Six Nations Rugby Trophy Guide

From the Auld Alliance Trophy to the Wooden Spoon, here's what you need to know about the rugby cups and trophies at the Six Nations.

Jan 8, 2024

The Six Nations rugby championship dates back to 1883 when it was called "Home Nations" and featured England, Wales and Scotland.

In 1910, it became the Five Nations when Ireland and France joined the competition. In the 1930s, France didn't compete in the event, but that changed in 1947, and the Five Nations returned.

Things stayed the same until 2000, when Italy was invited and created the modern day Six Nations.

The Six Nations not only crowns a champion after five rounds, each game also has a trophy associated with it.

Here's a guide to understanding what each trophy means:

The Six Nations Grand Slam

This trophy isn't given every year, but only when one of the teams goes undefeated during the Six Nations.

The last two Six Nations champions did just that, as Ireland won its first Grand Slam since 2018 and fourth all-time. France secured its 10th Grand Slam in 2022.

England has won the most Grand Slams with 13 but hasn't done it since 2016. Wales has 12 Grand Slams and last did it 2019.

Italy has never won the Grand Slam, while Scotland has done it three times, but not since 1990.

The Six Nations Triple Crown

Like the Grand Slam, the Triple Crown is not given every year.

It is awarded to the team that goes undefeated against the other "Home Nations," which includes England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Ireland has won the last two Triple Crowns.

England has the most with 26.

The Six Nations Calcutta Cup: England Vs. Scotland

This trophy is given to the winner of the England vs. Scotland game.

The cup first was awarded in 1879, before the Six Nations was established, and it honors an 1872 rugby match played on Christmas Day in Calcutta between teams representing England and Scotland.

England has won the Calcutta Cup 71 times but has not won it since 2020. Scotland has won the last three Calcutta Cups and a total of 43.

When Is The Calcutta Cup At The 2024 Six Nations?

England will play Scotland in Edinburgh on Feb. 24 in Round 3.

The Six Nations Millennium Trophy: England Vs. Ireland

No, it has nothing to do with the Millennium Falcon.

This trophy first was given in 1988 and is awarded to the winner of the England vs. Ireland match.

The trophy gets its name from the year it first was awarded, which was the millennial celebration of Dublin.

England has won the trophy 20 times, and Ireland has claimed it 16 times. The Irish have won the last three and five overall since 2015.

When Is The Millennium Trophy Match At the 2024 Six Nations?

England and Ireland will play in London during the fourth round on March 9 .

The Six Nations Centenary Quaich: Scotland Vs. Ireland

"Quaich" is Gaelic for drinking vessel, like a cup, and the Centenary Quaich is awarded to the winner of the Scotland vs. Ireland match.

First awarded in 1989, the trophy was introduced to mark the centenary of the founding of the International Rugby Football Board, or what is now called World Rugby.

Ireland has won the Quaich 20 times, including the last six, and 11 times since 2011. Scotland has won the Quaich 14 times, but not since 2017.

When Is The Centenary Quaich At The 2024 Six Nations?

Scotland and Ireland play in the fifth round of the 2024 Six Nations in Dublin at Aviva Stadium on March 16.

The Six Nations Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy: France Vs. Italy

In 2007, Italy and France began playing for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy. It is named for the Italian revolutionary who was born in Nice, France. Garibaldi helped unify Italy and was a general in the Franco-Prussian War.

The bicentennial of Garibaldi's birth was 2007, which led to the trophy.

Since its introduction, France has won the trophy 15 times, while Italy has taken it twice. France has not lost this match since 2013.

When Is The Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy Match At The 2024 Six Nations?

Italy plays France in Round 3 of the 2024 Six Nations in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France on Feb. 25.

The Six Nations Auld Alliance Trophy: Scotland Vs. France

The Auld Alliance Trophy first was awarded in 2018 to mark the centennial of the end of World War I and honoring the Scottish and French rugby players killed in the war. The name itself is a reference to the Scottish and French "Auld Alliance" in the 13th century.

