The Six Nations Championship is an annual rugby union competition which is contested throughout Europe. National pride is at stake as each side vies to finish top of the standings and avoid the wooden spoon.

Unsurprisingly, given the name of the tournament, there are six teams competing each year with England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy all featuring in the competition. Prior to its current guise, it had previously been known as the Home Nations Championships. France and Italy were added to roster and the tournament changed its name to the Six Nations in 2000.

The games at staged at various grounds with each team getting the opportunity to host matches at their national stadiums. These venues include Twickenham, Stadio Olimpico and the Principality Stadium. Ties between teams will alternate between stadiums each year. For example, Ireland will play Wales at the Aviva Stadium one year before travelling to the Principality Stadium twelve months later.

It begins in February and concludes in mid-March. The games are played across the weekend with some matches being hosted on Friday nights. Bigger games tend to be reserved for Saturday or Sunday afternoons. Every team will face each other once during the tournament.

On occasion, the title may be shared between two sides if they cannot be separated at the top of the standings.

England are the most successful side to feature in the Six Nations Championship with 38 titles in total, with ten of these shared with another nation. Only Scotland and Italy have failed to win a Six Nations title since the year 2000.

The BBC broadcast the Six Nations in the UK and it is one of the most popular sporting events on the TV. Part-time rugby union fans often tune in to watch all of the action from the Six Nations Championship.

The 2019 Prediction Report

In June, reigning champions Ireland were priced up as the favourites in the betting market for the 2019 Six Nations and Joe Schmidt’s men were given a 44.44% implied probability for the upcoming tournament. They open the tournament against England and it is set to be a cracker. Dylan Hartley has been ruled out for their opponents and this has seen Ireland’s probability increase further. Owen Farrell is also a doubt for this opening clash.

Their success in the Grand Slam and the fact that Schmidt’s men lost just one game in 2018 has rightfully seen them start as the favourites and it’s that amazing run of form which saw their implied probability increased to 54.64% in December. By the beginning of January, that probability has increased to 55.56%.

Their resounding 16-9 victory over the All Blacks certainly made bettors sit up and take notice and that October success saw their implied probability leap from 44.44% to 50.00% in a matter of minutes.

Their first opponents, England, who are the most successful side in the tournament has been given an implied probability of 34.72% and are listed as the second favourites in the betting odds. That decreased to 28.57% in November. The Autumn Internationals gave England backers some hope that they can bounce back from a poor 2018 but their defeat the All Blacks set them back in the betting markets, especially considering the manner in which they blew the lead.

There are four uncapped players in the side and they look set to get off to a tough start against Ireland. Their implied probability is down to just 23.09% at the beginning of 2019.

Wales are third in the betting and have an implied probability of just 15.38% for this year’s tournament. They were solid throughout 2018 and picked up some notable wins in the Autumn Internationals which saw their implied probability increase to 18.18% as a result. There are a couple of injuries to overcome but they should be strong yet again.

Scotland and France have been given less of a chance of success in 2019 with the Scots rated as a 7.69% chance and this has been edged out from 9.09%. They rarely trouble the upper echelons of the Six Nations table. France’s surprise defeat to Fiji has seen their implied probability reduce and they are now rated as just a 6.67% chance. They did beat England at the 2018 Six Nations but struggled throughout the rest of the campaign.

2018 Six Nations Championship

England went into the tournament as defending champions but it was a struggle for Eddie Jones’ men and they weren’t able to defend their crown this time around. They finished fifth.

Ireland got off to a blistering start and won four from four which helped them secure the title in March. It was only the third time that they’ve won the tournament.

There were 78 tries scored in total with France’s Maxime Machenaud finishing as the tournament’s top point scorer.

Italy were unable to win any of their five matches at the Six Nations and finished bottom.