One of the premier rugby events in the world returns in February as some of Europe's best national rugby teams begin a five week tournament known as the Six Nations. 

The 2023 Guinness Six Nations rugby championships, which was first played in 1883, begins on Feb. 4 across Europe. 

Defending champion France will seek its 19th championship this year after winning the event the Grand Slam in 2022. 

Here’s what to know about the 2023 Six Nations.

When Is The 2023 Six Nations Rugby Championship

The event begins on Feb. 4 and ends on March 18. There are 15 matches overall. 

The first match features Wales and Ireland at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales at 9:15 a.m. EST. 

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What Makes Up The Six Nations?

The six countries that play for the championship are: 

• England
• France
• Ireland 
• Italy 
• Scotland 
• Wales

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Where Are The Six Nations Rugby Matches Being Played?

There isn’t a centralized location for the tournament, but instead the event is played across the participating countries. 

The stadiums that are hosting matches are: 

• Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales
• Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, UK
• Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy 
• Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
• BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Stade de France, Paris, France

The 2023 Six Nations Rugby Championship Schedule

Round 1 Six Nations Schedule (All Times EST)

• Ireland at Wales, 9:15 a.m. - Feb. 4
• Scotland at England, 11:45 a.m. - Feb. 4
• France at Italy, 10 a.m. - Feb. 5

Round 2 Six Nations Schedule 

• France at Ireland, 9:15 a.m. - Feb. 11
• Wales at Scotland, 11:45 a.m. - Feb. 11
• Italy at England, 10 a.m. - Feb. 12

Round 3 Six Nations Schedule - 

• Ireland at Italy, 9:15 a.m. - Feb. 25
• England at Wales, 11:45 a.m. - Feb. 25
• Scotland at France, 10 a.m. - Feb. 26

Round 4 Six Nations Schedule 

• Wales at Italy, 9:15 a.m. - March 11
• France at England, 11:45 a.m. - March 11
• Ireland at Scotland, 11 a.m. - March 12

Round 5 Six Nations Schedule, Also Known As ‘Super Saturday’

• Italy at Scotland 8:30 a.m. - March 18
• Wales at France, 10:45 a.m. - March 18
• England at Ireland, 1 p.m. - March 18

How To Watch The Six Nations Rugby Championships

The Six Nations Rugby Championships will be broadcast on NBC Sports in the United States and a variety of different networks across Europe. 

However, the U20 Six Nations tournament, which begins on Feb. 4, can be streamed on FloSports in the United States. 

In March, the 2023 Women's Six Nations tournament will also stream on FloSports.

How Do Teams Win The Six Nations Rugby Championship?

The Six Nations rugby championship is a round-robin style tournament where teams play one another once and accumulate points for wins that determine the championship. 

How Does The Six Nations Scoring Work?

Here’s how the scoring system works:

• The team that wins a match gets four points or (if the team scores four tries or more) five points.
• The team that loses gets no points or (if the team scores four tries or more by a margin of seven points or fewer) one point or (if the team scores four tries or more and loses by a margin of seven points or fewer) two points.
• Teams that draw will each get two points and any team that scores four tries or more gets one more point.
• A team that wins all five of its matches (a “Grand Slam”) will get three more points.

Who Wins Whe Six Nations Rugby Championship If Teams Tie?

If the teams have the same number of match points, the tiebreaker is point differential during the tournament. The second tiebreaker is the number of points scored. There is no third tiebreaker. The last time two rugby teams tied for the championship was 1988, when France and Wales split the championship.

How Do Teams Win The Grand Slam At The Six Nations Rugby Championship?

If one team goes 5-0 during the tournament, they win the Grand Slam. England currently holds the record for the most Grand Slams at 13. 

Who Has Won The Six Nations The Most Times?

England, having the record for most Grand Slams, also has won the Six Nations the most. England has won the tournament 29 times and shared the title 10 times. 

Wales trails England by one, having won the tournament 28 times and shared the title 11. 

Wales last won the event in 2021, while England last won in 2020. France’s win in 2022 was its first since 2010. 

Has Italy Ever Won The Six Nations Rugby Championship?

Italy joined the Six Nations in 2000 as the tournament hoped it would make the field more competitive, but Italy has never won the event. Since 2000, Italy has earned the “wooden spoon” 17 times, including the last seven years. Since Italy joined the tournament, only Wales and Scotland have finished last. 

How Does A Team Win The Triple Crown, Other Awards At The Six Nations?

Along with the Grand Slam, the event awards other honors at the tournament. Here’s a list: 

• Triple Crown: If one of the four “home unions” (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales) goes undefeated against the other three. 
• Calcutta Cup: The winner of the England and Scotland match wins this trophy. 
• Millennium Trophy: Winner of the England and Ireland match wins this trophy.
• Centenary Quaich: Winner if the Ireland and Scotland match wins this trophy. 
• Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy: Winner of the France and Italy match wins this trophy. 
• Auld Alliance Trophy: Winner of the France and Scotland match wins this trophy. 
• Doddie Weir Cup: Winner of the Scotland and Wales match wins this trophy. 
• Cuttitta Cup: Winner of the Italy and Scotland match wins this trophy. 

Is The Wooden Spoon Actually Given At The Six Nations? What Is It?

No, the tournament doesn’t actually give a Wooden Spoon trophy to the team that finishes last at the Six Nations. It is a metaphorical prize. 

Why Is It Called Six Nations?

The name is, unsurprisingly, derived from the six nations that play in the tournament, but it wasn’t always known as the six nations. The tournament was once called Five Nations Championship. The name changed to Six Nations when Italy joined the original five countries in 2000.