Why Do We Love The Six Nations Rugby So Much?

The Six Nations 2021 is already underway, with reigning champions England demolishing a less than impressive Italian team in their first match of the campaign. It is a tournament that sees England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy, and France go head-to-head every year to be crowned the best team in Europe.

In one form or another, the tournament has been around for almost 140 years, and it grows in popularity each time. While the Rugby World Cup may be the big event, there is no doubt that the Six Nations comes a close second. Arguably, it may be even better. So, what is it about the Six Nations that has us all in love and always wanting some more? Well, our friends at Betway Sports tell us that one reason for this is possible due to the style of play in the Six Nations, which has been more adventurous over the past couple of seasons than at any point over the last 10 years.

An atmosphere second to none

Fans of Rugby Union are a passionate bunch at the best of times, and the atmosphere at any match can be electrifying. The atmosphere during the Six Nations is on a whole new level. This is mainly down to the fact that the competing nations are so close together in a geographical sense. When tournaments take place in far-flung locations then the crowd of supporters is usually heavily weighted towards the home team.

With the Six Nations, there is a unique makeup of the crowd. It is often the case that there is a 50/50 split between the fans and this creates an atmosphere that has never been recreated elsewhere. You can even pick up on this with the TV footage but being there is something else.

Magical sporting moments

What makes sporting events great are the memories that they create, and certainly, the Six Nations has produced its fair share:

• Italy vs Scotland – 2000. A game that the Scottish team would no doubt like to forget, but this match was one that demonstrated all that is great in the Six Nations tournament. As Italy’s debut, they destroyed Scotland with Diego Dominguez racking up 29 points.
• Ireland vs England – 2003. This is one of those games that will never be forgotten. Not only were Ireland wiped aside with ease, the final score being 6-42, but this match also introduced the world to the wonder that was Jonny Wilkinson’s boot! This sent early warnings around the world of what was to come in the following World Cup.

It’s all to play for!

The draw of the Six Nations is that it is anyone’s game. Of course, as with any tournament, there are favourites, and there are underdogs, but the title is there for the taking by any team. Having a narrower field then the World Cup, it only takes on slip up for the title to go another way.

England and Wales have the best track record when it comes to taking the crown, with 39 titles each, but this does not mean anything is taken for granted. The thrill of seeing who the next champion will be is all part of why we love this event so much.