England Six Nations history

The Six Nations Tournament is an annual rugby union competition held between the national teams of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy. England, one of the oldest and most successful rugby teams in the world, has a long and fascinating history in the Six Nations Tournament. Book your England Six Nations tickets securely online via our booking system.

Six Nations tournament

The tournament, which was originally known as the Home Nations Championship, was first played in 1883 between the four Home Nations – England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. France joined the tournament in 1910, and Italy became the sixth and final team to join in 2000. Since the inception of the Six Nations, England has won the tournament a record six times, sharing the title on another two occasions.

The first time England won the tournament was in 1910, which was also the first year that France participated. England won all three of their matches, beating Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, to claim their first Home Nations Championship. England went on to win the tournament again in 1913 and 1914, before the tournament was suspended due to the outbreak of World War I. After the war, the tournament resumed in 1919, and England won the championship again in 1920, 1921, and 1923. During this time, England produced some of their greatest players, including Cyril Lowe, who is widely regarded as one of the best English rugby players of all time.

England's success in the tournament continued throughout the 20th century, with the team winning a further four titles in the 1930s, and another four in the 1950s. The team's fortunes waned somewhat in the 1960s and 1970s, with England winning only two championships during that time. However, England's fortunes turned around in the 1980s, with the team winning four titles between 1980 and 1991, including a Grand Slam – which is when a team wins all of its matches in the tournament – in 1991. During this period, England produced some of their most famous players, including Rory Underwood, who is still the team's top try-scorer of all time, and Will Carling, who captained the team to their Grand Slam victory in 1991.

In the years since the tournament became the Six Nations, England has continued to be one of the most successful teams in the competition, winning titles in 2000, 2001, 2011, 2016, and 2017. During this time, the team has produced some of the most iconic players in rugby history, including Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jonny Wilkinson, and Owen Farrell. Despite their success, England has also experienced some disappointing years in the tournament, including finishing in fifth place in both 2018 and 2019. However, under the guidance of coach Eddie Jones, the team has bounced back, finishing as runners-up in 2020 and winning the title in 2021.

In conclusion, England has a long and storied history in the Six Nations Tournament, with the team winning a record six championships, including a Grand Slam in 1991. The team has produced some of the greatest players in rugby history, and continues to be a force to be reckoned with in international rugby.