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Six Nations Rugby Tournament

The countries that participate in the Six Nations Rugby Tournament are England, France, Italy, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. There were over 140,000 spectators at the final in 2005 alone.

This tournament is a highlight of the international rugby scene. Wales was the winner this year, marking its first victory in 27 years. The Welsh squad triumphed over Ireland with 32-20 under the master tutelage of renowned rugby coach Mike Ruddock. The success inspired a national festival, and the amount of beer sold in one day was equivalent to that usually sold in an entire week. The team scored a spectacular 17 tries. The last such victory for the team was back in 1978, and the celebrated Welsh team members of the 70s also paid a tribute to their successors during an official ceremony. In consequence, the team has much potential to win the World Cup tournament.

It was a tough game by all means, and the team achieved a victory in style. The final race was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The first competition which originated this annual tournament took place in 1871, between Scotland and England. The home championship was officially launched around a decade later, after Ireland and Wales joined the struggle. Welsh rugby glory emerged in the 1890s, offering a refreshing change of dynamic to a competition traditionally dominated by English and Scottish teams. The Welsh squad introduced a new technique called the four three-quarters, which changed every facet of rugby and replaced the former six backs/nine forwards system.

Wales won its first championship in 1893. No official victory prize existed at the time, if we accept that international prestige is insufficient to qualify as a prize. The four three-quarters was adopted as the official game standard at both local and national levels. By 1900, the championship had transformed into a celebrated multi-national event.

Wales did not suffer a single loss during home games until 1913, accumulating a full six titles during this period. However, Twickenham, London was chosen as the new venue of the tournament in 1910, and England beat Wales that same year. Prior to 1925, England had won five titles in eight seasons. Scotland scored an unexpected victory at Murrayfield that year, and beat England at Twickenham the next.

France became the first team outside the Home Union to become included in the competition, consequently giving it the title "Five Nations". Unfortunately, the French team did not perform very well for bureaucratic reasons and eventually dropped out of the league, later rejoining in 1939. However, the country faced immense difficulties during the Second World War, and missed the following eight years of the tournament.

The Five Nations was reinstated in 1947, and has since taken place once a year save for 1972, when Scotland and Wales declined to play at a venue in Ireland on account of political pressure. Ireland won three titles shortly after WWII ended, with two in a row in the late 1940s. France came to the fore a decade later, achieving its first victory in 1959. Wales acquired three titles between 1969 and 1979. During this decade, the Five Nations was aired in almost every country north of the equator and earned a high status, rivaling the top rugby tournaments in the world. England dominated the championship in the 80s and 90s, on account of the fact that the new rules that were adopted substantially favored their team. This trend may have reversed as of late, as the English team seems to have lost its lucky streak. Most recently, the Six Nations emerged after Italy joined the tournament in 2000, adding greater scope to the event. We may very well expect more new additions in the future.