The 2021 Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd

Six Nations Championship The Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) is an annual international men's rugby union competition between the teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The current champions ar ...

, the annual

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

competition contested by the national teams of

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

, and

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, and the 127th edition of the competition (including all its previous incarnations as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship). Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

, the tournament started just three months after the end of the previous tournament and all matches took place without spectators. England began the tournament as defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament on points difference, but only managed two wins in this tournament and finished fifth, ahead of only Italy. Wales, having finished fifth in 2020, entered the final weekend with four wins out of four and the possibility of a

Grand Slam Grand Slam most often refers to: * Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category te ...

, but were beaten 32–30 by France in Saint-Denis following a late try. France's third match, against Scotland, had to be rescheduled after an outbreak of COVID-19 in the French camp; the match was moved to the Friday night following the final round of matches, with France needing to win by at least 21 points with a try-scoring bonus point to overtake Wales at the top of the table. They led by three points going into the final minute, only for Scotland to score a try that gave them the win and Wales the title.

Participants

Squads

Table

Table ranking rules * Four points are awarded for a win. * Two points are awarded for a draw. * Bonus points are awarded to any team that scores four or more tries in a match and/or loses by seven points or fewer. * Three bonus points are awarded to a team that wins all five of their matches (a Grand Slam). This ensures that a team that wins a Grand Slam tops the table with at least 23 points, as another team could lose one match while winning two bonus points and win the other four matches while winning four bonus points for a maximum of 22 points. * Tiebreakers ** If two or more teams are tied on table points, the team with the better points difference (points scored less points conceded) is ranked higher. ** If the above tiebreaker fails to separate tied teams, the team that scores the higher number of total tries (including penalty tries) in their matches is ranked higher. ** If two or more teams remain tied after applying the above tiebreakers then those teams will be placed at equal rank; if the tournament has concluded and more than one team is placed first then the title will be shared between them.

Fixtures

The fixtures were announced on 20 March 2019. As with 2020, no matches were scheduled on a Friday night and the final match of the tournament was scheduled for

peak time Prime time or the peak time is the block of broadcast programming taking place during the middle of the evening for a television show. It is mostly targeted towards adults (and sometimes families). It is used by the major television networks to ...

Round 1

Notes: * Ignacio Brex and Daniele Rimpelli (both Italy) made their international debuts. * Cherif Traorè was originally due to start, but was replaced by Daniele Rimpelli after being injured in the warm-up. * France retained the

Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy The Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy ( it, Trofeo Garibaldi; french: Trophée Garibaldi) is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between France and Italy. The trophy, designed by former French internati ...

. ---- Notes: *

Beno Obano Ohwobeno Osemudiamen A.M. Obano (born 25 October 1994) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Bath. Personal life Obano was born in Peckham and grew up in East Dulwich. He played in the 1st XV at The London Orat ...

(England), and David Cherry and

Cameron Redpath Cameron Redpath (born 23 December 1999 in Narbonne, France) is a Scotland international rugby union player who plays as an inside centre for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership. Rugby Union career Professional career He came through the Sa ...

(both Scotland) made their international debuts. * Scotland won the

Calcutta Cup The Calcutta Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the rugby match between England and Scotland played annually in the Six Nations Championship. Like the match itself (England–Scotland), the Calcutta Cup is the oldest trophy contested be ...

. * Scotland won at Twickenham for the first time since

1983 The year 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to Internet protocol suite, TCP/IP is officially completed (this is consid ...

. *

Joy Neville Joy Neville (born on 24 July 1983) is a former Ireland women's rugby union international and a current rugby union referee. As a player, Neville represented Ireland at both the 2006 and 2010 Women's Rugby World Cups. In 2009 Neville captaine ...

became the first woman to perform television match official duties in the men's Six Nations. ---- Notes: *

Peter O'Mahony Peter O'Mahony (born 17 September 1989) is an Irish rugby union player. He plays for Munster in the United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Champions Cup and Ireland internationally. During his career, O'Mahony has captained Presentatio ...

became the first Ireland player to receive a red card in a Six Nations match.

