Six Nations Championship

The Six Nations Championship is 1 of the best rugby tournaments, and 1 of the oldest, in the world. Originally, the tournament was called the Home International Championship and had only 4 countries competing, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The 1st Home International Championship was held in 1883. France joined in 1910 and the tournament was renamed the Five Nations Championship. Italy joined just 12 years ago and it has been called the Six Nations Championship ever since. 


England was victorious in last years tournament but France and Wales had the advantage coming in as they finished 2nd and 4th respectively in the Rugby World Cup last year. Ireland and England lost in the Quarters of the tournament. Ireland to Wales and England to France. Scotland and Italy failed to get past the 1st round. At the start of the tournament, France was 3rd in the IRB's (International Rugby Board) Rankings, England was 5th, Ireland 6th, Wales 8th, Scotland 10th, and Italy 12th.


Wales started off well with a 23-21 victory over Ireland in Ireland when Leigh Halfpenny kicked a penalty in the last minute to win. England won 13-6 vs Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. With the victory, England won the Calcutta Cup. The Cup is given to the winner of England-Scotland game. France dominated Italy 30-12  to get the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy. This award is given to the winner of the France-Italy game. 

Italy vs England in the snow
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In Week 2, England defeated Italy 19-15 and Wales beat Scotland 27-12. The other match-up between France and Ireland at Stade de France was postponed for the 1st time since 1985. It was called off 10 minutes before kick-off because of parts of the pitch were icy. Fans at the game were furious and were jeering. Nothing the players could do, including applauding the crowd, could help. 


The clubs had a week off and then resumed on February 25th. In the 1st game of Week 3, Ireland blew out Italy 42-10. Wales defeated England 19-12 to win the Triple crown. The Triple Crown is awarded given out to 1 of the British Isles teams that beats each of the other teams. France beat  Scotland 23-17. 


The game between France and Ireland was made up in the 2nd off week of the tournament. France came back from 11 points down to tie it at 17 and thats how it ended, in a 17-17 tie.


Week 4 had a match-up of England and France in which England upset France 24-22. Wales won against Italy 24-3. Ireland beat Scotland 32-14 to get the Centenary Quatch, an award given to the winner of Ireland-Scotland.

Wales celebrates as Champs
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The Wooden Spoon award for the worst team of the tournament. For the last 4 years the "honor" went to Italy. This year, the game between Scotland and Italy during Week 5 would decide who got the spoon. Italy beat Scotland 13-6 as Scotland got the Wooden Spoon. England beat Ireland 30-9 to get the Millennium Trophy, a trophy given to the winner of the England-Ireland match-up. Wales defeated France 16-9 to win not only the Championship, but another award, the Grand Slam. The Grand Slam is the award that is given to the team that wins all of it's games in the tournament.