The 2005 Six Nations Championship was the sixth Six Nations Championship played since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy. Including the Home Nations and Five Nations Championships, this was the 111th season of the tournament.
Wales won the Grand Slam, their first since 1978, and in doing so became the first team to win a Grand Slam playing more games away than at home.
Participants NationVenueCityHead coachCaptainTwickenham StadiumLondon Andy RobinsonJason Robinson/Martin CorryStade de FranceSaint-Denis Bernard LaporteFabien PelousLansdowne RoadDublin Eddie O'SullivanBrian O'Driscoll/Paul O'ConnellStadio FlaminioRome John KirwanMarco BortolamiMurrayfield StadiumEdinburgh Matt WilliamsGordon BullochMillennium StadiumCardiff Mike RuddockGareth Thomas
Squads
Table
Results
Round 1
FB 15Pépito ElhorgaRW 14Aurélien Rougerie OC 13Brian LiebenbergIC 12Damien TrailleLW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10Yann Delaigue SH 9 Pierre MignoniN8 8 Patrick Tabacco OF 7 Sébastien ChabalBF 6 Julien BonnaireRL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien PelousTP 3 Pieter de Villiers HK 2 William Servat LP 1 Sylvain MarconnetSubstitutions:HK 16Sébastien Bruno PR 17Olivier Milloud LK 18Grégory Lamboley FL 19Yannick Nyanga SH 20Dimitri Yachvili FH 21Frédéric Michalak CE 22Ludovic Valbon Coach:Bernard Laporte FB 15Chris PatersonRW 14Simon DanielliOC 13Andy CraigIC 12Hugo SouthwellLW 11Sean LamontFH 10Dan ParksSH 9 Chris CusiterN8 8 Ally HoggOF 7 Jon PetrieBF 6 Jason WhiteRL 5 Scott Murray LL 4 Stuart Grimes TP 3 Gavin Kerr HK 2 Gordon BullochLP 1 Tom Smith Substitutions:HK 16Robbie RussellPR 17Bruce Douglas LK 18Nathan Hines FL 19Jon Dunbar SH 20Mike BlairFH 21Gordon RossFB 22Ben HinshelwoodCoach:Matt Williams Notes: This was Scotland's narrowest defeat at Stade de France in the Championship until 2017. This was Yann Delaigue's first match in the Championship since 1995.
FB 15Gareth Thomas RW 14Hal Luscombe OC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Gavin HensonLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Michael OwenOF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Dafydd Jones RL 5 Robert SidoliLL 4 Brent Cockbain TP 3 Adam Jones HK 2 Mefin DaviesLP 1 Gethin JenkinsSubstitutions:HK 16Robin McBrydePR 17John Yapp FL 18Jonathan Thomas N8 19Ryan Jones SH 20Gareth Cooper FH 21Ceri SweeneyFB 22Kevin Morgan Coach:Mike Ruddock FB 15Jason RobinsonRW 14Mark CuetoOC 13Mathew Tait IC 12Jamie NoonLW 11Josh LewseyFH 10Charlie HodgsonSH 9 Matt Dawson N8 8 Joe Worsley OF 7 Andy HazellBF 6 Chris JonesRL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Danny Grewcock TP 3 Julian White HK 2 Steve ThompsonLP 1 Graham Rowntree Substitutions:HK 16Andy TitterrellPR 17Phil Vickery LK 18Steve Borthwick N8 19James Forrester SH 20Harry Ellis FH 21Olly Barkley WG 22Ben CohenCoach:Andy Robinson Notes: This was Wales' first victory against England since 1999. This was England's first defeat in the opening game in the Six Nations. This was England's first defeat in the opening game in the Championship since 1998. This was England's first defeat at Millennium Stadium. Shane Williams scored his first try against England.
FB 15Roland de MarignyRW 14Mirco BergamascoOC 13Gonzalo Canale IC 12Andrea MasiLW 11Valerio BernabóFH 10Luciano OrqueraSH 9 Alessandro TronconN8 8 Sergio Parisse OF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Aaron PersicoRL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Martín CastrogiovanniHK 2 Fabio Ongaro LP 1 Andrea Lo Cicero Substitutions:HK 16Giorgio Intoppa PR 17Salvatore Perugini LK 18Carlo Del Fava N8 19David Dal Maso SH 20Paul GriffenCE 21Walter PozzebonFB 22Kaine Robertson Coach:John Kirwan FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Shane HorganOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Gordon D'Arcy LW 11Denis HickieFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Anthony Foley OF 7 Denis LeamyBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Malcolm O'KellyTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Shane Byrne LP 1 Reggie Corrigan Substitutions:HK 16Frankie Sheahan PR 17Marcus Horan LK 18Donncha O'Callaghan N8 19Eric Miller SH 20Guy EasterbyFH 21David HumphreysFB 22Girvan Dempsey Coach:Eddie O'Sullivan
Round 2
FB 15Roland de Marigny RW 14Mirco Bergamasco OC 13Walter PozzebonIC 12Andrea Masi LW 11Ludovico NitogliaFH 10Luciano OrqueraSH 9 Alessandro Troncon N8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 Mauro Bergamasco BF 6 Aaron PersicoRL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Martín Castrogiovanni HK 2 Fabio Ongaro LP 1 Andrea Lo CiceroSubstitutions:HK 16Giorgio Intoppa PR 17Salvatore Perugini LK 18Carlo Del Fava FL 19David Dal Maso SH 20Paul Griffen CE 21Matteo Barbini FB 22Kaine Robertson Coach:John Kirwan FB 15Gareth ThomasRW 14Hal Luscombe OC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Gavin HensonLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen Jones SH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Michael OwenOF 7 Martyn Williams BF 6 Jonathan ThomasRL 5 Robert SidoliLL 4 Brent Cockbain TP 3 Adam Jones HK 2 Mefin Davies LP 1 Gethin JenkinsSubstitutions:HK 16Robin McBryde PR 17John Yapp LK 18Ian Gough FL 19Robin Sowden-Taylor SH 20Gareth Cooper FH 21Ceri Sweeney FB 22Kevin Morgan Coach:Mike Ruddock Notes: This was Italy's biggest defeat against Wales at Stadio Flaminio.