Round 2

Notes: * Mike Adamson became the first Scottish referee to officiate a Six Nations match since Rob Dickson in

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...

. ---- Notes: *

Willis Halaholo Sean Alfred Uilisi "Willis" Halaholo (born 6 July 1990) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a centre for the Cardiff Rugby and the Wales national team. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, to parents of Tongan descent, he qualified to play fo ...

(Wales) made his international debut. *Wales reclaimed the

Doddie Weir Cup The Doddie Weir Cup () is a perpetual rugby union trophy established in 2018 and contested between Scotland and Wales. The cup is named after the former Scotland international lock Doddie Weir who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2016 ( ...

. ---- Notes: *This was the 100th meeting between Ireland and France. *Ireland lost successive games at the start of a Six Nations campaign for the first time.

Round 3

Notes: *

Carlo Canna Carlo Canna (born 25 August 1992) is an Italian rugby union player, who regularly plays Fly-half or Inside Centre and plays for Fiamme Oro Rugby in the Top10. Biography Canna, who grew up in Benevento, followed in his father's footsteps, and jo ...

(Italy) and

Robbie Henshaw Robbie Henshaw (born 12 June 1993) is an Irish rugby union player. He plays primarily as a centre, although he can also play fullback. Henshaw currently plays for Irish provincial team Leinster in the United Rugby Championship, and internatio ...

(Ireland) earned their 50th test caps. * Ryan Baird and Craig Casey (both Ireland) made their international debuts. * Andy Farrell named an all-Leinster starting backline, the first time this has happened since 1931 and only the third time in history. *

Stephen Varney Stephen Lorenzo Varney (born 16 May 2001) is a Welsh-born Italian professional rugby union player who primarily plays scrum-half for Gloucester of the English Premiership. He has also represented Italy at international level, having made his te ...

had been named to start, but was injured in the warm-up and

Callum Braley Callum Braley (born 23 March 1994) is an English rugby union player who plays for Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby. Braley played his early rugby with St Mary's Old Boys RFC. His first taste of senior rugby came when he made his full ...

started in his place, with

Guglielmo Palazzani Guglielmo Palazzani (born 11 April 1991) is an Italian rugby union player. His usual position is as a scrum-half, and he currently plays for Calvisano in Top10. Early life and amateur career Palazzani began playing rugby in the youth teams o ...

coming onto the bench. ---- Notes: *

George North George Philip North (born 13 April 1992) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship and the Wales national team. He has also represented the British & Irish Lions and currently has th ...

(Wales) – at the age of 28 and 320 days – became the youngest player to earn 100 caps for his country, surpassing Australia's Michael Hooper by 28 days. *

Elliot Daly Elliot Daly (born 8 October 1992) is an English professional rugby union player who plays for Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership and for England. Youth Daly played his early rugby at Beckenham from age five before moving to Dorking in 2006, ...

(England) earned his 50th test cap. *

Owen Farrell Owen Andrew Farrell (born 24 September 1991) is an English professional rugby union player, currently captain of Gallagher Premiership side Saracens. Farrell has played international rugby for England since 2012. Farrell is one of the top poi ...

scored his 1,000th point for England. * Wales' 40 points scored were the most they had ever scored against England, surpassing the 34 points scored in 1967. * Wales recorded a bonus point victory over England for the first time since the bonus-point system was introduced in 2017. * Wales won the

Triple Crown Triple Crown may refer to: Sports Horse racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States) ** Triple Crown Trophy ** Triple Crown Productions * Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Trip ...

for the 22nd time. ----

Round 4

Notes: * Jake Ball (Wales) earned his 50th test cap. *

scored a try in his sixth consecutive Six Nations game against Italy, the best run for a player against a single team in the tournament. *

