The 2021 Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd Six Nations Championship, the annual rugby union competition contested by the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales, and the 127th edition of the competition (including all its previous incarnations as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament started just three months after the end of the previous tournament and all matches took place without spectators.
England began the tournament as defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament on points difference, but only managed two wins in this tournament and finished fifth, ahead of only Italy. Wales, having finished fifth in 2020, entered the final weekend with four wins out of four and the possibility of a Grand Slam, but were beaten 32–30 by France in Saint-Denis following a late try.
France's third match, against Scotland, had to be rescheduled after an outbreak of COVID-19 in the French camp; the match was moved to the Friday night following the final round of matches, with France needing to win by at least 21 points with a try-scoring bonus point to overtake Wales at the top of the table. They led by three points going into the final minute, only for Scotland to score a try that gave them the win and Wales the title.
Participants NationStadiumHead coachCaptainHome stadiumCapacityLocationTwickenham Stadium82,000London Eddie JonesOwen FarrellStade de France81,338Saint-Denis Fabien GalthiéCharles OllivonAviva Stadium51,700Dublin Andy FarrellJohnny SextonStadio Olimpico73,261Rome Franco SmithLuca BigiMurrayfield Stadium67,144Edinburgh Gregor TownsendStuart HoggMillennium Stadium73,931Cardiff Wayne PivacAlun Wyn Jones
Squads
Table
Table ranking rules Four points are awarded for a win. Two points are awarded for a draw. Bonus points are awarded to any team that scores four or more tries in a match and/or loses by seven points or fewer. Three bonus points are awarded to a team that wins all five of their matches (a Grand Slam). This ensures that a team that wins a Grand Slam tops the table with at least 23 points, as another team could lose one match while winning two bonus points and win the other four matches while winning four bonus points for a maximum of 22 points. Tiebreakers If two or more teams are tied on table 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 scores the higher number of total tries (including penalty tries) in their matches is ranked higher. If two or more teams remain tied after applying the above tiebreakers then those teams will be placed at equal rank; if the tournament has concluded and more than one team is placed first then the title will be shared between them.
Fixtures The fixtures were announced on 20 March 2019. As with 2020, no matches were scheduled on a Friday night and the final match of the tournament was scheduled for peak time.
Round 1
FB 15Jacopo TrullaRW 14Luca SperandioOC 13Marco Zanon IC 12Ignacio BrexLW 11Monty IoaneFH 10Paolo Garbisi SH 9 Stephen VarneyN8 8 Michele LamaroOF 7 Johan Meyer BF 6 Sebastian Negri RL 5 David Sisi LL 4 Marco LazzaroniTP 3 Marco Riccioni HK 2 Luca Bigi (c) LP 1 Daniele Rimpelli Replacements:HK 16Gianmarco Lucchesi PR 17Danilo Fischetti PR 18Giosuè Zilocchi LK 19Niccolò Cannone LK 20Federico Ruzza FL 21Maxime Mbanda SH 22Guglielmo Palazzani FH 23Carlo Canna Coach:Franco Smith FB 15Brice DulinRW 14Teddy ThomasOC 13Arthur VincentIC 12Gaël Fickou LW 11Gabin VillièreFH 10Matthieu Jalibert SH 9 Antoine Dupont N8 8 Grégory Alldritt OF 7 Charles Ollivon (c)BF 6 Dylan CretinRL 5 Paul Willemse LL 4 Bernard Le RouxTP 3 Mohamed Haouas HK 2 Julien Marchand LP 1 Cyril Baille Replacements:HK 16Pierre Bourgarit PR 17Jean-Baptiste Gros PR 18Dorian Aldegheri LK 19Romain Taofifénua FL 20Anthony Jelonch SH 21Baptiste Serin FH 22Louis Carbonel WG 23Damian Penaud Coach:Fabien Galthié Player of the Match: Antoine Dupont (France)
Touch judges: Mike Adamson (Scotland) Christophe Ridley (England) Television match official: Karl Dickson (England) Notes: Ignacio Brex and Daniele Rimpelli (both Italy) made their international debuts. Cherif Traorè was originally due to start, but was replaced by Daniele Rimpelli after being injured in the warm-up. France retained the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy.
