The Six Nations Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the RBS 6 Nations, is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
The Six Nations is the successor to the Five Nations Championship (1910–31 and 1947–99) which in turn succeeded the Home Nations Championship (1883–1909 and 1932–39). The Home Nations Championship, played between teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, was the first international rugby union tournament. The winners of the Six Nations Championship are also known as the European Champions.
Wales are the current title holders, winning each of its matches played during the 2012 Championship, to achieve a Triple Crown and Grand Slam.
Read more about Six Nations Championship: Format, Current Venues, Anthems, Five Nations XV, Records, Six Nations Points Scoring Statistics 2000–2012, Expansion, Administration, Television Contracts and Sponsorship
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“The best nations are those most widely related; and navigation, as effecting a world-wide mixture, is the most potent advancer of nations.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)