Ken Owens Kenneth James Owens (born 3 January 1987) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a hooker for the Scarlets and Wales. He made his debut for the Scarlets in 2006, taking over from Matthew Rees as their first-choice hooker upon Rees' departu ...

was the first hooker to score two or more tries in a Six Nations game since Shane Byrne scored two against Wales for Ireland in

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

. ---- Notes: * Anthony Watson (England) earned his 50th test cap. ---- Notes: *

CJ Stander Christiaan Johan Stander (born 5 April 1990) is a South African-Irish former rugby union player. Stander's career began in his native South Africa, where he played for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup between 2010 and 2012 and for the Bulls in ...

(Ireland) earned his 50th test cap. * Ireland retain the

Centenary Quaich The Centenary Quaich (; Scottish Gaelic: ''Cuach nan Ceud Bliadhna''; Irish: ''Corn na Céad Bliain'') is an international rugby union award contested annually by Ireland and Scotland as part of the Six Nations Championship. A "Quaich" is a Gae ...

. * With this victory, Ireland lead their series with Scotland for the first time at 67 wins to 66 Wins

Round 5

Notes: * Alex Craig (Scotland) and Riccardo Favretto (Italy) made their international debuts. *Scotland recorded their biggest win in any of the Six Nations, Five Nations or Home Nations tournaments, surpassing their previous record of 29 points, set against Italy in

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

. ---- Notes: * Billy Burns (Ireland) had been named on the bench, but was ruled out ahead of kick off through injury and replaced by Ross Byrne. *

Max Malins Maxim Hugo Malins (born 7 January 1997) is an English professional rugby union player who primarily plays wing for Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership. He has also represented England at international level, having made his test debut against ...

(England) had been named to start at fullback, but was ruled out ahead of kick-off through injury; Elliot Daly moved to fullback from centre, Ollie Lawrence replaced him at 13 and George Martin came onto the bench. *Ireland reclaimed the

Millennium Trophy The Millennium Trophy () is a rugby union award contested annually by England and Ireland as part of the Six Nations Championship. It was initiated in 1988 as part of Dublin's millennial celebrations. The trophy has the shape of a horned Viking ...

. *England lost to Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the same championship for the first time since

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

. ---- Notes: *Wales' three tries took them to a total of 20 for the tournament, the most they have scored in a single Six Nations.

Rescheduled Round 3 match

Notes: *

Matt Fagerson Matthew Joseph Fagerson (born 16 July 1998) is a Scottish professional rugby union player who plays as a number eight for United Rugby Championship club Glasgow Warriors and the Scotland national team. Early life Fagerson played for the gr ...

was originally named at number 8 for Scotland, but suffered an injury in training and was replaced by

Nick Haining Nick Haining (born 1 September 1990) is a Scotland national rugby union team, Scottish rugby union player who last played for Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship. Rugby Union career Amateur career Haining played for Cottesloe r ...

; Ryan Wilson replaced Haining among the substitutes. * Ryan Wilson (Scotland) earned his 50th test cap. *Scotland won in Paris for the first time since a 36–22 victory in

1999 File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...

. *With this victory, Scotland beat both England and France away from home for the first time in the tournament since 1926 and only the second time in 45 attempts. *Scotland retained the

Auld Alliance Trophy The Auld Alliance Trophy is a trophy in rugby union awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between France and Scotland. The Trophy was first awarded in 2018, the centenary of the end of World War I, to commemorate the ...

Player statistics

Most points

Most tries

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Six Nations

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2021 rugby union tournaments for national teams 2020–21 in European rugby union 2020–21 in Irish rugby union 2020–21 in English rugby union 2020–21 in Welsh rugby union 2020–21 in Scottish rugby union 2020–21 in French rugby union 2020–21 in Italian rugby union February 2021 sports events in Europe February 2021 sports events in the United Kingdom March 2021 sports events in Europe March 2021 sports events in the United Kingdom