The 2018 Six Nations Championship (known as the Natwest 6 Nations for sponsorship reasons) was the 19th Six Nations Championship, the annual international rugby union tournament for the six major European rugby union nations.
The championship was contested by France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales and defending champions England. Including the competition's previous iterations as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship, it was the 124th edition of the tournament.
The Championship was won by Ireland on 10 March 2018, with their four wins (three with try bonus points) from the first four matches sufficient to place them out of reach of the other participants ahead of the final round. This was the third tournament running where the championship and Wooden Spoon had been decided by the end of round four. After a 24–15 victory against England on the final day, Ireland secured a Grand Slam, their third ever, alongside a Triple Crown.
Participants NationStadiumHead coachCaptainHome stadiumCapacityLocationTwickenham Stadium82,000London Eddie JonesDylan Hartley 1Stade de France81,338Saint-Denis Jacques BrunelGuilhem Guirado 2Stade Vélodrome67,394MarseilleAviva Stadium51,700Dublin Joe SchmidtRory BestStadio Olimpico73,261Rome Conor O'SheaSergio ParisseMurrayfield Stadium67,144Edinburgh Gregor TownsendJohn BarclayMillennium Stadium74,500Cardiff Warren GatlandAlun Wyn Jones 3 1 Dylan Hartley was ruled out of round 4 due to injury, and Owen Farrell captained England in his absence. 2 Guilhem Guirado was ruled out of round 5 due to injury, and Mathieu Bastareaud captained France in his absence. 3 Alun Wyn Jones was dropped from the match-day team to play Italy in round 4, and Taulupe Faletau captained Wales in his absence.
Squads
Table
Table ranking rules Four match points are awarded for a win. Two match points are awarded for a draw. A bonus match point is awarded to a team that scores four or more tries in a match or loses a match by seven points or fewer. If a team scores four tries in a match and loses by seven points or fewer, they are awarded both bonus points. Three bonus match points are awarded to a team that wins all five of their matches (known as a Grand Slam). This ensures that a Grand Slam winning team always ranks over a team who won four matches in which they also were awarded four try bonus points and were also awarded two bonus points in the match that they lost. Tiebreakers – If two or more teams be tied on match points, the team with the better points difference (points scored less points conceded) is ranked higher. If the above tiebreaker fails to separate tied teams, the team that scored the higher number of total tries in their matches is ranked higher. If two or more teams remain tied for first place at the end of the championship after applying the above tiebreakers, the title is shared between them.
Fixtures The fixtures were announced on 16 May 2017. France hosted games in more than one venue, with their Friday night game against Italy taking place at the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille.
Round 1
FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Josh AdamsOC 13Scott Williams IC 12Hadleigh ParkesLW 11Steff EvansFH 10Rhys Patchell SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 Ross Moriarty OF 7 Josh NavidiBF 6 Aaron ShinglerRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)LL 4 Cory Hill TP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Ken Owens LP 1 Rob Evans Replacements:HK 16Elliot Dee PR 17Wyn Jones PR 18Tomas Francis LK 19Bradley Davies FL 20Justin Tipuric SH 21Aled Davies FH 22Gareth Anscombe CE 23Owen Watkin Coach:Warren Gatland FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Tommy SeymourOC 13Chris Harris IC 12Huw JonesLW 11Byron McGuigan FH 10Finn RussellSH 9 Ali Price N8 8 Cornell du Preez OF 7 Hamish WatsonBF 6 John Barclay (c)RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Ben Toolis TP 3 Jon Welsh HK 2 Stuart McInally LP 1 Gordon Reid Replacements:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Jamie Bhatti PR 18Murray McCallum LK 19Grant Gilchrist N8 20Ryan Wilson SH 21Greig Laidlaw FH 22Peter Horne WG 23Sean Maitland Coach:Gregor Townsend Man of the Match: Aaron Shingler (Wales)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Matthew Carley (England) Television match official: David Grashoff (England) Notes: Josh Adams (Wales) and Murray McCallum (Scotland) made their international debuts. This was Wales' first try bonus point in the Six Nations.
