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⏱️ 11 minute read | Updated September 2026
Few sporting competitions are shaped by rivalry quite like the Six Nations.
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy compete for the Championship itself, but many individual fixtures come with their own history, traditions and silverware.
Some, such as the Calcutta Cup between England and Scotland, date back almost as far as international rugby itself. Others, including the Cuttitta Cup and Solidarity Trophy, have been introduced much more recently to commemorate important people or celebrate the relationship between two rugby nations.
Then there are famous rivalries such as England v France — Le Crunch — where no separate trophy is required to make the occasion feel significant.
Here is our guide to the rivalries, trophies and traditions that add another layer to every Six Nations Championship.
📖 In This Guide
- Why Rivalries Matter in the Six Nations
- Six Nations Trophies at a Glance
- The Six Nations Rivalry Trophies
- Famous Rivalries Without a Trophy
- Triple Crown, Grand Slam and Wooden Spoon
- Six Nations Rivalry Matches in 2027
- Tickets for Six Nations Rivalry Matches
- Six Nations Rivalries FAQs
Why Rivalries Matter in the Six Nations
The Six Nations is unusual because its teams meet every year.
Unlike a World Cup rivalry that might disappear from the calendar for several seasons, England know they will face Scotland every Championship. Ireland know Wales will be waiting. France and England will meet again in another edition of Le Crunch.
That continuity means one generation of matches builds upon another.
Many of these rivalries also pre-date the Six Nations itself. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales contested the original Home Nations Championship from 1883, while France’s involvement eventually created the Five Nations before Italy joined in 2000.
The result is a tournament where individual fixtures can carry almost as much emotional weight as the Championship table.
Winning the title remains the ultimate objective, but defeating a historic rival — particularly away from home — can define a team’s tournament.
Explore the full History of the Six Nations →
Six Nations Trophies at a Glance
There are currently eight bilateral rivalry trophies contested during the Men’s Six Nations.
| Trophy | Fixture | First contested |
|---|---|---|
| Calcutta Cup | England v Scotland | 1879 |
| Millennium Trophy | England v Ireland | 1988 |
| Centenary Quaich | Ireland v Scotland | 1989 |
| Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy | France v Italy | 2007 |
| Auld Alliance Trophy | France v Scotland | 2018 |
| Doddie Weir Cup | Wales v Scotland | 2018 |
| Cuttitta Cup | Scotland v Italy | 2022 |
| Solidarity Trophy | France v Ireland | 2026 |
Not every Six Nations fixture has a dedicated trophy, and the age of the silverware varies enormously.
The Calcutta Cup dates from the Victorian era. At the other end of the scale, France and Ireland first competed for the Solidarity Trophy in 2026.
The Six Nations Rivalry Trophies
Calcutta Cup — England v Scotland
The Calcutta Cup is the oldest and arguably the most famous of the Six Nations rivalry trophies.
England and Scotland had already played the first recognised rugby international in 1871 when another piece of rugby history began taking shape in India later that decade.
After the Calcutta Football Club disbanded, its remaining funds — 270 silver rupees — were used to create the trophy that became the prize for matches between England and Scotland.
It was first contested in 1879.
Almost 150 years later, the Calcutta Cup remains one of the most anticipated fixtures in the Championship, regardless of where the two sides sit in the table.
Explore England Six Nations Tickets →
Explore Scotland Six Nations Tickets →
Millennium Trophy — England v Ireland
England and Ireland compete for the Millennium Trophy whenever they meet in the Six Nations.
Introduced in 1988, the trophy commemorated Dublin’s millennium celebrations.
The fixture itself has developed considerably beyond the trophy’s relatively recent origins. England and Ireland regularly enter the Championship among its leading contenders, meaning their meeting can have major implications for the title as well as deciding possession of the Millennium Trophy.
Centenary Quaich — Ireland v Scotland
Ireland and Scotland compete for the Centenary Quaich, introduced in 1989.
A quaich is a traditional Scottish drinking vessel associated with friendship and hospitality, making it an appropriate symbol of the sporting relationship between the two nations.
Meetings between Ireland and Scotland have become increasingly important during the modern Six Nations era, particularly when both sides enter the fixture with Championship ambitions.
Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy — France v Italy
France and Italy have contested the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy since 2007.
It is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, one of the central figures in the creation of modern Italy, who was born in Nice and also had strong connections with France.
The trophy therefore reflects the historical links between the two neighbouring nations as well as their rugby rivalry.
Italy’s arrival in the Championship in 2000 transformed the Five Nations into the Six Nations, making France v Italy one of the tournament’s newer annual fixtures.
Explore Italy Six Nations Tickets →
Auld Alliance Trophy — France v Scotland
The Auld Alliance Trophy has been contested between France and Scotland since 2018.
Its name references the historic alliance between France and Scotland, but the trophy has a more specific commemorative purpose.
It honours the French and Scottish rugby players who lost their lives during the First World War.
That gives the fixture a strong historical dimension beyond the Championship itself and reflects the long relationship between the two countries.
Doddie Weir Cup — Wales v Scotland
Wales and Scotland compete for the Doddie Weir Cup, first contested in 2018.
The trophy honours former Scotland and British & Irish Lions international Doddie Weir, one of rugby’s most recognisable figures, who became a prominent campaigner after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Weir died in 2022, but the trophy bearing his name continues to provide an enduring connection between two of the Home Nations and his contribution to rugby.
Cuttitta Cup — Scotland v Italy
The Cuttitta Cup was introduced in 2022 in memory of Massimo Cuttitta.
Cuttitta represented and captained Italy before later becoming an important part of Scottish rugby as Scotland’s scrum coach.
His connections with both nations made the annual Scotland v Italy fixture an appropriate match through which to remember his contribution to the sport.