FB 15Elliot DalyRW 14Anthony Watson OC 13Henry SladeIC 12Ollie Lawrence LW 11Jonny MayFH 10Owen Farrell (c)SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Tom CurryBF 6 Mark Wilson RL 5 Jonny HillLL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Will Stuart HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Ellis Genge Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Beno Obano PR 18Harry Williams LK 19Courtney Lawes FL 20Ben Earl SH 21Dan Robson FH 22George Ford FB 23Max Malins Coach:Eddie Jones FB 15Stuart Hogg (c)RW 14Sean Maitland OC 13Chris HarrisIC 12Cameron RedpathLW 11Duhan van der MerweFH 10Finn Russell SH 9 Ali Price N8 8 Matt Fagerson OF 7 Hamish WatsonBF 6 Jamie Ritchie RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Scott CummingsTP 3 Zander Fagerson HK 2 George Turner LP 1 Rory Sutherland Replacements:HK 16Dave Cherry PR 17Oli Kebble PR 18WP Nel LK 19Richie Gray N8 20Gary Graham SH 21Scott Steele FH 22Jaco van der WaltCE 23Huw Jones Coach:Gregor Townsend Player of the Match: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Joy Neville (Ireland) Notes: Beno Obano (England), Dave Cherry and Cameron Redpath (both Scotland) made their international debuts. Scotland won the Calcutta Cup. Scotland won at Twickenham for the first time since 1983. Joy Neville became the first woman to perform television match official duties in the men's Six Nations.
FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Louis Rees-ZammitOC 13George NorthIC 12Johnny Williams LW 11Hallam Amos FH 10Dan BiggarSH 9 Tomos Williams N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)LL 4 Adam Beard TP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Ken OwensLP 1 Wyn Jones Replacements:HK 16Elliot DeePR 17Rhodri Jones PR 18Leon Brown LK 19Will Rowlands FL 20Josh Navidi SH 21Gareth Davies FH 22Callum Sheedy CE 23Nick Tompkins Coach:Wayne Pivac FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Keith Earls OC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Robbie Henshaw LW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 CJ StanderOF 7 Josh van der Flier BF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 James Ryan LL 4 Tadhg BeirneTP 3 Andrew Porter HK 2 Rob Herring LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Rónan Kelleher PR 17Dave Kilcoyne PR 18Tadhg Furlong LK 19Iain Henderson FL 20Will Connors SH 21Jamison Gibson-Park FH 22Billy Burns WG 23Jordan Larmour Coach:Andy Farrell Player of the Match: Wyn Jones (Wales)
Touch judges: Luke Pearce (England) Alexandre Ruiz (France) Television match official: Tom Foley (England) Notes: Peter O'Mahony became the first Ireland player to receive a red card in a Six Nations match.
Round 2
FB 15Elliot DalyRW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Henry SladeIC 12Owen Farrell (c)LW 11Jonny MayFH 10George FordSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy Vunipola OF 7 Tom CurryBF 6 Courtney Lawes RL 5 Jonny Hill LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Kyle Sinckler HK 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Jamie George PR 17Ellis Genge PR 18Will Stuart LK 19Charlie Ewels FL 20Ben Earl FL 21Jack Willis SH 22Dan Robson FB 23Max Malins Coach:Eddie Jones FB 15Jacopo TrullaRW 14Luca SperandioOC 13Ignacio Brex IC 12Carlo Canna LW 11Monty IoaneFH 10Paolo Garbisi SH 9 Stephen Varney N8 8 Michele Lamaro OF 7 Johan MeyerBF 6 Sebastian Negri RL 5 David Sisi LL 4 Marco LazzaroniTP 3 Marco Riccioni HK 2 Luca Bigi (c) LP 1 Andrea Lovotti Replacements:HK 16Gianmarco Lucchesi PR 17Danilo Fischetti PR 18Giosuè Zilocchi LK 19Niccolò Cannone LK 20Federico Ruzza SH 21Guglielmo Palazzani FH 22Tommaso Allan CE 23Federico Mori Coach:Franco Smith Player of the Match: Kyle Sinckler (England)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Ben Blain (Scotland) Television match official: Joy Neville (Ireland) Notes: Mike Adamson became the first Scottish referee to officiate a Six Nations match since Rob Dickson in 2002.
