How it works: five rounds, everyone plays everyone

It’s played between February and March over five rounds: each team faces all the others once, alternating home and away depending on the edition. The team that finishes top of the table wins.

The scoring (and the bonus points that change everything)

Four points for a win, two for a draw, none for a loss. Then the bonuses: an extra point for scoring at least four tries in a match, and one for losing by seven points or fewer. And the big prize: win all five matches for the Grand Slam and you get three more bonus points.

Grand Slam and Wooden Spoon

The Grand Slam is the ultimate: beat everyone, no exceptions. At the other end is the Wooden Spoon, the symbolic and unwanted «prize» for whoever finishes last.

Why it matters to Italy

Because it’s the stage where the Azzurri measure themselves against the best in Europe, and where you can see, year after year, how much we’re growing. Five Sundays to live on the edge of your seat.

Watch our video: Six Nations: who dominated and who disappointed.