FB 15Geoffrey PalisRW 14Teddy ThomasOC 13Rémi LameratIC 12Henry ChavancyLW 11Virimi VakatawaFH 10Matthieu Jalibert SH 9 Maxime Machenaud N8 8 Kevin GourdonOF 7 Yacouba CamaraBF 6 Wenceslas Lauret RL 5 Sébastien VahaamahinaLL 4 Arthur Iturria TP 3 Rabah Slimani HK 2 Guilhem Guirado (c) LP 1 Jefferson Poirot Replacements:HK 16Adrien Pélissié PR 17Dany Priso PR 18Cedate Gomes Sa LK 19Paul Gabrillagues N8 20Marco Tauleigne SH 21Antoine Dupont FH 22Anthony Belleau WG 23Benjamin FallCoach:Jacques Brunel FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Keith EarlsOC 13Robbie HenshawIC 12Bundee AkiLW 11Jacob Stockdale FH 10Johnny SextonSH 9 Conor MurrayN8 8 CJ StanderOF 7 Josh van der Flier BF 6 Peter O'MahonyRL 5 James Ryan LL 4 Iain HendersonTP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rory Best (c) LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Jack McGrath PR 18John Ryan LK 19Devin Toner FL 20Dan Leavy SH 21Luke McGrathFH 22Joey CarberyWG 23Fergus McFadden Coach:Joe Schmidt Man of the Match: Guilhem Guirado (France)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Paul Williams (New Zealand) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England) Notes: Matthieu Jalibert, Geoffrey Palis, Adrien Pélissié, Dany Priso, Cedate Gomes Sa and Marco Tauleigne (all France) made their international debuts.
FB 15Matteo MinozziRW 14Tommaso BenvenutiOC 13Tommaso Boni IC 12Tommaso Castello LW 11Mattia BelliniFH 10Tommaso Allan SH 9 Marcello Violi N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Renato Giammarioli BF 6 Sebastian NegriRL 5 Dean Budd LL 4 Alessandro ZanniTP 3 Simone Ferrari HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Andrea Lovotti Replacements:HK 16Luca Bigi PR 17Nicola Quaglio PR 18Tiziano Pasquali LK 19George Biagi FL 20Maxime Mbanda SH 21Edoardo Gori FH 22Carlo Canna FB 23Jayden Hayward Coach:Conor O'Shea FB 15Mike Brown RW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Ben Te'o IC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Jonny MayFH 10George FordSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Sam SimmondsOF 7 Chris Robshaw BF 6 Courtney Lawes RL 5 Maro ItojeLL 4 Joe LaunchburyTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c) LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Jamie George PR 17Alec Hepburn PR 18Harry Williams LK 19George Kruis FL 20Sam Underhill SH 21Danny Care CE 22Jonathan Joseph WG 23Jack Nowell Coach:Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Anthony Watson (England)
Touch judges: Jérôme Garcès (France) Nic Berry (Australia) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: Alessandro Zanni (Italy) became the seventh Italian international to earn his 100th test cap. Alec Hepburn (England) made his international debut.
Round 2
FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Keith EarlsOC 13Robbie Henshaw IC 12Bundee AkiLW 11Jacob StockdaleFH 10Johnny Sexton SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jack Conan OF 7 Dan LeavyBF 6 Peter O'MahonyRL 5 Devin TonerLL 4 Iain Henderson TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rory Best (c) LP 1 Jack McGrath Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Cian Healy PR 18Andrew Porter LK 19Quinn Roux N8 20CJ Stander SH 21Kieran Marmion FH 22Joey Carbery FB 23Jordan Larmour Coach:Joe Schmidt FB 15Matteo MinozziRW 14Tommaso BenvenutiOC 13Tommaso Boni IC 12Tommaso CastelloLW 11Mattia BelliniFH 10Tommaso AllanSH 9 Marcello Violi N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Braam Steyn BF 6 Sebastian Negri RL 5 Dean BuddLL 4 Alessandro ZanniTP 3 Simone Ferrari HK 2 Luca Bigi LP 1 Nicola Quaglio Replacements:HK 16Leonardo Ghiraldini PR 17Andrea Lovotti PR 18Tiziano Pasquali LK 19Federico Ruzza FL 20Maxime Mbanda SH 21Edoardo Gori FH 22Carlo CannaFB 23Jayden Hayward Coach:Conor O'Shea Man of the Match: Conor Murray (Ireland)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Matthew Carley (England) Television match official: David Grashoff (England) Notes: Jordan Larmour (Ireland) made his international debut. This was Ireland's 300th Test win.
FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Anthony Watson OC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Jonny MayFH 10George Ford SH 9 Danny Care N8 8 Sam Simmonds OF 7 Chris RobshawBF 6 Courtney LawesRL 5 Maro ItojeLL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c) LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Jamie George PR 17Alec Hepburn PR 18Harry Williams LK 19George Kruis FL 20Sam Underhill SH 21Richard Wigglesworth CE 22Ben Te'o WG 23Jack Nowell Coach:Eddie Jones FB 15Gareth AnscombeRW 14Josh AdamsOC 13Scott WilliamsIC 12Hadleigh ParkesLW 11Steff EvansFH 10Rhys Patchell SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 Ross Moriarty OF 7 Josh NavidiBF 6 Aaron ShinglerRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)LL 4 Cory Hill TP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Ken Owens LP 1 Rob Evans Replacements:HK 16Elliot Dee PR 17Wyn Jones PR 18Tomas Francis LK 19Bradley Davies FL 20Justin Tipuric SH 21Aled Davies CE 22Owen WatkinWG 23George North Coach:Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Mike Brown (England)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Nic Berry (Australia) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Notes: With this win, England won their 15th consecutive Six Nations home game, breaking their previous record of 14 between 1998 and 2003. Leigh Halfpenny was originally named in the starting XV but fell ill the night before the match. Gareth Anscombe replaced him in the starting XV, and centre Owen Watkin came onto the bench. This was the lowest aggregate score in a Six Nations match since England beat Ireland 12–6 in 2013.
FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Tommy SeymourOC 13Huw JonesIC 12Peter HorneLW 11Sean MaitlandFH 10Finn Russell SH 9 Greig LaidlawN8 8 Ryan WilsonOF 7 Hamish WatsonBF 6 John Barclay (c) RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Grant Gilchrist TP 3 Simon BerghanHK 2 Stuart McInallyLP 1 Gordon Reid Replacements:HK 16Scott LawsonPR 17Jamie Bhatti PR 18Jon WelshLK 19Ben Toolis N8 20David Denton SH 21Ali Price CE 22Chris HarrisFB 23Blair KinghornCoach:Gregor Townsend FB 15Geoffrey PalisRW 14Teddy ThomasOC 13Rémi LameratIC 12Geoffrey DoumayrouLW 11Virimi Vakatawa FH 10Lionel Beauxis SH 9 Maxime Machenaud N8 8 Marco Tauleigne OF 7 Yacouba CamaraBF 6 Wenceslas LauretRL 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina LL 4 Arthur IturriaTP 3 Rabah Slimani HK 2 Guilhem Guirado (c) LP 1 Jefferson Poirot Replacements:HK 16Adrien Pélissié PR 17Eddy Ben Arous PR 18Cedate Gomes Sa LK 19Paul Gabrillagues N8 20Louis Picamoles SH 21Baptiste Serin FH 22Anthony Belleau WG 23Benjamin Fall Coach:Jacques Brunel Man of the Match: Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Paul Williams (New Zealand) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England) Notes: Scotland claim the first ever Auld Alliance Trophy.
Round 3
FB 15Hugo BonnevalRW 14Benjamin FallOC 13Mathieu BastareaudIC 12Geoffrey Doumayrou LW 11Rémy GrossoFH 10Lionel Beauxis SH 9 Maxime Machenaud N8 8 Marco TauleigneOF 7 Yacouba Camara BF 6 Wenceslas LauretRL 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina LL 4 Paul GabrillaguesTP 3 Rabah Slimani HK 2 Guilhem Guirado (c) LP 1 Jefferson Poirot Replacements:HK 16Adrien Pélissié PR 17Dany Priso PR 18Cedate Gomes Sa LK 19Romain Taofifénua N8 20Kélian Galletier SH 21Baptiste Couilloud FH 22François Trinh-Duc CE 23Gaël Fickou Coach:Jacques Brunel FB 15Matteo MinozziRW 14Tommaso BenvenutiOC 13Tommaso Boni IC 12Tommaso CastelloLW 11Mattia BelliniFH 10Tommaso Allan SH 9 Marcello VioliN8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Maxime MbandaBF 6 Sebastian Negri RL 5 Dean Budd LL 4 Alessandro ZanniTP 3 Simone Ferrari HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Andrea Lovotti Replacements:HK 16Luca Bigi PR 17Nicola Quaglio PR 18Tiziano Pasquali LK 19George Biagi LK 20Federico Ruzza SH 21Edoardo Gori FH 22Carlo Canna FB 23Jayden Hayward Coach:Conor O'Shea Man of the Match: Yacouba Camara (France)
Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Luke Pearce (England) Television match official: David Grashoff (England) Notes: Baptiste Couilloud (France) made his international debut. France retain the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy.