Whether you are a self-proclaimed rugby expert, or have only never watched a game of the sport in your life, The Six Nations is one of the biggest men’s rugby tournaments in the world.
Out of the six countries participating, is it possible for Ireland to win the trophy that everyone is yearning for? After all, their recent 2024 win captivated the hearts of the nation, and there are many reasons as to why the current holders could do it again. Read on to discover the format and history of The Six Nations, as well as the favorites to win and the outright betting odds taken from Irish betting site Betfree.ie.
What Is The Six Nations?
Firstly, let’s break down what The Six Nations actually is, and the rich history behind the prestigious competition.
When the tournament first began in 1883, it was known as the Home Nations Championships and featured England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These are what are now considered the home nations; this was a huge event solely based in the United Kingdom. In 1910, it was renamed to the Five Nations Championship, as France also joined after much consideration, turning the competition into a much bigger, now expanded event. The last addition was Italy, who joined in 2000. Since then, it has been known as the infamous Six Nations for over two decades.
Since 2000, the triumphs are as follows:
- England: 7 wins
- France: 6 wins
- Ireland: 6 wins
- Wales: 6 wins
- Scotland: 0 wins
- Italy: 0 wins
There have been a total of 125 matches played since 2000, and Ireland have famously won the most. They have won 86 out of 125 played matches, as well as drawing 3 times.
In the Six Nations, it is also worth noting the Wooden Spoon award. Although this is not an actual award, it is given to the team that comes last in the tournament. Italy has finished last 18 times since 2000, so there are good odds that it will happen again. On the other hand, Ireland has not won any Wooden Spoons, meaning that they have never come last. This is an impressive achievement that only England has been able to match.
When Is The Next Six Nations Championship?
The next Six Nations is held every year from the first weekend in the month of February, and ends mid to end of March. The next tournament will commence on the 31st January 2025. Every team plays each other once, therefore there are 15 matches altogether. In the table below you will find the exact information:
| TEAMS | DATE | STADIUM |
| France vs Wales | 31st January | Stade de France |
| Scotland vs Italy | 1st February | Scottish Gas Murrayfield |
| Ireland vs England | 1st February | Aviva Stadium |
| Italy vs Wales | 8th February | Stadio Olympico |
| England vs France | 8th February | Allianz Stadium |
| Scotland vs Ireland | 9th February | Scottish Gas Murrayfield |
| Wales vs Ireland | 22nd February | Principality Stadium |
| England vs Scotland | 22nd February | Allianz Stadium |
| Italy vs France | 23rd February | Stadio Olympico |
| Ireland vs France | 8th March | Aviva Stadium |
| Scotland vs Wales | 8th March | Scottish Gas Murrayfield |
| England vs Italy | 9th March | Allianz Stadium |
| Italy vs Ireland | 15th March | Stadio Olympico |
| Wales vs England | 15th March | Principality Stadium |
| France vs Scotland | 15th March | Stade de France |
This means that Ireland will play a total of two home matches in the Aviva Stadium, and three away matches.
What Are The Outright Betting Odds?
To answer the original question, first we must consider what the odds are for Ireland and the other five teams to win The Six Nations. These are the odds found on Betfree.
| TEAM | BETTING ODDS |
| Ireland | 5/4 |
| France | 5/2 |
| England | 4/1 |
| Scotland | 12/112/1 |
| Wales | 40/1 |
| Italy | 250/1 |
Can Ireland Win?
Whilst it is impossible for anyone to guarantee their prediction is 100% correct, every bookmaker has very good odds of Ireland winning The Six Nations. There are a multitude of reasons for this.
Firstly, Ireland have won the affluent trophy 2 years in a row, both in 2023 and 2024. This proves that they have a solid team, brilliant management, and winning strategies.
Since 2000, Ireland have also won 3 Grand Slams, which is when one team beats every other team during the completion. They also hold the record for most points, thanks to Johnny Sexton and his whopping record of 566 points.
Ireland have also accumulated 7 Triple Crowns, meaning that they have won the most Triple Crowns out of all six teams). This honour only applies to the four original teams nicknamed the “Home Nations”, and is awarded if they win against the other three.
Lastly, Ireland have receive 0 wooden spoons since 2000, along with England. France have received 1, Wales 2, Scotland 4, and Italy a notorious 18 times. Last year, in 2024, Wales can last in the tournament.
Could Another Team Win The Six Nations?
An almost unanimous prediction has been made that Ireland will win the next Six Nations, not only because of their winning streak but also their consistency and prominence in recent history. They hold several records, and work exceptionally well under head coach Andy Farrell who has been managing the Irish team since 2019. Last year in 2023, Farrell also won the World Rugby coach of the year.
It is fair to say that Wales, Italy and Scotland are not great contenders, unless they drastically improve their performance and enhance their style. This leaves England and France. Last year in 2024, France came 2nd in The Six Nations. Player Thomas Ramos won 63 points for his team, more than any other team. Although they narrowly missed out, tallying up 15 points, Ireland beat them by earnings 20. Could 2025 be the year of revenge, where France take back the trophy?
England is also one of the favorites to win the Six Nations, even though they came 3rd last year. They hold the record for the most titles since 2000, but last won in 2020 and have had a disappointing few years in terms of rankings.