Six Nations History

Delve into the history of 6 Nations rugby here at RugbyPass. Whether you’re a life-long rugby fan, a casual viewer or a complete rugby novice, our Six Nations history page is the perfect way to enhance your knowledge. Take a deep dive into every tournament with our year-by-year Six Nations guides below.

Five Nations Rugby and the Home Nations Championship

Widely regarded as one of the best tournaments on the rugby calendar, the Six Nations is also the oldest rugby competition in the world. In fact, the history of Six Nations rugby dates all the way back to 1883, when England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales formed the Home Nations Championship.

As rugby became more popular, the tournament grew and welcomed teams from overseas. The first expansion in Six Nations history occurred in 1910, with the addition of France. As a result, the competition was renamed as the Five Nations Championship. The second rebrand took place in 2000, when Italy joined the formidable line-up, forming the Six Nations as we know it today. 

History of 6 Nations Rugby 

The Six Nations brings together the six greatest rugby sides in the northern hemisphere: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Six Nations rugby history dates back to 2000, when the current format began. Since then, the competition has been contested every year between February and March, with each team playing five matches. 

Throughout Six Nations history, the tournament has undergone a number of sponsorship changes alongside its line-up alterations. Today, the Six Nations has become better known as the Guinness Men's Six Nations, sometimes stylised as M6N.