The Six Nations Championship, contested annually, is rugby union's oldest international championship and effectively decides the champions of Europe.

It began life more than 120 years ago as the Home Nations Championship, before being expanded first by the inclusion of France, making it the Five Nations, and then of Italy.

England are the most successful side in the competition, having won it 25 times, although that figure excludes 10 shared championships, since prior to 1994 teams equal on points shared the title.

Of those 25 titles 12 have been Grand Slams - where England have won all their games - as well as landing the Triple Crown 23 times by beating all the other Home Unions in the same season.

England have not, however, won the tournament since 2003, the year they also lifted the World Cup.

Wales have won 24 (excluding 11 shared victories) championships, 10 Grand Slams and 19 Triple Crowns. France have won the tournament 16 times, Scotland 14 and Ireland, the 2009 champions, 11. Italy have yet to win a Six Nations trophy.

The record for individual points in one match is held by England's Jonny Wilkinson with 35 points against Italy in 2001. He also has the record number of points scored in one season (89, also in 2001).

Ronan O'Gara currently holds the record for career points with 499 points while fellow Irishman Mike Gibson has the appearances record, with 56 Five Nations matches