The Six Nations is a International Rugby Union competition which is held in Europe on an annual basis. The tournament has evolved over the years but it began in 1883 with just four sides taking part in the event. The Six Nations Championship is one of the most wagered events on the sporting calendar and is always jam-packed full of drama and excitement. 

The six teams who take part are England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. There are a total of 15 matches taking place throughout the competition with each of the six sides facing one another during the tournament. Home advantage will alternate each year so England will host Ireland at Twickenham one year before re-opposing at the Aviva Stadium twelve months later.

The tournament typically takes place at the beginning of February and matches will be played across a number of weekends until mid-March. Teams are awarded four points for a win, two for a draw and losers will be awarded a point if they lose by seven points or fewer. This bonus-points system was only introduced at the beginning of 2017 to mirror other International rugby events.

Teams who finish bottom of the standings after their five matches will be awarded the wooden spoon whilst there are a number of separate battles which take place including the Calcutta Cup, which is contested between England and Scotland. Any home nation which wins each of its matches against the home nations will clinch the “Grand Slam”. Ireland achieved this feat in 2018.

When and Where

The staging of the Six Nations typically takes place at the beginning of February and the games will be staged across the weekends although it often takes a week-long break in late-February. One game is usually staged on Friday night with the remainder of the matches taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Each nation will host at least two games during the Six Nations with the likes of Twickenham, Murrayfield and the Principality Stadium all hosting games throughout the tournament. Twickenham and Stade de France have the largest capacities with over 80,000 spectactors regularly attending these crunch games.

Why is Six Nations so Popular?

The Six Nations is the most attended sporting event on the planet with thousands of rugby fans descending on the various stadiums around Europe. The small amount of games is a huge part of the appeal with a number of unmissable encounters taking place in such a short period of time.

The game remains hugely popular and with the majority of teams taking a break following the Autumn Internationals, fans are always keen to see how their side are shaping up ahead of the summer.

The tournament has a lot of history and it is typically played at the same time each year which makes booking ahead relatively simple. Fixtures are also announced months in advance which also helps fill out the grounds.

From a punting point of view, the tournament always throws up a few surprises and therefore it is always an exciting betting prospect.

What Betting Opportunities Are Available?

Ahead of the tournament, ante-post betting markets are priced up and these are always popular. Rarely do teams managed to secure back-to-back championships and many clues can also be garnered from the Autumn Internationals which can often shape the market.

Each match will be priced up days in advance with plenty of betting markets available on each game. There are numerous ways of getting involved pre-match and plenty more betting opportunities once the game gets underway.

Popular Betting Markets

Outright – This is extremely popular with pre-tournament bettors. The tournament often swaps hands but it is usually only contested between three or four sides and the betting will reflect this. Your chosen side must triumph in order to receive a pay-out.

To Win the Triple Crown – As previously explained, each of the home nations will have the opportunity to clinch the triple crown. The market includes an option for ‘No Winner’ and this is usually favoured during this competitive-looking tournament.

To Finish Bottom – This is a market which has become increasingly popular over the last few years and it’s an opportunity to predict who will be the poorest side in the tournament. Italy and Scotland have a habit of collecting the wooden spoon and the pair are usually the shortest prices in this field.

Forecast – With prices occasionally prohibitive on the tournament winner, the forecast option is favoured by ambitious punters. This requires you to predict the top two sides in the standings.

Player of the Tournament – There are always plenty of options available in the this market with all potentially pivotal players priced up. At the end of the competition, one player will be picked as the player of the tournament by a panel of writers and broadcasters. A shortlist of four is usually whittled down to just one.

Match Winner – A very straightforward way of betting in each game. Punter simply need to pick which of the two sides will win each contest. The draw is also an option although this is fairly uncommon in the Six Nations.

Handicaps – Handicap markets are a great way of extracting value from the match betting markets. They are particularly popular during one-sided affairs. These give the underdog a head-start (e.g +7 points) or offer the favourite a handicap to overcome (e.g -7 points).

To Win Both Halves – When there is very little value in the outright match betting markets, the option to win both halves is a great way to find some value. Your chosen team must be in front at both HT and FT in order to receive a pay-out.

Anytime TryScorer – Each player in the team will be priced up accordingly. Your chosen name must score a try during the game in order for the bet to land. Players in-form are often popular in these markets.

Highest Scoring Half – Some teams tend to follow specific patterns of play. If sides often need a stern half-time team-talk to get going, then backing the second to be the highest scoring half may be the best option. Some matches are slow-burners whilst others have the tendency to spring into life straightaway. The options are 1st half, 2nd half or neither.

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Six Nations

Back-to-Back Win are Infrequent – it certainly isn’t impossible but teams don’t tend to dominate this tournament in successive seasons. Many of the matches are incredibly competitive and there is plenty of pride at stake which can often cause a few surprises along the way.

Clues can be found in the Autumn Internationals – The Autumn Internationals can often be key to a side’s chances at the Six Nations. Many of the teams tend to test themselves against opposition from the Southern Hemisphere and results can set a precedent for the remainder of the campaign and they can be a great of working out tactics and potential line-ups.

Continuity is Key – Sides who have a change of manager before the tournament can often take a few months to develop an understanding and find their rhythm. Settled sides tend to fare well in the tournament and experienced coaches who have played on this stage previously also enjoy more success on average.

Weather Can have an Affect on the Game – With the tournament being held in February/March, the weather can be relatively volatile. Wind, rain and sleet can make games low-scoring and low on quality as a result. Always check the forecast before placing a bet on a total points market.

Injury News Can be Vital – Rugby is a sport in which the players take a fair amount of bumps and knocks and this can result in a number of injuries. Teams who are missing key players and are forced to call up uncapped players tend to struggle in this tournament. The Six Nations is unforgiving and experience is required both on and off the pitch.

Where Can I Watch the Six Nations in the UK?

There is full coverage of the Six Nations tournament across the BBC. Each match will be shown on either BBC1 or BBC2 with extra analysis and coverage on BBC Online.