The RBS Six Nations Championship is the pinnacle of rugby in the Northern Hemisphere. The first championship was played in 1883 and was played between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, just 12 years after the first international rugby game between England and Scotland (Scotland won - although seeing as both Irishmen and Welshmen played for the Scottish side, its debatable whether 'Scotland' won!). This 'Home International Championship' became the Five Nations with the addition of France in 1910, and became the Six Nations with the addition of Italy in 2000.

The competition is in a league format, with each team playing all others once. Home advantage alternates from one year to the next. Scoring is simple: two points for a win, one for a draw, none for a loss. No bonus points. Winning every game results in the 'Grand Slam;' victory of a home nation (Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland) over the other three home nations earns the 'Triple Crown;' finishing bottom lands you the 'Wooden Spoon'

With the tournament being over 100 years old, there have been a number of sub-competitions that have been absorbed:

Calcutta Cup - winner of Scotland vs. England, running since 1879

Millennium Trophy - winner of Ireland vs. England, running since 1988

Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy - winner of Italy vs France, running since 2007