The 2008 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2008 RBS 6 Nations because of sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the ninth series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship, the 114th series of the international championship.
Fifteen matches were played over five weekends from 2 February to 15 March, resulting in Wales winning the Grand Slam, their second in the last four championships and tenth overall. In winning the Grand Slam, Wales also won the Triple Crown, for beating each of the other Home Nations, for the 19th time. Wales conceded only two tries in the championship, beating England's previous record of four tries conceded. Wales' Shane Williams was named the Player of the Championship.
Participants
NationVenueCityHead coachCaptainTwickenham StadiumLondon Brian AshtonPhil VickeryStade de FranceSaint-Denis Marc LièvremontLionel NalletCroke ParkDublin Eddie O'SullivanBrian O'DriscollStadio FlaminioRome Nick MallettSergio ParisseMurrayfield StadiumEdinburgh Frank HaddenJason WhiteMillennium StadiumCardiff Warren GatlandRyan Jones
Squads
Table
Results
Round 1
FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Andrew TrimbleOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Geordan MurphyFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Eoin ReddanN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Malcolm O'KellyLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Rory BestLP 1 Marcus HoranReplacements:HK 16Bernard JackmanPR 17Tony BuckleyLK 18Mick O'DriscollN8 19Jamie HeaslipSH 20Peter StringerFH 21Paddy WallaceFB 22Rob KearneyCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15David BortolussiRW 14Kaine RobertsonOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Pablo CanavosioFH 10Andrea MasiSH 9 Pietro TravagliN8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Josh SoleRL 5 Carlo Del FavaLL 4 Santiago DellapèTP 3 Martín CastrogiovanniHK 2 Leonardo GhiraldiniLP 1 Andrea Lo CiceroReplacements:HK 16Carlo FestucciaPR 17Salvatore PeruginiPR 18Lorenzo CittadiniLK 19Tommaso ReatoFL 20Alessandro ZanniFB 21Andrea MarcatoWG 22Ezio GalonCoach:Nick Mallett
FB 15Iain BalshawRW 14Paul SackeyOC 13Mike TindallIC 12Toby FloodLW 11David StrettleFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Andy GomarsallN8 8 Luke NarrawayOF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 James HaskellRL 5 Steve BorthwickLL 4 Simon ShawTP 3 Phil VickeryHK 2 Mark ReganLP 1 Andrew SheridanReplacements:HK 16Lee MearsPR 17Matt StevensLK 18Ben KayFL 19Tom ReesSH 20Richard WigglesworthFH 21Danny CiprianiWG 22Lesley VainikoloCoach:Brian Ashton FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Mark JonesOC 13Sonny ParkerIC 12Gavin HensonLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10James HookSH 9 Mike PhillipsN8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Jonathan ThomasRL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Ian GoughTP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Huw BennettLP 1 Duncan JonesReplacements:HK 16Matthew ReesPR 17Gethin JenkinsLK 18Ian EvansN8 19Alix PophamSH 20Gareth CooperFH 21Stephen JonesCE 22Tom ShanklinCoach:Warren Gatland Notes This was Wales' first win over England at Twickenham Stadium for 20 years.
FB 15Rory LamontRW 14Nikki WalkerOC 13Nick De LucaIC 12Andrew HendersonLW 11Simon WebsterFH 10Dan ParksSH 9 Mike BlairN8 8 Dave CallamOF 7 John BarclayBF 6 Jason White (c)RL 5 Jim HamiltonLL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Ross FordLP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Fergus ThomsonPR 17Gavin KerrLK 18Scott MacLeodFL 19Kelly BrownSH 20Chris CusiterWG 21Chris PatersonFB 22Hugo SouthwellCoach:Frank Hadden FB 15Cédric HeymansRW 14Vincent ClercOC 13David MartyIC 12Damien TrailleLW 11Julien MalzieuFH 10François Trinh-DucSH 9 Jean-Baptiste ÉlissaldeN8 8 Elvis VermeulenOF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Thierry DusautoirRL 5 Lionel NalletLL 4 Loïc JacquetTP 3 Julien BrugnautHK 2 William ServatLP 1 Lionel FaureReplacements:HK 16Dimitri SzarzewskiPR 17Nicolas MasLK 18Arnaud MélaFL 19Julien BonnaireSH 20Morgan ParraFH 21David SkrelaCE 22Aurélien RougerieCoach:Marc Lièvremont
Round 2
FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Jamie RobertsOC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Gavin HensonLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10James HookSH 9 Mike PhillipsN8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Jonathan ThomasRL 5 Ian EvansLL 4 Ian GoughTP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Huw BennettLP 1 Duncan JonesReplacements:HK 16Matthew ReesPR 17Gethin JenkinsLK 18Deiniol JonesN8 19Gareth DelveSH 20Dwayne PeelFH 21Stephen JonesCE 22Sonny ParkerCoach:Warren Gatland FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Nikki WalkerOC 13Nick De LucaIC 12Andrew HendersonLW 11Chris PatersonFH 10Dan ParksSH 9 Mike BlairN8 8 Kelly BrownOF 7 John BarclayBF 6 Jason White (c)RL 5 Jim HamiltonLL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Ross FordLP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Fergus ThomsonPR 17Gavin KerrLK 18Scott MacLeodFL 19Ally HoggSH 20Chris CusiterCE 21Graeme MorrisonWG 22Simon DanielliCoach:Frank Hadden
FB 15Cédric HeymansRW 14Aurélien RougerieOC 13David MartyIC 12Damien TrailleLW 11Vincent ClercFH 10David SkrelaSH 9 Jean-Baptiste ÉlissaldeN8 8 Julien BonnaireOF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Thierry DusautoirRL 5 Arnaud MélaLL 4 Lionel NalletTP 3 Nicolas MasHK 2 Dimitri SzarzewskiLP 1 Lionel FaureReplacements:HK 16William ServatPR 17Julien BrugnautLK 18Loïc JacquetN8 19Louis PicamolesSH 20Morgan ParraFH 21François Trinh-DucCE 22Anthony FlochCoach:Marc Lièvremont FB 15Girvan DempseyRW 14Geordan MurphyOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Andrew TrimbleLW 11Rob KearneyFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Eoin ReddanN8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Denis LeamyRL 5 Malcolm O'KellyLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Bernard JackmanLP 1 Marcus HoranReplacements:HK 16Rory BestPR 17Tony BuckleyLK 18Mick O'DriscollFL 19Simon EasterbySH 20Peter StringerFH 21Paddy WallaceWG 22Shane HorganCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15David BortolussiRW 14Kaine RobertsonOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Ezio GalonFH 10Andrea MasiSH 9 Pietro TravagliN8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Josh SoleRL 5 Carlo Del FavaLL 4 Santiago DellapèTP 3 Martín CastrogiovanniHK 2 Leonardo GhiraldiniLP 1 Andrea Lo CiceroReplacements:HK 16Carlo FestucciaPR 17Salvatore PeruginiPR 18Carlos NietoLK 19Alessandro ZanniSH 20Simon PiconeFB 21Andrea MarcatoWG 22Alberto SgarbiCoach:Nick Mallett FB 15Iain BalshawRW 14Paul SackeyOC 13Jamie NoonIC 12Toby FloodLW 11Lesley VainikoloFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Andy GomarsallN8 8 Nick EasterOF 7 Michael LipmanBF 6 James HaskellRL 5 Steve BorthwickLL 4 Simon ShawTP 3 Matt StevensHK 2 Mark ReganLP 1 Tim PayneReplacements:HK 16Lee MearsPR 17Jason HobsonLK 18Ben KayN8 19Luke NarrawaySH 20Richard WigglesworthFH 21Danny CiprianiCE 22Mathew TaitCoach:Brian Ashton
Round 3
FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Mark JonesOC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Gavin HensonLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Dwayne PeelN8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Jonathan ThomasRL 5 Ian EvansLL 4 Ian GoughTP 3 Rhys M. ThomasHK 2 Matthew ReesLP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Huw BennettPR 17Duncan JonesLK 18Deiniol JonesN8 19Gareth DelveSH 20Mike PhillipsFH 21James HookCE 22Sonny ParkerCoach:Warren Gatland FB 15Andrea MarcatoRW 14Alberto SgarbiOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Ezio GalonFH 10Andrea MasiSH 9 Simon PiconeN8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Josh SoleRL 5 Carlo Del FavaLL 4 Santiago DellapèTP 3 Martín CastrogiovanniHK 2 Leonardo GhiraldiniLP 1 Salvatore PeruginiReplacements:HK 16Carlo FestucciaPR 17Andrea Lo CiceroLK 18Marco BortolamiFL 19Alessandro ZanniSH 20Pietro TravagliFH 21Paolo BusoCE 22Enrico PatrizioCoach:Nick Mallett
FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Tommy BoweOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Andrew TrimbleLW 11Rob KearneyFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Eoin ReddanN8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Denis LeamyRL 5 Mick O'DriscollLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Bernard JackmanLP 1 Marcus HoranReplacements:HK 16Rory BestPR 17Tony BuckleyLK 18Paul O'ConnellFL 19Simon EasterbySH 20Peter StringerFH 21Paddy WallaceWG 22Shane HorganCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Rory LamontOC 13Simon WebsterIC 12Andrew HendersonLW 11Nikki WalkerFH 10Chris PatersonSH 9 Mike Blair (c)N8 8 Kelly BrownOF 7 Ally HoggBF 6 Alasdair StrokoschRL 5 Scott MacLeodLL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Ross FordLP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Fergus ThomsonPR 17Gavin KerrLK 18Jim HamiltonFL 19Ross RennieSH 20Chris CusiterFH 21Dan ParksCE 22Nick De LucaCoach:Frank Hadden Notes Ireland won the Centenary Quaich.
