Teams win the Six Nations title by finishing the tournament with the highest number of points.
They win the Grand Slam if they win all their five matches in the tournament.
It’s possible for teams to finish as joint winners. This has happened twenty times in the tournament’s history since it started with four nations in 1886.
In 1973, all five teams (including France) finished with the same points. So, every nation was a winner!
This article details how many times each team has won:
- the Grand Slam
- the Six Nations title outright (sole winners)
- the title as joint winners with one or more nations
How The Points System Works
Teams are awarded points based on wins and draws:
- 4 points for a win
- 2 points for a draw
The points system changed in 2017 with the introduction of a bonus point for:
- Scoring four tries or more
- Losing by within seven points
Can Teams Win A Grand Slam But Not Win The Title?
Imagine a scenario where Scotland won their five matches without scoring four tries in any of them.
Suppose England wins four matches and scores four tries in all of them.
But when England played Scotland, they lost by two points and scored four tries. That gave them a handy two bonus points for the loss.
Does this scenario mean that Scotland win the Grand Slam but England win the Six Nations title with more points? No!
When a team wins all their matches, they get three bonus points. That magic number means its impossible to win a Grand Slam and not win the title.
What Teams Are In The Six Nations?
The original tournament had four teams: England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
France joined in 1910 to make it the Five Nations. Italy joined in 2010 to make it the Six Nations.
That means that the tournament has had three name changes. When I refer to winning the “Six Nations”, I mean every win since the tournament that started in 1883.
But I’ve included tables in each of the sections below that shows the name of the tournament. That will help if you only want to know how many times a team has won in the current format of six teams.
How Many Six Nations Titles Have England Won?
England were the sole winners of what is now called the Six Nations title twenty-nine times.
They were unbeaten as Grand Slam winners thirteen times.
England were joint winners with other nations ten times.
When did England win the Six Nations tournament?
This table doesn’t include the years when England were joint winners.
| Tournament | Year | Grand Slam |
| Six Nations | 2020 | N |
| Six Nations | 2017 | N |
| Six Nations | 2016 | Y |
| Six Nations | 2011 | N |
| Five Nations | 2003 | Y |
| Five Nations | 2001 | N |
| Five Nations | 2000 | N |
| Five Nations | 1996 | N |
| Five Nations | 1995 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1992 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1991 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1980 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1963 | N |
| Five Nations | 1958 | N |
| Five Nations | 1957 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1953 | N |
| Five Nations | 1937 | N |
| Five Nations | 1934 | N |
| Five Nations | 1930 | N |
| Five Nations | 1928 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1924 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1923 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1921 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1914 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1913 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1910 | N |
| Four Nations | 1892 | N |
| Four Nations | 1884 | N |
| Four Nations | 1883 | N |
How Many Six Nations Titles Have Wales Won?
Wales were the sole winners of what is now called the Six Nations title twenty-eight times.
They were unbeaten as Grand Slam winners twelve times.
Wales had two periods of dominance in the tournament. The first was when they won seven titles in the eleven years between 1900 and 1911.
More recently, Wales dominated from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. They won ten titles in fifteen years, including three Grand Slams.
Wales have been joint winners with other nations ten times.
When did Wales win the Six Nations?
This table doesn’t include the years when Wales were joint winners.
| Tournament | Year | Grand Slam |
| Six Nations | 2021 | N |
| Six Nations | 2019 | Y |
| Six Nations | 2013 | N |
| Six Nations | 2012 | Y |
| Five Nations | 2008 | Y |
| Five Nations | 2005 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1994 | N |
| Five Nations | 1979 | N |
| Five Nations | 1978 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1976 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1975 | N |
| Five Nations | 1971 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1969 | N |
| Five Nations | 1966 | N |
| Five Nations | 1965 | N |
| Five Nations | 1956 | N |
| Five Nations | 1952 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1950 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1936 | N |
| Five Nations | 1931 | N |
| Five Nations | 1922 | N |
| Five Nations | 1911 | Y |
| Four Nations | 1909 | Y |
| Four Nations | 1908 | Y |
| Four Nations | 1905 | N |
| Four Nations | 1902 | N |
| Four Nations | 1900 | N |
| Four Nations | 1893 | N |
How Many Six Nations Titles Have Scotland Won?
Scotland were the sole winners of what is now called the Six Nations title fifteen times.
They were unbeaten as Grand Slam winners three times: 1990, 1984, and 1925.
Scotland have been joint winners with other nations nine times.
When did Scotland win the Six Nations?
This table doesn’t include the years when Scotland were joint winners.
| Tournament | Year | Grand Slam |
| Five Nations | 1999 | N |
| Five Nations | 1990 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1984 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1938 | N |
| Five Nations | 1933 | N |
| Five Nations | 1929 | N |
| Five Nations | 1925 | Y |
| Four Nations | 1907 | N |
| Four Nations | 1904 | N |
| Four Nations | 1903 | N |
| Four Nations | 1901 | N |
| Four Nations | 1895 | N |
| Four Nations | 1891 | N |
| Four Nations | 1889 | N |
| Four Nations | 1887 | N |
How Many Six Nations Titles Have Ireland Won?
Ireland were the sole winners of what is now called the Six Nations title eighteen times.
They were unbeaten as Grand Slam winners ten times.
France have been joint winners with other nations eight times.
When did Ireland win the Six Nations?
This table doesn’t include the years when Ireland were joint winners.
| Tournament | Year | Grand Slam |
| Six Nations | 2018 | Y |
| Six Nations | 2015 | N |
| Six Nations | 2014 | N |
| Five Nations | 2009 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1985 | N |
| Five Nations | 1982 | N |
| Five Nations | 1974 | N |
| Five Nations | 1951 | N |
| Five Nations | 1949 | N |
| Five Nations | 1948 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1935 | N |
| Four Nations | 1899 | N |
| Four Nations | 1896 | N |
| Four Nations | 1894 | N |
How Many Six Nations Titles Have France Won?
France were the sole winners of the Six Nations title fourteen times.
They were unbeaten as Grand Slam winners ten times. Since 1968, France have always been unbeaten when they win the Six Nations title outright.
They have been joint winners with other nations seven times.
When did France win the Six Nations?
This table doesn’t include the years when France were joint winners.
| Tournament | Year | Grand Slam |
| Six Nations | 2022 | Y |
| Six Nations | 2010 | Y |
| Five Nations | 2007 | N |
| Five Nations | 2006 | N |
| Five Nations | 2004 | Y |
| Five Nations | 2002 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1998 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1997 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1993 | N |
| Five Nations | 1989 | N |
| Five Nations | 1987 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1981 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1977 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1968 | Y |
| Five Nations | 1967 | N |
| Five Nations | 1962 | N |
| Five Nations | 1961 | N |
| Five Nations | 1959 | N |