2022 Six Nations Championship
Table of Contents
As a rule, the 6 Nations Tournament kicks off in February and runs through to the end of March. Even so, it is not uncommon for the match dates of the final games (Round 5) to stretch into April.
So, here’s how it works:
The annual battle for the rugby union 6 Nations International Tournament takes place over seven weekends. The unique playing format of the contest integrates six teams, namely England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, and Italy.
For fairness, the RFU regulations of the Six Nations configuration alternate the extra advantage of playing home matches as a biennial system (occurring every two years).
Each team plays against the other 5 contenders ONCE only throughout a total of 15 matches per championship.
Four (4) points will be awarded for every win and two (2) points goes to both teams if the result is a draw. The triumphant team with the most rugby union points after all the games finish will win the crown of Rugby Union Six Nations Champions.
6 Nations Competition: Round 1
| 2022 DATE & VENUE | HOME NATION | KICK OFF TIMES | VISITING NATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 5th of February Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland |
Ireland | 29 – 7 | Wales |
| Saturday 5th of February BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland |
Scotland | 20 – 17 | England |
| Sunday 6th of February Stade de France, Paris, France |
France | 37 – 10 | Italy |
6 Nations Competition: Round 2
| 2022 DATE & VENUE | HOME NATION | KICK OFF TIMES | VISITING NATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 12th of February Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |
Wales | 20 – 17 | Scotland |
| Saturday 12th of February Stade de France, Paris, France |
France | 19 – 7 | Ireland |
| Sunday 13th of February Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy |
Italy | 0 – 33 | England |
6 Nations Competition: Round 3
| 2022 DATE & VENUE | HOME NATION | KICK OFF TIMES | VISITING NATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 26th of February BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland |
Scotland | 17 – 36 | France |
| Saturday 26th of February Twickenham Stadium, London, England |
England | 23 – 19 | Wales |
| Friday 27th of March Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland |
Ireland | 57 – 6 | Italy |
6 Nations Competition: Round 4
| 2022 DATE & VENUE | HOME NATION | KICK OFF TIMES | VISITING NATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 11th of March Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |
Wales | 9 – 13 | France |
| Saturday 12th of March Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy |
Italy | 22 – 33 | Scotland |
| Sunday 12th of March Twickenham Stadium, London, England |
England | 15 – 32 | Ireland |
6 Nations Competition: Final Round
| 2022 DATE & VENUE | HOME NATION | KICK OFF TIMES | VISITING NATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 19th of March BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland |
Wales | 21 – 22 | Italy |
| Saturday 19th of March Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland |
Ireland | 26 – 5 | Scotland |
| Saturday 19th of March Stade de France, Paris, France |
France | 25 – 13 | England |
Six Nations Rugby Rules 2022
Unless you are familiar with the regulations in rugby union, you may need a little extra help. There will be fifteen players on the field for each team and a game will last eighty (80) minutes.
The aim is to score more points than the opponents using several phases of play and scoring techniques (e.g. a drop kick, a try, and a conversion).
- The first Six Nations game is an afternoon kick off and takes place in Wales.
- The opening game sees Wales entertain Italy at the Principality stadium in Cardiff.
- This year, the Six Nations will finish on Saturday the 19th of March. All six teams will be in action but at different times during the day.
- The final game of this year’s tournament is the match between France and Ireland played at the Stade de France, Paris.
Note: Learn more about rugby union rules 2022, the players, and the equipment in the main section. We will update the table showing Six Nations game dates, the venues, and kick off times as they progress.
Rugby Union Six Nations Points System
The tournament first introduced a bonus-point system for the 2017 championship. The purpose of the new six nations rules is to encourage and reward teams for attacking play and ‘try scoring’.
Match Points and Bonus Points
A Union that wins a match will get four (4) Match Points. The winning team would get five (5) Match Points if they score at least four tries during the process.
A Union that loses a match will get no Match Points, unless (either):
- Scoring at least four tries in the process OR losing by a margin of no more than seven points will earn one (1) Match Point.
- Scoring at least four tries in the process AND losing by a margin of no more than seven points earns two (2) Match Points.
Drawing a match means both Unions will receive two (2) Match Points. Any team scoring at least four tries in the process will get an extra one (1) Match Point.
Any Union that wins all five Matches (i.e. a Grand Slam) will get an extra three (3) Match Points.
Championship Positions
The Union that attains the highest number of Match Points will be placed in first position. The other Unions will be placed in descending order according to points awarded.
Any Unions ending the Championship with the same Match Points will be placed according to the difference between:
- Total points scored
- Total points conceded
It is possible for Unions to have the same points difference. In this case, they will be placed according to the number of tries (including penalty tries) scored by each Union in all Matches.
Any Unions also scoring the same number of tries (including penalty tries) will be placed equally.
Trophies and Awards
The winning Union will receive the Guinness Six Nations Championship Trophy and Medals. Defeating all other five Unions means they will also get the title of ‘Grand Slam Winner’.
The Triple Crown goes to any of the four Home Unions (England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales) that defeat the other three.
Note: Read an article we released about the trial of the 6 Nations bonus point award system when it first happened back in 2017.
Six Nations Sponsor 2022
Following a new Six Nations sponsorship deal the tournament becomes the Guinness Six Nations. Guinness announced a new deal for six years from 2019 to be the title sponsor of the Six Nations.
The tournament, now called the Guinness Six Nations, adds to their sponsorship of the Pro14 and Ireland’s autumn international fixtures.
Related Sections:
A to Z of rugby terminology
Rugby 7s rules and regulations
The All Blacks Haka guide
Six Nations History
In fact, Six Nations rugby history dates back to 1882. The oldest rugby championship in the world began as the English squad headed to Swansea on a bleak wintry day. England eventually overcame the Welsh team by scoring four tries and two goals.
Despite being much disorganized and with almost no codified rugby rules or clear point system, the oldest rugby championship in the world had started.
Who could foresee the path the ‘International Rugby Six Nations Championship’ was about to take in the northern hemisphere. It became the turning point for the modern game as we know it.
The tournament was originally a competition between the home countries of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
The national game grew in popularity and France joined in 1910 – coinciding with the opening of the new home for the Rugby Football Union (RFU) at Twickenham. Italy is the most recent team to join as the sixth nation, and enlisting in the millennium year 2000.
Six Nations Winners: Last 3 Years
Who are Six Nations champions 2022?
6 Nations winners 2022: France (Grand Slam)
Six Nations winners 2021: Wales (and Triple Crown)
Six Nations winners 2020: England
Note: The women’s 6 Nations final matches took place on the 30th of April 2022. England completed the Grand Slam and they are the reigning champions for the Women’s Six Nations Championship 2022.
Six Nations Questions and Answers
How Long is a Six Nations Rugby Match?
A regular game of rugby union lasts for one hour and ten minutes (two separate halves of 40 minutes). The same rules on playing time also apply to 6 nations competitions.
Is there a Six Nations in 2022 and what are the Dates?
Yes there certainly is! The table of dates, fixtures, and venues (details above) shows the full schedule for the Six Nations Rugby Championship this year.
How many Points for a Six Nations Win?
There is a maximum of five (5) points available for winning a single match. A further three Match Points is also available to any Union that wins all five of their games.
Who Won the most Grand Slams in Rugby?
Last time we checked… England has the most with thirteen Grand Slam victories (13). Wales have eleven (currently).
Is there a 6 Nations Every Year?
Correct! The international sides of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, and Italy contest the 2022 Six Nations Championship each season starting in February and concluding at the end of March.
Note: Read lots more questions and answers about rugby union in the frequently asked questions section.