FB 15Chris PatersonRW 14Simon DanielliOC 13Andy CraigIC 12Hugo SouthwellLW 11Sean LamontFH 10Dan ParksSH 9 Chris Cusiter N8 8 Ally HoggOF 7 Jon PetrieBF 6 Jason WhiteRL 5 Scott Murray LL 4 Stuart GrimesTP 3 Gavin Kerr HK 2 Gordon BullochLP 1 Tom SmithSubstitutions:HK 16Robbie RussellPR 17Bruce Douglas LK 18Nathan Hines FL 19Jon DunbarSH 20Mike Blair FH 21Gordon RossFB 22Ben HinshelwoodCoach:Matt Williams FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Girvan DempseyOC 13Shane HorganIC 12Kevin MaggsLW 11Denis Hickie FH 10Ronan O'Gara SH 9 Peter Stringer N8 8 Anthony FoleyOF 7 Johnny O'Connor BF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Malcolm O'Kelly TP 3 John HayesHK 2 Shane Byrne LP 1 Reggie Corrigan Substitutions:HK 16Frankie Sheahan PR 17Marcus Horan LK 18Donncha O'Callaghan N8 19Eric Miller SH 20Guy Easterby FH 21David Humphreys FB 22Gavin Duffy Coach:Eddie O'Sullivan
FB 15Jason RobinsonRW 14Mark Cueto OC 13Jamie NoonIC 12Olly BarkleyLW 11Josh LewseyFH 10Charlie HodgsonSH 9 Harry Ellis N8 8 Martin Corry OF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Joe WorsleyRL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Danny GrewcockTP 3 Phil VickeryHK 2 Steve ThompsonLP 1 Graham RowntreeSubstitutions:HK 16Andy TitterrellPR 17Andrew SheridanLK 18Steve BorthwickFL 19Andy Hazell SH 20Matt Dawson CE 21Henry PaulWG 22Ben Cohen Coach:Andy Robinson FB 15Pépito ElhorgaRW 14Jimmy Marlu OC 13Brian LiebenbergIC 12Damien TrailleLW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10Yann Delaigue SH 9 Dimitri YachviliN8 8 Julien BonnaireOF 7 Sébastien Chabal BF 6 Serge BetsenRL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien Pelous TP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 Sébastien Bruno LP 1 Sylvain MarconnetSubstitutions:HK 16William Servat PR 17Olivier Milloud LK 18Grégory Lamboley FL 19Yannick Nyanga SH 20Pierre MignoniFH 21Frédéric Michalak CE 22Jean-Philippe Grandclaude Coach:Bernard Laporte Notes: This was England's first defeat against France at Twickenham Stadium since 1997. This is England's narrowest defeat in the Championship. Dimitri Yachvili scored 18 points beating Gérald Merceron's 14 points in 2001. This was the record against England until 2016.
