Six Nations 2023 fixtures, start dates, teams, where to watch

As one of the most awaited international rugby fixtures, Europe's second-largest rugby union event takes place annually, bringing together six countries. 2023 is no different, with the Six Nations Championship set to occur between February and March. Dig in here and learn more about the Six Nations 2023 fixtures and the rumoured entry of a new nation.

Out of the countries that make up the Six Nations, England has won the most Six Nations Championship trophies. Scroll down and discover more, including predictions about the country most likely to win the Six Nations in 2023.

What is the Six Nations Championship?

The international men's rugby union has two main annual events, the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations Championships. As its name suggests, the championship comprises rugby union teams from six countries, including England, Wales, France, Italy, Ireland and Scotland.

Originally known as the Home Nations Championship, the tournaments began with Scotland, England, Wales, and Ireland in 1883 before France entered the Five Nations. In 2000, Italy joined the five European rugby giants marking the start of the Six Nations Championships.

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Since its inception, the tournaments have been held 127 times. The exciting Six Nations 2023 championships offer a stage for a fierce rivalry between the teams ahead of the much anticipated 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Six Nations 2023 tickets release date

How to get tickets for Six Nations 2023? Each of the participating countries handles the sales of match tickets. According to the Six Nations official website, fans can access tickets from participating rugby unions or official ticketing partners.

How to watch the Six Nations Championships 2023?

Television viewers can watch the matches on free-to-air channels on BBC Sports and ITV Sports. The full list of official TV broadcasters for the championships includes the following channels.

1. Stan Sport
2. More Than Sports
3. WOWOW
4. Premier Sports Asia
5. Premier Sports
6. Nova Sports
7. Rom Telecom
8. Ziggo Sport
9. Movistar
10. Sport TV
11. ESPN
12. ESPN SUR
13. TV5 Monde
14. TV5 Monde (French games only)
15. SuperSport
16. DAZN
17. NBC Sports Network
18. RTÉ
19. France 2
20. Sky Italia

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In addition, the tournament will be streamed live on Peacock, TVMucho, RTÉ Player and BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and France TV's FR2. Fans will also be treated to a behind-the-scenes docuseries following each team in the tournament. The show is set to air in 2024 on Netflix.

The Six Nations 2023 start date

The tournament is set to start on the fourth of February 2021, with the first clash between Wales and Ireland. The Welsh team will take on Ireland at their home grounds, the Principality Stadium, in round 1 at 2.15 pm GMT.

How many matches are there in the 6 Nations? According to the tournament rules, there are a total of 15 rugby matches in the annual tournament, played in five rounds. Here is a summary of the Six Nations 2023 fixtures, dates and venues.

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Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

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Round 5

Six Nations 2023 end date

How long do the 6 Nations championships last? Each year, the tournaments occur in February and conclude towards the end of March with two designated rest weekends. The 2023 fixtures will end on the 18th of March with a clash between Ireland and England held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.

Who is a favourite to win the Six Nations?

In a race to declare the best rugby team of all time, a poll by the Guardian revealed that the English team was most likely to win, followed by the French. However, other publications report that the French team has a higher chance of winning following their 2022 performance.

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Six Nations' winners in the last ten years

Although the championships have been held for over a century, not all participating teams have held the Triple Crown trophy. The current champions have held the combined Nations' trophies 26 times, while England holds 24 titles.

Wales holds 28 titles, the highest among the participating teams, while Ireland holds 12 titles, and the Scottish team carries seven titles. Although Italy holds no titles or Grand Slams, it claims 16 Wooden Spoon awards. Here is a summary of the Triple Crown winners in the last ten years.

Will Italy be replaced in the Six Nations?

A recent statement by the 6 Nations organizers denied any intentions of replacing Italy with South Africa's Springbok team. In the statement, the union said,

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"Six Nations Rugby, comprising the 6 unions and federations and CVC, wish to confirm that they are not entertaining any discussion nor developing any plans to add or replace any participating union."

Despite this, eager fans, analysts and commentators still debate whether the Springboks will join the 6 Nations. This is fueled by rumours of a $452 million stake and the impending end of South Africa's commitment to the Rugby Championship in 2025.

Just like the Rugby World Cup, the Six Nations 2023 fixtures are quite popular, amassing millions of fans throughout the globe. Although it only involves six European nations, it is evident that the tournament is one of the major world sporting events of 2023.

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