The 2003 Six Nations Championship was the fourth series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship, and the 109th international championship overall. The annual tournament was won by England, who completed a grand slam, and went on to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup later the same year. Italy won their first match with Wales (30–22), finishing in 5th place for the first time in the process.
This was the sixth time in the Championship's history, but the first time since it became the Six Nations, that two teams met in the final round with undefeated records, both England and Ireland having won their first four games, making the final match a decider for the Grand Slam. It was also the first time Ireland had been involved: and the first that was won by the away team. Wales were whitewashed, losing all five of their games, and earned themselves the wooden spoon as a result.
Participants NationVenueCityHead coachCaptainTwickenham StadiumLondon Clive WoodwardMartin Johnson/Jonny WilkinsonStade de FranceSaint-Denis Bernard LaporteFabien Galthié/Fabien PelousLansdowne RoadDublin Eddie O'SullivanBrian O'DriscollStadio FlaminioRome John KirwanAlessandro TronconMurrayfield StadiumEdinburgh Ian McGeechanBryan RedpathMillennium StadiumCardiff Steve HansenColin Charvis/Martyn Williams
Squads
Table
Results
Round 1
FB 15Paolo VaccariRW 14Mauro BergamascoOC 13Cristian StoicaIC 12Giovanni Raineri LW 11Denis DallanFH 10Diego DomínguezSH 9 Alessandro TronconN8 8 Matthew PhillipsOF 7 Aaron PersicoBF 6 Andrea de RossiRL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Cristian BezziTP 3 Ramiro Martínez HK 2 Carlo FestucciaLP 1 Giampiero de CarliSubstitutions:HK 16Andrea MorettiPR 17Salvatore Perugini LK 18Mark GiacheriFL 19Scott PalmerSH 20Juan Manuel QueiroloFH 21Ramiro PezCE 22Mirco BergamascoCoach:John Kirwan FB 15Rhys WilliamsRW 14Mark Jones OC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Leigh Davies LW 11Gareth ThomasFH 10Iestyn HarrisSH 9 Dwayne PeelN8 8 Colin Charvis OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Michael OwenRL 5 Steve Williams LL 4 Robert SidoliTP 3 Ben EvansHK 2 Mefin Davies LP 1 Iestyn ThomasSubstitutions:HK 16Gareth Williams PR 17Gethin JenkinsFL 18Dafydd Jones FL 19Gavin Thomas SH 20Gareth CooperFH 21Ceri Sweeney CE 22Matthew Watkins Coach:Steve Hansen
FB 15Jason RobinsonRW 14Dan LugerOC 13Will GreenwoodIC 12Charlie HodgsonLW 11Ben CohenFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Andy GomarsallN8 8 Richard HillOF 7 Neil BackBF 6 Lewis Moody RL 5 Ben Kay LL 4 Martin JohnsonTP 3 Julian WhiteHK 2 Steve ThompsonLP 1 Jason Leonard Substitutions:HK 16Mark Regan PR 17Graham Rowntree LK 18Danny Grewcock N8 19Lawrence Dallaglio SH 20Nick WalsheWG 21Phil ChristophersWG 22James Simpson-DanielCoach:Clive Woodward FB 15Clément PoitrenaudRW 14Aurélien Rougerie OC 13Xavier GarbajosaIC 12Damien TrailleLW 11Vincent ClercFH 10Gérald MerceronSH 9 Fabien GalthiéN8 8 Imanol HarinordoquyOF 7 Olivier MagneBF 6 Serge Betsen RL 5 Olivier BrouzetLL 4 Fabien PelousTP 3 Christian Califano HK 2 Raphaël Ibañez LP 1 Jean-Jacques CrencaSubstitutions:HK 16Jean-Baptiste Rué PR 17Sylvain Marconnet LK 18David AuradouFL 19Sébastien Chabal SH 20Dimitri YachviliFH 21François GelezFB 22Thomas Castaignède Coach:Bernard Laporte