Round 3
FB 15Chris PatersonRW 14Simon WebsterOC 13Andy CraigIC 12Hugo Southwell LW 11Sean LamontFH 10Dan Parks SH 9 Chris Cusiter N8 8 Ally HoggOF 7 Jon PetrieBF 6 Simon Taylor RL 5 Scott Murray LL 4 Stuart GrimesTP 3 Gavin Kerr HK 2 Gordon Bulloch LP 1 Tom SmithSubstitutions:HK 16Robbie Russell PR 17Bruce Douglas LK 18Nathan Hines FL 19Jon Dunbar SH 20Mike Blair FH 21Gordon Ross FB 22Ben Hinshelwood Coach:Matt Williams FB 15Roberto PedrazziRW 14Mirco Bergamasco OC 13Andrea MasiIC 12Cristian Stoica LW 11Ludovico NitogliaFH 10Luciano Orquera SH 9 Alessandro TronconN8 8 Giorgio IntoppaOF 7 David Dal MasoBF 6 Aaron PersicoRL 5 Silvio OrlandoLL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Salvatore Perugini HK 2 Fabio OngaroLP 1 Andrea Lo CiceroSubstitutions:LK 16Sergio ParissePR 17Martín Castrogiovanni LK 18Carlo Del Fava FL 19Marco BortolamiSH 20Paul Griffen CE 21Roland de Marigny FB 22Kaine Robertson Coach:John Kirwan
FB 15Julien LaharragueRW 14Aurélien RougerieOC 13Yannick JauzionIC 12Damien Traille LW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10Yann Delaigue SH 9 Dimitri YachviliN8 8 Julien Bonnaire OF 7 Yannick NyangaBF 6 Serge BetsenRL 5 Jérôme Thion LL 4 Fabien PelousTP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 Sébastien Bruno LP 1 Sylvain MarconnetSubstitutions:HK 16William Servat PR 17Olivier Milloud LK 18Grégory Lamboley N8 19Imanol Harinordoquy SH 20Pierre MignoniFH 21Frédéric Michalak CE 22Jean-Philippe Grandclaude Coach:Bernard Laporte FB 15Gareth Thomas RW 14Kevin Morgan OC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Gavin HensonLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Michael OwenOF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Ryan Jones RL 5 Robert SidoliLL 4 Brent CockbainTP 3 Adam Jones HK 2 Mefin Davies LP 1 Gethin JenkinsSubstitutions:HK 16Robin McBryde PR 17John Yapp FL 18Jonathan Thomas FL 19Robin Sowden-TaylorSH 20Gareth Cooper FH 21Ceri Sweeney FB 22Rhys Williams Coach:Mike Ruddock
FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Girvan DempseyOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Shane HorganLW 11Denis HickieFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Anthony FoleyOF 7 Johnny O'ConnorBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Malcolm O'KellyTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Shane ByrneLP 1 Reggie Corrigan Substitutions:HK 16Frankie SheahanPR 17Marcus Horan LK 18Donncha O'CallaghanN8 19Eric MillerSH 20Guy EasterbyFH 21David HumphreysCE 22Kevin MaggsCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Jason RobinsonRW 14Mark CuetoOC 13Jamie NoonIC 12Olly BarkleyLW 11Josh LewseyFH 10Charlie HodgsonSH 9 Harry Ellis N8 8 Martin CorryOF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Joe WorsleyRL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Danny GrewcockTP 3 Matt StevensHK 2 Steve ThompsonLP 1 Graham RowntreeSubstitutions:HK 16Andy TitterrellPR 17Duncan BellLK 18Steve BorthwickFL 19Andy HazellSH 20Matt Dawson FH 21Andy GoodeCE 22Ollie SmithCoach:Andy Robinson Notes: This is the first time England lost the first three games in the Championship since 1987.
Round 4
FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Girvan DempseyOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Kevin MaggsLW 11Denis HickieFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Anthony FoleyOF 7 Johnny O'ConnorBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Malcolm O'KellyTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Shane ByrneLP 1 Reggie Corrigan Substitutions:HK 16Frankie SheahanPR 17Marcus Horan LK 18Donncha O'CallaghanN8 19Eric MillerSH 20Guy EasterbyFH 21David HumphreysFB 22Gavin DuffyCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Julien LaharragueRW 14Cédric HeymansOC 13Yannick JauzionIC 12Benoît BabyLW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10Yann Delaigue SH 9 Dimitri YachviliN8 8 Julien BonnaireOF 7 Yannick Nyanga BF 6 Serge BetsenRL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien Pelous TP 3 Nicolas Mas HK 2 Sébastien Bruno LP 1 Sylvain MarconnetSubstitutions:HK 16Dimitri Szarzewski PR 17Pieter de Villiers LK 18Pascal Papé LK 19Grégory Lamboley SH 20Pierre MignoniFH 21Frédéric Michalak CE 22David MartyCoach:Bernard Laporte
FB 15Iain BalshawRW 14Mark CuetoOC 13Jamie Noon IC 12Olly BarkleyLW 11Josh LewseyFH 10Charlie Hodgson SH 9 Harry Ellis N8 8 Martin CorryOF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Joe Worsley RL 5 Ben KayLL 4 Danny Grewcock TP 3 Matt StevensHK 2 Steve Thompson LP 1 Graham Rowntree Substitutions:HK 16Andy Titterrell PR 17Duncan Bell LK 18Steve Borthwick FL 19Andy Hazell SH 20Matt Dawson FH 21Andy Goode CE 22Ollie Smith Coach:Andy Robinson FB 15Gert PeensRW 14Silvio OrlandoOC 13Andrea MasiIC 12Matteo Barbini LW 11Ludovico NitogliaFH 10Luciano OrqueraSH 9 Alessandro TronconN8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 David Dal Maso BF 6 Aaron PersicoRL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Carlo Del Fava TP 3 Salvatore Perugini HK 2 Fabio Ongaro LP 1 Andrea Lo CiceroSubstitutions:HK 16Giorgio Intoppa PR 17Mario Savi PR 18Martín Castrogiovanni LK 19Santiago Dellapè FL 20Roberto Pedrazzi SH 21Paul GriffenCE 22Walter Pozzebon Coach:John Kirwan Notes: Mark Cueto scored the first hat-trick in the Six Nations since Jason Robinson against Italy in 2004.