The Six Nations tournament began in 1883, 12 years after the first recorded rugby union international between England and Scotland. England, Ireland and Scotland took part.

France played in four tournaments before it was re-christened the Five Nations in 1910.

The event, however, was disrupted several times over the next years; by the First and Second World Wars, of course, and by the French being ejected in 1931 after it was discovered that some of their players were paid at club level which was not permitted by the rules of the Five Nations tournament. They were not re-admitted until 1947.

France won their first shared title in 1954, and their first outright title in 1959.

By the 1970s the Five Nations had become the cornerstone of northern hemisphere rugby, with sell-out crowds and large television audience.

The1973 event was unique in that it ended in a five-way tie, with all teams winning and losing two games. Wales, meanwhile, dominated the decade, winning three Grand Slams and one Triple Crown.

The tournament trophy was presented for the first time in 1993. The competition became the Six Nations in 2000, when Italy joined.

Several other trophies are contested within the main competition. Most fans have heard of the Calcutta Cup, contested by England and Scotland since 1879 but the others are more modern and less well known.

The Millennium Trophy is contested by England and Ireland and the Centenary Quaich (a quaich is a Celtic drinking vessel) between Scotland and Ireland. France and Italy, meanwhile, fight it out over the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy.

The Women's Six Nations Championship, introduced in 2001, is run at the same time as the men's competition.