Men’s Six Nations Winners List – A look back at tournament history

When it comes to Men’s Six Nations winners, honours have been spread remarkably evenly. Since Italy joined the competition in 2000, England and France have both topped the table seven times, while Ireland and Wales have claimed the Six Nations trophy six times apiece. To date, only Scotland and Italy are waiting to get their hands on the prize.

But this legendary contest dates back much further than the 21st century. The world’s oldest international rugby competition has been through several guises since it launched in 1883, previously existing as the Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and the Five Nations (with the addition of France).

England currently lead the way with the most outright championship victories since 1883, but Wales are only one behind. The reigning champions are France, who claimed a 19th title in 2025.

As well as detailing the sides’ records in the Six Nations, this guide looks back through the history of the Home/Five/Six Nations to list every winner to date.

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Overall Home/Five/Six Nations records: at a glance

• England (29 outright wins, 10 shared wins*)
• France (19 outright wins, 8 shared wins*)
• Ireland (16 outright wins, 9 shared wins*)
• Italy (0 wins)
• Scotland (15 outright wins, 9 shared wins*)
• Wales (28 outright wins, 11 shared wins*)

*Until 1993, teams tied on championship points would share the Home/Five Nations title.

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Six Nations winners: Who has won the Six Nations the most?

Only Italy and Scotland have failed to lift the trophy since the Azzurri joined the competition in 2000, with England, Ireland, France and Wales all winning multiple championships during that period.

Read more: Who has won the Six Nations? Every Men’s Championship winner from 2000 to 2025

England (7 titles)

England are the joint most successful nation in the expanded championship having claimed seven Six Nations titles. However, only two of those have been Grand Slams.

Clive Woodward’s 2003 squad beat Ireland in Dublin to secure a clean sweep while Eddie Jones took his 2016 group all the way in his first championship in charge at Twickenham.

England started the noughties in dominant fashion, winning in 2000 and 2001 before claiming that 2003 Grand Slam.

However, eight years passed before the 2011 success under Martin Johnson and it was another five years until Australian Jones delivered back-to-back successes in 2016 and 2017.

England’s last title came in the Covid-disrupted 2020 Six Nations but last year’s second place and their impressive 100% record in the recent Autumn Nations Series suggest they could be contenders again in 2026.

France (7 titles)

France’s 2025 victory was their seventh and brought them level with England at the top of the Six Nations winners chart.

Les Bleus were the dominant force at the turn of the century, winning four out of six championships after claiming the 2002 Grand Slam.

France went unbeaten again in 2004 and scooped both the 2006 and 2007 Six Nations crowns. Marc Lièvremont’s side swept aside all their opponents in 2010 but France then had to endure a 12-year wait for their next title.

Fabien Galthié’s men delivered on their promise in style, sealing a fourth Grand Slam of the Six Nations era, equalling Wales’ tally.

In 2025, a loss to England at Twickenham derailed France’s Grand Slam bid yet they did enough to take the title, scoring a record 30 tries across the 2025 tournament.

Wales (6 titles)

Wales have won six titles in the Six Nations era but an impressive four of those have been Grand Slams.

Mike Ruddock helped Wales to their first Grand Slam in 27 years in 2005 as they became the first side to win all their games with three out of five fixtures taking place away from home.

Warren Gatland coached two more all-conquering sides in 2008 and 2012 while Rob Howley oversaw the defence of the title in 2013 when Gatland was on a British & Irish Lions sabbatical ahead of the successful tour to Australia.

Six years elapsed before Gatland was able to claim another clean sweep in the last year of his first stint in charge in 2019 before his successor, Wayne Pivac, took Wales to their most recent title in 2021.

Ireland (6 titles)

It took Ireland until 2009 to win the Six Nations but they have since won six in total. Brian O’Driscoll inspired the 2009 Grand Slam, a first for the Men in Green in 61 years and only their second ever.

Joe Schmidt led Ireland to the 2014 and 2015 titles before finally landing that elusive third Grand Slam in 2018 with player of the championship Jacob Stockdale running in seven tries.

In 2023, Ireland won the Grand Slam in Dublin – in front of their home fans – for the first time ever. And the followed up with another title a year later, taking the title at home after beating Scotland. Defeat to England in round 4 meant they missed the Slam, but they were deserving championship winners.

