The Six Nations is the highlight of the northern hemisphere rugby calendar. Each year, the sport’s biggest European nations compete for the championship over a series of weekends through the winter months, and for UK fans it inspires fierce loyalty, friendly argument and plenty of early mornings. This guide explains how rugby works, where the Six Nations fits into the wider game, and the best ways to follow every match.
What Is Rugby Union?
Rugby is a sport built around running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, rugby union is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a grass pitch. The goal is to carry or kick the ball into the opposition’s territory and score points, either by touching it down over the try line or by kicking it between the posts.
The flow of the game makes rugby distinctive. Play is continuous even after players are tackled on the field, so the action rarely stops for long. Kicking is the only method by which both teams may move the ball forward, which gives tactical kickers a central role in every match. The team in possession can run with the ball, pass it sideways or backwards, or kick it ahead, while the defending side tries to win it back.
Protective equipment is not part of rugby in the way many newcomers expect. Players do not wear pads or helmets. Instead, the techniques and rules of the sport make impact much safer, with tackling taught from an early age as controlled contact. That emphasis on technique is central to rugby’s identity at every level, from school fields to international stadiums.
The Birth of Rugby
Rugby’s origin story is one of sport’s most famous legends. In 1823, William Webb Ellis used his hands to pick up a ball during a soccer match and ran with it towards the goal, and so the story goes, rugby was born. The sport takes its name from the town of Rugby in eastern Warwickshire, England, close to the River Avon, which had a population of 78,117 at the 2021 census. Rugby has grown from that local beginning into a global game, with international competitions played across every continent.
The Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations is the premier rugby union competition in the northern hemisphere. It brings together England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy, with every team playing each other once across several weekends. The championship is known for its rivalries, its travelling supporters and its ability to produce drama right up to the final afternoon.
For English supporters, the Six Nations is the centrepiece of the international season. The Rugby Football Union runs a fan hub covering England team news and events, alongside sections for women’s and girls’ rugby, age-grade rugby and coach resources. Injury news also shapes the build-up; Ireland fly-half Jack Crowley, for example, was ruled out until the new year, with Munster announcing that he is not expected to return from injury until then.
The women’s game has grown rapidly in profile, with fixtures and results covered by the same major broadcast and governing-body platforms as the men’s tournament.
Rugby Union and Rugby League: Two Distinct Codes
Rugby is not a single sport. Rugby union is the code played in the Six Nations, but rugby league is a separate game with its own rules, team sizes and competitions. In England, the Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league and operates all tiers of the game from elite level to grassroots.
At club level in rugby union, the top domestic competition in England is the Premiership, known as PREM Rugby. Its official website carries club news, updates, ticketing information and retail products. The two codes share a common ancestry, but their rules have diverged, so knowing which one you are watching makes a real difference.
How to Follow the Six Nations and the Wider Game
For UK fans, BBC Sport is the home of rugby union online. Its dedicated rugby union section brings together the latest news stories, results, fixtures, video and audio, making it a one-stop destination for the Six Nations from the opening weekend to the final whistle. The BBC also runs scores and fixtures pages covering all leagues and competitions.
On the global stage, World Rugby provides fixtures, scores and results for men’s and women’s 15s and Sevens international matches and tournaments worldwide, including team line-ups. That makes it the best place to follow every tier of the international game. England supporters can also sign up for updates through the Rugby Football Union, which welcomes fan input on England team news and events.
Rugby Beyond the 15-Player Game
Rugby is not limited to the 15-a-side version. Rugby sevens is the most well-known alternative, with seven players per side and a faster, more open style of play. Touch rugby, beach rugby, rugby tens and rugby twelves also exist, and these formats are often used as a development pathway and feeder into the main forms of the sport. Shorter formats have helped rugby reach new audiences through festivals, schools and community clubs, while women’s and girls’ rugby continues to expand with dedicated support from the Rugby Football Union.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about rugby and the Six Nations.
What is rugby union?
Rugby union is a team sport played between two teams of 15 players each using an oval-shaped ball. Players run with the ball in hand and may kick it, which is the only method by which either team can move the ball forward. Play continues even after tackles, and players do not wear pads or helmets.
Where can I find rugby fixtures and results?
BBC Sport carries the latest rugby union news, results, fixtures, video and audio for all leagues and competitions. World Rugby publishes fixtures, scores and results for men’s and women’s 15s and Sevens international matches worldwide, including team line-ups. Both are reliable places to follow the Six Nations.
What is the difference between rugby union and rugby league?
Rugby union is the 15-a-side code played in the Six Nations. Rugby league is a separate code governed in England by the Rugby Football League, which operates the game from elite level to grassroots. The two codes share a common origin but have different rules, team sizes and styles of play.
Was rugby really invented in Rugby?
According to the famous story, in 1823 William Webb Ellis picked up a ball during a soccer match and ran with it, giving birth to rugby. The town of Rugby in eastern Warwickshire, England, close to the River Avon, is named after the sport’s birthplace. At the 2021 census, its population was 78,117.
Do rugby players wear protective padding?
No. Rugby players do not wear pads or helmets. Instead, the techniques and rules of the sport are designed to make impact much safer, with tackling taught as controlled contact. Correct technique is a core part of coaching throughout the sport, from age-grade rugby upwards.