FB 15Glenn MetcalfeRW 14Kenny LoganOC 13Andy CraigIC 12Brendan LaneyLW 11Chris PatersonFH 10Gordon Ross SH 9 Bryan RedpathN8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Andrew MowerBF 6 Martin LeslieRL 5 Stuart GrimesLL 4 Scott MurrayTP 3 Bruce Douglas HK 2 Gordon BullochLP 1 Tom SmithSubstitutions:HK 16Steve ScottPR 17Gavin Kerr LK 18Nathan HinesN8 19Ross BeattieSH 20Mike BlairFH 21Gregor Townsend CE 22Kevin UttersonCoach:Ian McGeechan FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Shane Horgan OC 13Brian O'Driscoll IC 12Kevin MaggsLW 11Denis HickieFH 10David HumphreysSH 9 Peter Stringer N8 8 Anthony FoleyOF 7 Keith GleesonBF 6 Victor Costello RL 5 Malcolm O'KellyLL 4 Gary Longwell TP 3 John HayesHK 2 Shane Byrne LP 1 Reggie Corrigan Substitutions:HK 16Frankie Sheahan PR 17Marcus Horan LK 18Leo Cullen FL 19Alan Quinlan SH 20Guy Easterby FH 21Paul Burke FB 22Geordan Murphy Coach:Eddie O'Sullivan
Round 2
FB 15Paolo VaccariRW 14Mauro BergamascoOC 13Cristian StoicaIC 12Giovanni RaineriLW 11Denis Dallan FH 10Diego Domínguez SH 9 Alessandro TronconN8 8 Matthew Phillips OF 7 Aaron PersicoBF 6 Andrea de RossiRL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Cristian BezziTP 3 Ramiro Martínez HK 2 Carlo FestucciaLP 1 Giampiero de CarliSubstitutions:HK 16Andrea MorettiPR 17Martín Castrogiovanni LK 18Mark GiacheriFL 19Scott Palmer SH 20Juan Manuel QueiroloFH 21Ramiro Pez CE 22Mirco Bergamasco Coach:John Kirwan FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14John Kelly OC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Kevin MaggsLW 11Denis HickieFH 10David HumphreysSH 9 Peter Stringer N8 8 Anthony FoleyOF 7 Keith GleesonBF 6 Victor Costello RL 5 Malcolm O'KellyLL 4 Gary Longwell TP 3 John HayesHK 2 Shane Byrne LP 1 Reggie Corrigan Substitutions:HK 16Frankie Sheahan PR 17Marcus Horan LK 18Leo Cullen FL 19Alan Quinlan SH 20Guy Easterby FH 21Paul BurkeCE 22Rob Henderson Coach:Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15Kevin MorganRW 14Rhys Williams OC 13Mark TaylorIC 12Tom Shanklin LW 11Gareth ThomasFH 10Ceri SweeneySH 9 Gareth CooperN8 8 Gavin Thomas OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Dafydd JonesRL 5 Steve Williams LL 4 Robert SidoliTP 3 Ben Evans HK 2 Jonathan Humphreys LP 1 Iestyn ThomasSubstitutions:HK 16Gareth Williams PR 17Gethin Jenkins LK 18Gareth Llewellyn FL 19Colin Charvis SH 20Dwayne PeelFH 21Iestyn Harris CE 22Matthew Watkins Coach:Steve Hansen FB 15Jason Robinson RW 14Dan Luger OC 13Will GreenwoodIC 12Charlie HodgsonLW 11Ben CohenFH 10Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Kyran BrackenN8 8 Lawrence DallaglioOF 7 Neil Back BF 6 Richard Hill RL 5 Ben Kay LL 4 Martin JohnsonTP 3 Robbie MorrisHK 2 Steve ThompsonLP 1 Graham RowntreeSubstitutions:HK 16Mark ReganPR 17Mike WorsleyLK 18Danny Grewcock FL 19Joe Worsley SH 20Andy Gomarsall WG 21Phil Christophers WG 22James Simpson-Daniel Coach:Clive Woodward