In the six contests since 2018, the two squads have split the honor, with each team winning three matches.

When Is The Auld Alliance Trophy Match At The 2024 Six Nations?

Scotland and France play in Round 2 of the Six Nations in Edinburgh on Feb. 10.

The Nations Doddie Weir Cup: Scotland Vs. Wales

Also established in 2018, this trophy is awarded to the winner of the Wales vs Scotland game.

The trophy is named after the late Scottish Rugby lock Doddie Weir, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He died in 2022.

Wales has won the the trophy four times, and Scotland has won it twice.

When Is The Doddie Weir Cup At The 2024 Six Nations?

Scotland and Wales meet in the first round of the Six Nations on Feb. 3 in Cardiff, Wales.

The Six Nations Cuttitta Cup: Italy Vs. Scotland

First given in 2022 and named after former Italian captain and Scotland scrum coach Massimo Cuttitta, the Cuttitta Cup is given to the winner or the Scotland vs. Italy game.

Massimo Cuttitta died of COVID-19 in 2021 at the age of 54.

Scotland has won both games since the trophy was established.

When Is The Cuttitta Cup At The 2024 Six Nations?

Scotland plays Italy in the fourth round of the Six Nations in Rome on March 9.

Is The Wooden Spoon Actually Given At The Six Nations? What Is It?

No, the tournament doesn’t actually give a wooden spoon trophy to the team that finishes last at the Six Nations. It is a metaphorical prize.

First used in rugby in the 1890s, the South Wales Daily Post said the 1894 match between Ireland and Wales was for the "wooden spoon."

Unofficially, Italy has won the most Wooden Spoons with 18, 14 more than the next closest team, Scotland. Ireland and England are the only teams that have never earned a Wooden Spoon.

How To Watch The Six Nations Rugby Championship

The Six Nations Rugby Championship will be broadcast on NBC Sports in the United States and a variety of different networks across Europe. Games will stream on NBC's app Peacock.

How To Watch The U20 Six Nations Rugby Tournament

The U20 Six Nations tournament, which begins Feb. 2, can be streamed on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States.

Match replays and highlights will be on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

How To Watch The Women's Six Nations Tournament

In March, the 2024 Women's Six Nations tournament also will stream on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States.

Six Nations Betting Odds

While Ireland went 5-0 and completed the Grand Slam in 2023, according to a collection of betting sites, including Draft Kings and Fan Duel, France is the betting favorite to win the Six Nations, followed by Ireland and England.

Six Nations Fixtures 2024: Here’s The Six Nations Schedule

Here is the schedule for the Six Nations:

Six Nations 2024 Round 1 Fixtures:

Feb. 2: France vs. Ireland, 3 p.m. EST, Marseille, France
Feb. 3: Italy vs. England, 9:15 a.m. EST, Rome
Feb. 3: Wales vs. Scotland, 11:45 a.m. EST, Cardiff, Wales

Six Nations 2024 Round 2 Fixtures

Feb. 10: Scotland vs. France, 9:15 a.m., Edinburgh, Scotland
Feb. 10: England vs. Wales, 11:45 a.m., London
Feb. 11: Ireland vs. Italy, 10 a.m., Dublin

Six Nations 2024 Round 3 Fixtures

Feb. 24: Ireland vs. Wales, 9:15 a.m., Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Feb. 24: Scotland vs. England, 11:45 a.m., Edinburgh, Scotland
Feb. 25: France vs. Italy, 10 a.m., Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France

Six Nations 2024 Round 4 Fixtures

March 9: Italy vs. Scotland, 9: 15 a.m., Rome
March 9: England vs. Ireland, 11:45 a.m., London
March 10: Wales vs. France, 11 a.m., Cardiff, Wales

Six Nations 2024 Round 5 Fixtures

March 16: Wales vs. Italy, 10:15 a.m., Cardiff, Wales
March 16: Ireland vs. Scotland, 12:45 p.m. Dublin
March 16: France vs. England, 4 p.m., Décines-Charpieu, France

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