Scotland (0 titles)

Scotland may have won the last Five Nations in 1999 but they are yet to win the Six Nations.

Their best finish is third, which they have achieved on four occasions.

Italy (0 titles)

Italy have never managed to win the Six Nations, their highest finish of fourth came in 2013 following wins over France and Ireland. They have claimed the unwanted Wooden Spoon in 18 out of their 26 seasons in the competition.

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Complete Home, Five and Six Nations winners list

Home Nations (1883-1909)

• 1883 – England
• 1884 – England
• 1885 – Not Competed
• 1886 – England and Scotland
• 1887 – Scotland
• 1888 – Ireland, Wales and Scotland
• 1889 – Scotland
• 1890 – England and Scotland
• 1891 – Scotland
• 1892 – England
• 1893 – Wales
• 1894 – Ireland
• 1895 – Scotland
• 1896 – Ireland
• 1897 – Not Competed
• 1898 – Not Competed
• 1899 – Ireland
• 1900 – Wales
• 1901 – Scotland
• 1902 – Wales
• 1903 – Scotland
• 1904 – Scotland
• 1905 – Wales
• 1906 – Ireland and Wales
• 1907 – Scotland
• 1908 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 1909 – Wales (Grand Slam)

Five Nations (1910-1931)

• 1910 – England
• 1911 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 1912 – Ireland and England
• 1913 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1914 – England (Grand Slam)

1915 – 1919 NO CHAMPIONSHIP (WORLD WAR I)

• 1920 – Scotland, Wales and England
• 1921 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1922 – Wales
• 1923 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1924 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1925 – Scotland (Grand Slam)
• 1926 – Ireland and Scotland
• 1927 – Ireland and Scotland
• 1928 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1929 – Scotland 
• 1930 – England
• 1931 – Wales

Home Nations (1932-1939)

• 1932 – England, Ireland and Wales
• 1933 – Scotland
• 1934 – England
• 1935 – Ireland
• 1936 – Wales
• 1937 – England
• 1938 – Scotland
• 1939 – England, Ireland and Wales

1940 – 1946 NO CHAMPIONSHIP (WORLD WAR II)

Five Nations (1947-1999)

• 1947 – England and Wales
• 1948 – Ireland (Grand Slam)
• 1949 – Ireland
• 1950 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 1951 – Ireland
• 1952 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 1953 – England
• 1954 – England, France and Wales
• 1955 – France and Wales
• 1956 – Wales
• 1957 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1958 – England
• 1959 – France
• 1960 – England and France
• 1961 – France
• 1962 – France
• 1963 – England
• 1964 – Scotland and Wales
• 1965 – Wales
• 1966 – Wales
• 1967 – France 
• 1968 – France (Grand Slam)
• 1969 – Wales
• 1970 – France and Wales
• 1971 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 1972 – Not competed
• 1973 – England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
• 1974 – Ireland
• 1975 – Wales
• 1976 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 1977 – France (Grand Slam)
• 1978 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 1979 – Wales
• 1980 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1981 – France (Grand Slam)
• 1982 – Ireland
• 1983 – France and Ireland 
• 1984 – Scotland (Grand Slam)
• 1985 – Ireland
• 1986 – France and Scotland
• 1987 – France (Grand Slam)
• 1988 – France and Wales
• 1989 – France
• 1990 – Scotland (Grand Slam)
• 1991 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1992 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1993 – France
• 1994 – Wales
• 1995 – England (Grand Slam)
• 1996 – England
• 1997 – France (Grand Slam)
• 1998 – France (Grand Slam)
• 1999 – Scotland

Six Nations (2000-present)

• 2000 – England
• 2001 – England
• 2002 – France (Grand Slam)
• 2003 – England (Grand Slam)
• 2004 – France (Grand Slam)
• 2005 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 2006 – France
• 2007 – France
• 2008 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 2009 – Ireland (Grand Slam)
• 2010 – France (Grand Slam)
• 2011 – England
• 2012 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 2013 – Wales
• 2014 – Ireland
• 2015 – Ireland
• 2016 – England (Grand Slam)
• 2017 – England
• 2018 – Ireland (Grand Slam)
• 2019 – Wales (Grand Slam)
• 2020 – England
• 2021 – Wales
• 2022 – France (Grand Slam)
• 2023 – Ireland (Grand Slam)
• 2024 – Ireland
• 2025 – France

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