Although one of the newest trophies in the Six Nations, the Cuttitta Cup has quickly become an established part of the Championship.
Solidarity Trophy — France v Ireland
The newest rivalry trophy in the Championship is the Solidarity Trophy, contested by France and Ireland.
It was introduced in 2026 to celebrate the sporting, cultural and diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
The trophy adds formal silverware to a fixture that had already become one of the biggest contests of the modern Six Nations era.
With France and Ireland regularly challenging at the top of European rugby, their annual meeting can carry major Championship consequences as well as deciding the Solidarity Trophy.
Famous Six Nations Rivalries Without a Trophy
Not every great Six Nations rivalry needs its own piece of silverware.
Some of the Championship’s biggest fixtures remain trophy-free.
England v France — Le Crunch
Perhaps the best-known example is England v France, commonly known as Le Crunch.
The name reflects the significance and intensity that has developed between two of European rugby’s traditional powers.
There is no dedicated Le Crunch trophy. The appeal comes from the fixture itself — contrasting rugby histories, national rivalry and countless Championship-defining encounters.
England v Wales
England against Wales is another fixture capable of dominating an entire Six Nations weekend despite having no dedicated trophy.
Matches at Cardiff and Twickenham regularly create some of the Championship’s most intense atmospheres, while the long shared rugby history between the countries ensures the fixture rarely feels routine.
Ireland v Wales
Ireland and Wales similarly have no permanent Six Nations rivalry trophy, yet their meetings have frequently played a major role in deciding Championships, Grand Slams and Triple Crowns.
That is an important distinction when understanding Six Nations silverware:
A named trophy can celebrate a rivalry, but it doesn’t create one.
Triple Crown, Grand Slam and Wooden Spoon
Alongside the bilateral trophies are several Championship honours that work differently.
The Triple Crown
The Triple Crown can only be won by England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
To win it, one of those four Home Nations must beat all three of the others during the same Championship.
For example, England would need to defeat Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The concept dates deep into Championship history, although the physical Triple Crown shield used today was introduced much later.
Because it requires three rivalry victories in one tournament, the Triple Crown remains one of the most prestigious achievements available to the four Home Nations.
The Grand Slam
A Grand Slam is achieved when a nation wins all five of its Six Nations matches.
It is therefore possible for any of the six competing countries to complete a Grand Slam.
Unlike the Championship itself, the Grand Slam is not a separate physical trophy. It is an honour attached to completing a perfect Championship.
For England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, a Grand Slam automatically includes a Triple Crown because they will have defeated the other three Home Nations along the way.
The Wooden Spoon
At the opposite end of the table is the Wooden Spoon.
This is an unofficial term generally used for the team finishing bottom of the Championship.
There is no official Wooden Spoon presented to the losing nation.
Nobody sets out to win it — although avoiding it can add considerable tension to matches towards the end of the Championship.
Six Nations Rivalry Matches in 2027
The 2027 Championship features several trophy matches and classic rivalries across its five rounds.
| Date | Fixture | Trophy / Rivalry |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 5 Feb | Ireland v England | Millennium Trophy |
| Sat 6 Feb | Scotland v Italy | Cuttitta Cup |
| Sat 13 Feb | Scotland v Wales | Doddie Weir Cup |
| Sun 14 Feb | England v France | Le Crunch |
| Sun 21 Feb | France v Scotland | Auld Alliance Trophy |
| Fri 5 Mar | Scotland v Ireland | Centenary Quaich |
| Sat 6 Mar | Wales v England | Historic rivalry |
| Sat 6 Mar | Italy v France | Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy |
| Sat 13 Mar | Ireland v France | Solidarity Trophy |
| Sat 13 Mar | England v Scotland | Calcutta Cup |
Super Saturday is particularly notable in 2027.
Ireland and France contest the Solidarity Trophy in Dublin before England and Scotland finish the Championship with the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham.
View the Complete 2027 Six Nations Fixtures →
Tickets for Six Nations Rivalry Matches
Historic rivalry fixtures are often among the most sought-after tickets of the Championship.
Matches such as the Calcutta Cup, England v Wales, Le Crunch and Ireland v England combine limited stadium capacity with strong home and travelling support.
Demand can also increase when a fixture falls late in the Championship and may decide the title, Grand Slam or Triple Crown.
If you are targeting one particular match, it is worth understanding how each union releases tickets and how official, hospitality and resale options differ.
Read our Complete Guide to Buying Six Nations Tickets →
When Do Six Nations Tickets Go On Sale? →
Six Nations Rivalries FAQs
What is the oldest trophy in the Six Nations?
The Calcutta Cup between England and Scotland is the oldest rivalry trophy currently contested in the Championship. It was first played for in 1879.
What is the newest Six Nations trophy?
The Solidarity Trophy between France and Ireland is the newest bilateral trophy, having been introduced in 2026.
What is the Triple Crown?
England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales win the Triple Crown by defeating the other three Home Nations during the same Championship.
Is there a trophy for England v France?
No. England v France is commonly known as Le Crunch, but there is no separate Le Crunch trophy.
Is the Grand Slam a trophy?
No. A Grand Slam is the achievement of winning all five matches during a single Six Nations Championship rather than a separate physical trophy.
Does every Six Nations match have a trophy?
No. Eight pairings currently have dedicated bilateral trophies, while other major rivalries such as England v France and England v Wales do not.
Is the Wooden Spoon a real trophy?
No. The Wooden Spoon is an unofficial term commonly associated with finishing bottom of the Championship.
Explore More Six Nations Guides
Learn more about the teams, fixtures and history behind the Championship:
Six Nations Teams →
2027 Six Nations Fixtures →
History of the Six Nations →
Six Nations Tickets →
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