FB 15Stuart Hogg (c)RW 14Darcy Graham OC 13Chris HarrisIC 12James Lang LW 11Duhan van der MerweFH 10Finn RussellSH 9 Ali PriceN8 8 Matt FagersonOF 7 Hamish WatsonBF 6 Blade Thomson RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Scott CummingsTP 3 Zander Fagerson HK 2 George Turner LP 1 Rory Sutherland Replacements:HK 16Dave Cherry PR 17Oli Kebble PR 18WP Nel LK 19Richie Gray N8 20Gary Graham SH 21Scott SteeleFH 22Jaco van der WaltCE 23Huw Jones Coach:Gregor Townsend FB 15Leigh Halfpenny RW 14Louis Rees-ZammitOC 13Owen WatkinIC 12Nick TompkinsLW 11Liam WilliamsFH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Aaron Wainwright RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c) LL 4 Adam BeardTP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Ken Owens LP 1 Wyn Jones Replacements:HK 16Elliot Dee PR 17Rhodri Jones PR 18Leon Brown LK 19Will Rowlands FL 20James Botham SH 21Kieran Hardy FH 22Callum Sheedy CE 23Willis Halaholo Coach:Wayne Pivac Player of the Match: Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Karl Dickson (England) Notes: Willis Halaholo (Wales) made his international debut. Wales reclaimed the Doddie Weir Cup.
FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Keith Earls OC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Robbie HenshawLW 11James LoweFH 10Billy Burns SH 9 Jamison Gibson-ParkN8 8 CJ StanderOF 7 Josh van der Flier BF 6 Rhys RuddockRL 5 Iain Henderson (c) LL 4 Tadhg Beirne TP 3 Andrew Porter HK 2 Rob Herring LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Rónan Kelleher PR 17Ed Byrne PR 18Tadhg Furlong LK 19Ultan Dillane FL 20Will Connors SH 21Craig CaseyFH 22Ross Byrne WG 23Jordan Larmour Coach:Andy Farrell FB 15Brice DulinRW 14Damian Penaud OC 13Arthur VincentIC 12Gaël FickouLW 11Gabin VillièreFH 10Matthieu JalibertSH 9 Antoine DupontN8 8 Grégory AlldrittOF 7 Charles Ollivon (c)BF 6 Anthony Jelonch RL 5 Paul Willemse LL 4 Bernard Le Roux TP 3 Mohamed Haouas HK 2 Julien Marchand LP 1 Cyril Baille Replacements:HK 16Pierre Bourgarit PR 17Hassane Kolingar PR 18Uini Atonio LK 19Romain Taofifénua FL 20Dylan Cretin SH 21Baptiste SerinFB 22Anthony BouthierWG 23Teddy Thomas Coach:Fabien Galthié Player of the Match: Brice Dulin (France)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Christophe Ridley (England) Television match official: Tom Foley (England) Notes: This was the 100th meeting between Ireland and France. Ireland lost successive games at the start of a Six Nations campaign for the first time.
Round 3
FB 15Jacopo TrullaRW 14Luca Sperandio OC 13Ignacio Brex IC 12Carlo CannaLW 11Monty Ioane FH 10Paolo GarbisiSH 9 Callum Braley N8 8 Michele LamaroOF 7 Johan MeyerBF 6 Sebastian Negri RL 5 David SisiLL 4 Marco Lazzaroni TP 3 Marco Riccioni HK 2 Luca Bigi (c) LP 1 Andrea Lovotti Replacements:HK 16Gianmarco Lucchesi PR 17Cherif Traorè PR 18Giosuè Zilocchi LK 19Niccolò Cannone FL 20Maxime Mbanda SH 21Guglielmo Palazzani CE 22Federico Mori WG 23Mattia Bellini Coach:Franco Smith FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Jordan Larmour OC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Robbie Henshaw LW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c)SH 9 Jamison Gibson-Park N8 8 CJ Stander OF 7 Will ConnorsBF 6 Tadhg BeirneRL 5 James RyanLL 4 Iain Henderson TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rónan Kelleher LP 1 Dave Kilcoyne Replacements:HK 16Rob Herring PR 17Cian Healy PR 18Andrew Porter LK 19Ryan Baird N8 20Jack Conan SH 21Craig Casey FH 22Billy Burns WG 23Keith Earls Coach:Andy Farrell Player of the Match: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
Touch judges: Mike Adamson (Scotland) Craig Evans (Wales) Television match official: Romain Poite (France) Notes: Carlo Canna (Italy) and Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) earned their 50th test caps. Ryan Baird and Craig Casey (both Ireland) made their international debuts.