Rugby competition The Six Nations Championship is a rugby event in which England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales compete. Under the name of the Home Nations Championship, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales competed for the first time between December 16, 1882 and March 3, 1883. England has won the most titles with 13 out of a possible 20 matches played.
The championship is currently open to international teams. However, prior to the start of the tournament, there was a closed period where only national teams were allowed to play. This period occurred from February 1, 2000 to January 31, 2001. During this time, Australia played New Zealand, but neither country qualified for the final series.
From the beginning, the tournament has had an impact on the world game. It is believed that the first "modern" rugby match was played about a month after the opening of the championship. In addition, some players have used the tournament as preparation for later tournaments like the World Cup. For example, several members of the British and Irish Lions have played for their respective nations during this time period.
After two years of no rugby being played due to the second war, the championship started up again in 1884. Since then, every year except 1918, 1939, 1945, and 1997 has seen at least one game be played within the framework of the championship.
Six Nations Championship, originally Five Nations Championship (before to 2000), an annual rugby competition involving the national teams of the six most notable European rugby-playing countries (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales). The tournament was established in 1875 by Sir William Gilbert, who selected these five countries because they were the only ones with international rules at the time. The original five nations have been joined by Germany, which has entered the tournament from 2003 to the present day.
The Six Nations is the oldest international sporting event still being played today. The first season took place in 1875–76 and ended with England defeating Scotland 3-0. The final match was not completed until 1989 due to protests regarding English player Gary Lineker's participation in the World Football Cup on behalf of England while still playing for his club, Tottenham Hotspur. Lineker had promised to retire from international football if England won the cup but he later changed his mind; as a result, he did not receive the medal awarded to retired players.
In 2014, the Women's Six Nations was launched with matches played between February and March of that year. The women's game has become popular since its introduction and is now viewed as one of the major events on the international rugby calendar.
The Six Nations Championship is the oldest international rugby union competition, having begun in 1883 with games involving England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. The Four Nations, which began in 1999, is rugby league's primary yearly international competition. It features teams from Australia, England, France, and New Zealand.
The term "Six Nations" first appeared in print in the English language in an article by WG Stead published in the magazine Cassell's in 1880. The article described the upcoming series of matches as "a new tournament called the 'Six Nations.'"
Although it has become customary over the years for people to refer to the annual series as the "Six Nations," this term is not used in any of the participating countries' official documentation.
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