FB 15Clément PoitrenaudRW 14Aurélien RougerieOC 13Xavier GarbajosaIC 12Damien TrailleLW 11Vincent Clerc FH 10François GelezSH 9 Fabien Galthié N8 8 Imanol Harinordoquy OF 7 Olivier MagneBF 6 Serge BetsenRL 5 Olivier Brouzet LL 4 Fabien PelousTP 3 Sylvain Marconnet HK 2 Raphaël Ibañez LP 1 Jean-Jacques CrencaSubstitutions:HK 16Jean-Baptiste Rué PR 17Christian Califano LK 18David Auradou N8 19Sébastien Chabal SH 20Dimitri Yachvili FH 21Gérald MerceronFB 22Thomas Castaignède Coach:Bernard Laporte FB 15Glenn MetcalfeRW 14Chris PatersonOC 13Gregor TownsendIC 12Kevin UttersonLW 11Kenny LoganFH 10Brendan Laney SH 9 Bryan Redpath N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Andrew Mower BF 6 Martin LeslieRL 5 Stuart GrimesLL 4 Scott Murray TP 3 Bruce Douglas HK 2 Gordon BullochLP 1 Tom SmithSubstitutions:HK 16Steve ScottPR 17Gavin Kerr LK 18Jason White FL 19Jon Petrie SH 20Mike Blair FH 21Gordon RossCE 22Andy Craig Coach:Ian McGeechan
Round 3
FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14John KellyOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Kevin MaggsLW 11Denis HickieFH 10David HumphreysSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Anthony FoleyOF 7 Keith GleesonBF 6 Victor Costello RL 5 Malcolm O'KellyLL 4 Gary Longwell TP 3 John HayesHK 2 Shane ByrneLP 1 Marcus HoranSubstitutions:HK 16Frankie SheahanPR 17Reggie CorriganLK 18Leo Cullen FL 19Alan Quinlan SH 20Guy EasterbyFH 21Ronan O'GaraFB 22Girvan DempseyCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Clément PoitrenaudRW 14Aurélien RougerieOC 13Xavier GarbajosaIC 12Damien TrailleLW 11Vincent ClercFH 10François GelezSH 9 Dimitri YachviliN8 8 Imanol HarinordoquyOF 7 Olivier MagneBF 6 Serge Betsen RL 5 Olivier BrouzetLL 4 Fabien PelousTP 3 Sylvain Marconnet HK 2 Raphaël IbañezLP 1 Jean-Jacques CrencaSubstitutions:HK 16Jean-Baptiste RuéPR 17Christian Califano LK 18David AuradouN8 19Sébastien Chabal SH 20Mathieu BarrauFH 21Gérald MerceronFB 22Thomas CastaignèdeCoach:Bernard Laporte
FB 15Glenn MetcalfeRW 14Chris PatersonOC 13James McLarenIC 12Kevin Utterson LW 11Kenny LoganFH 10Gregor Townsend SH 9 Bryan Redpath N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Andrew MowerBF 6 Jason White RL 5 Stuart Grimes LL 4 Scott MurrayTP 3 Bruce Douglas HK 2 Gordon Bulloch LP 1 Tom SmithSubstitutions:HK 16Robbie Russell PR 17Gavin Kerr LK 18Nathan Hines FL 19Jon Petrie SH 20Mike Blair FH 21Gordon Ross CE 22Andy Craig Coach:Ian McGeechan FB 15Kevin Morgan RW 14Rhys WilliamsOC 13Mark TaylorIC 12Tom Shanklin LW 11Gareth ThomasFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Gareth Cooper N8 8 Gavin Thomas OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Dafydd JonesRL 5 Steve Williams LL 4 Robert SidoliTP 3 Ben Evans HK 2 Gareth Williams LP 1 Iestyn ThomasSubstitutions:HK 16Mefin Davies PR 17Gethin Jenkins LK 18Gareth Llewellyn FL 19Colin Charvis SH 20Dwayne Peel FH 21Iestyn Harris CE 22Matthew Watkins Coach:Steve Hansen Notes: Referee Pablo De Luca was injured during the match and replaced by touch judge Tony Spreadbury at half-time.
FB 15Josh Lewsey RW 14James Simpson-DanielOC 12Mike TindallIC 13Will GreenwoodLW 11Dan LugerFH 10Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Matt DawsonN8 8 Lawrence Dallaglio OF 7 Richard Hill BF 6 Joe WorsleyRL 5 Ben Kay LL 4 Danny GrewcockTP 3 Robbie Morris HK 2 Steve Thompson LP 1 Graham RowntreeSubstitutions:HK 16Mark Regan PR 17Mike Worsley LK 18Simon Shaw FL 19Alex Sanderson SH 20Kyran Bracken FH 21Charlie Hodgson CE 22Ollie Smith Coach:Clive Woodward FB 15Mirco BergamascoRW 14Nicola MazzucatoOC 13Paolo Vaccari IC 12Giovanni RaineriLW 11Denis DallanFH 10Ramiro PezSH 9 Alessandro Troncon N8 8 Matthew Phillips OF 7 Aaron PersicoBF 6 Andrea de RossiRL 5 Mark Giacheri LL 4 Cristian BezziTP 3 Ramiro MartínezHK 2 Carlo Festuccia LP 1 Giampiero de Carli Substitutions:HK 16Fabio Ongaro PR 17Martín Castrogiovanni LK 18Marco Bortolami FL 19Scott Palmer SH 20Matteo Mazzantini FH 21Gert Peens CE 22Andrea MasiCoach:John Kirwan
Round 4
FB 15Rhys WilliamsRW 14Mark Jones OC 13Mark Taylor IC 12Tom ShanklinLW 11Gareth ThomasFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Gareth Cooper N8 8 Dafydd JonesOF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Colin CharvisRL 5 Gareth LlewellynLL 4 Robert SidoliTP 3 Gethin Jenkins HK 2 Jonathan Humphreys LP 1 Iestyn ThomasSubstitutions:HK 16Mefin Davies PR 17Martyn Madden LK 18Steve WilliamsFL 19Gavin ThomasSH 20Dwayne Peel FH 21Iestyn Harris CE 22Matthew Watkins Coach:Steve Hansen FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Justin BishopOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Kevin MaggsLW 11Denis HickieFH 10David Humphreys SH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Anthony Foley OF 7 Keith GleesonBF 6 Alan Quinlan RL 5 Malcolm O'KellyLL 4 Leo Cullen TP 3 John HayesHK 2 Shane ByrneLP 1 Marcus Horan Substitutions:HK 16Frankie SheahanPR 17Justin Fitzpatrick LK 18Donncha O'Callaghan N8 19Eric Miller SH 20Guy EasterbyFH 21Ronan O'Gara WG 22John KellyCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15Josh LewseyRW 14Jason RobinsonOC 12Mike Tindall IC 13Will GreenwoodLW 11Ben CohenFH 10Jonny Wilkinson SH 9 Matt DawsonN8 8 Lawrence Dallaglio OF 7 Neil BackBF 6 Richard HillRL 5 Ben Kay LL 4 Martin JohnsonTP 3 Jason LeonardHK 2 Steve ThompsonLP 1 Graham Rowntree Substitutions:HK 16Mark ReganPR 17Trevor Woodman LK 18Danny Grewcock FL 19Joe Worsley SH 20Andy GomarsallFH 21Paul Grayson WG 22Dan Luger Coach:Clive Woodward FB 15Glenn MetcalfeRW 14Chris PatersonOC 13James McLaren IC 12Andy CraigLW 11Kenny LoganFH 10Gregor TownsendSH 9 Bryan RedpathN8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Andrew Mower BF 6 Jason WhiteRL 5 Nathan HinesLL 4 Scott Murray TP 3 Bruce Douglas HK 2 Gordon BullochLP 1 Tom SmithSubstitutions:HK 16Robbie RussellPR 17Gavin Kerr LK 18Stuart Grimes N8 19Ross Beattie SH 20Mike BlairFH 21Gordon RossCE 22Kevin Utterson Coach:Ian McGeechan