FB 15Cédric HeymansRW 14Aurélien RougerieOC 13David MartyIC 12Damien TrailleLW 11Vincent ClercFH 10François Trinh-DucSH 9 Morgan ParraN8 8 Louis PicamolesOF 7 Thierry DusautoirBF 6 Julien BonnaireRL 5 Lionel NalletLL 4 Pascal PapéTP 3 Nicolas MasHK 2 Dimitri SzarzewskiLP 1 Lionel FaureReplacements:HK 16William ServatPR 17Jean-Baptiste PouxLK 18Jérôme ThionFL 19Fulgence OuedraogoSH 20Dimitri YachviliFH 21David SkrelaFB 22Anthony FlochCoach:Marc Lièvremont FB 15Iain BalshawRW 14Paul SackeyOC 13Jamie NoonIC 12Toby FloodLW 11Lesley VainikoloFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Richard WigglesworthN8 8 Nick EasterOF 7 Michael LipmanBF 6 James HaskellRL 5 Steve BorthwickLL 4 Simon ShawTP 3 Phil VickeryHK 2 Mark ReganLP 1 Andrew SheridanReplacements:HK 16Lee MearsPR 17Matt StevensLK 18Ben KayFL 19Tom CroftSH 20Paul HodgsonFH 21Danny CiprianiCE 22Mathew TaitCoach:Brian Ashton Notes: Jonny Wilkinson drew level with Wales' Neil Jenkins as the all-time leading point scorer in international rugby history with 1,090 career points (including points scored for the British and Irish Lions). This result left Wales as the only remaining team that could win the Grand Slam. This was England's first away win over France in the Six Nations since their 15–9 win in 2000.
Round 4
FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Shane HorganOC 13Brian O'Driscoll (c)IC 12Andrew TrimbleLW 11Tommy BoweFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Eoin ReddanN8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Denis LeamyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Rory BestLP 1 Marcus HoranReplacements:HK 16Bernard JackmanPR 17Tony BuckleyLK 18Mick O'DriscollFL 19Simon EasterbySH 20Peter StringerFH 21Paddy WallaceCE 22Luke FitzgeraldCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Mark JonesOC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Gavin HensonLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Mike PhillipsN8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Jonathan ThomasRL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Ian GoughTP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Matthew ReesLP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Gareth WilliamsPR 17Duncan JonesLK 18Ian EvansN8 19Gareth DelveSH 20Dwayne PeelFH 21James HookCE 22Sonny ParkerCoach:Warren Gatland Notes: Shane Williams scored his 40th international try for Wales, drawing him level with Gareth Thomas as Wales' all-time top try scorer. Wales won the Triple Crown.
FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Rory LamontOC 13Simon WebsterIC 12Graeme MorrisonLW 11Nikki WalkerFH 10Chris PatersonSH 9 Mike Blair (c)N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Ally HoggBF 6 Alasdair StrokoschRL 5 Scott MacLeodLL 4 Nathan HinesTP 3 Euan MurrayHK 2 Ross FordLP 1 Allan JacobsenReplacements:HK 16Fergus ThomsonPR 17Alasdair DickinsonPR 18Craig SmithFL 19Jason WhiteFL 20Kelly BrownSH 21Rory LawsonFH 22Dan ParksCoach:Frank Hadden FB 15Iain BalshawRW 14Paul SackeyOC 13Jamie NoonIC 12Toby FloodLW 11Lesley VainikoloFH 10Jonny WilkinsonSH 9 Richard WigglesworthN8 8 Nick EasterOF 7 Michael LipmanBF 6 Tom CroftRL 5 Steve BorthwickLL 4 Simon ShawTP 3 Phil Vickery (c)HK 2 Lee MearsLP 1 Andrew SheridanReplacements:HK 16George ChuterPR 17Matt StevensLK 18Ben KayN8 19Luke NarrawaySH 20Paul HodgsonCE 21Mathew TaitFH 22Charlie HodgsonCoach:Brian Ashton Notes England's Jonny Wilkinson became the all-time scoring leader in international rugby history, surpassing Wales' Neil Jenkins. Scotland won the Calcutta Cup.