Six Nations Rugby: A Guide to the Championship, the Venues and Getting Tickets
We get more questions about the Six Nations than any other tournament we cover. Some of it is practical — when do tickets go on sale, which fixtures are hardest to get, what's the difference between categories — and some of it is people just trying to figure out whether a trip to Paris or Dublin is worth building a weekend around. (It is.) This guide tries to answer most of those questions in one place.
If you're looking for the match schedule specifically, we keep a dedicated page updated each edition: Six Nations fixtures list with tickets.
What Is the Six Nations?
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union tournament between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Each nation plays the other five once per edition — a mix of home and away — across six weekends from late January to mid-March. It's been running in some form since 1883, making it older than most sporting competitions people would consider historic.
France joined in 1910, was expelled for a period, and returned in 1939. Italy came in for the 2000 edition, completing the current six-nation format. The fixture list rotates on a strict two-year cycle — so whoever you host this year, you visit next year. That predictability is actually useful: it means we can list tickets for future editions before the official schedule is confirmed.
The title goes to the team that accumulates the most points across five rounds. Win all five and you've achieved a Grand Slam — which happens rarely enough that it still matters enormously when it does. Beat all three other Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales only) and you've won the Triple Crown. Finish last and you get the Wooden Spoon, which is unofficial but nobody enjoys it.
The Six Venues
France — Stade de France, Paris
France play at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just north of central Paris. It holds around 81,000 and is used for both rugby and football. The ground itself is a straightforward modern stadium — what makes it is the city around it. Customers who've done a Paris Six Nations weekend tend to book again. France vs England in Paris is the fixture we get the most inquiries about, full stop.
Browse France Six Nations tickets
Ireland — Aviva Stadium, Dublin
The Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road holds around 51,000. It's compact and steep, which does something particular to the noise. Dublin on a Six Nations weekend is genuinely difficult to describe to someone who hasn't been — the city changes completely. Ireland home tickets are consistently the hardest we sell. Ireland vs England is usually the first fixture to go.
Browse Ireland Six Nations tickets
England — Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Twickenham holds over 82,000. England home days have a particular character — the surrounding streets and pubs fill up early, and the ground takes a while to warm up before it becomes very loud indeed. The allocation for general supporters is smaller than the capacity suggests, because a large share goes to RFU members and hospitality. That's why England home fixtures are harder to get than people expect.
Browse England Six Nations tickets
Scotland — Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Murrayfield holds 67,000 and has a reputation for atmosphere that we'd say is entirely deserved. Edinburgh as a city is consistently popular with customers who've been on a Six Nations trip — it's walkable, the pubs are central, and the stadium is close enough to make the day straightforward. Scotland vs Ireland is one we see repeat customers come back for.
Browse Scotland Six Nations tickets
Wales — Principality Stadium, Cardiff
The Principality Stadium has a retractable roof. When it's closed for night matches, the noise level is something else. Wales vs England is one of those fixtures that customers tend to book without needing much convincing. Cardiff is compact and easy to navigate on match day, which helps.
Browse Wales Six Nations tickets
Italy — Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Italy play at the Stadio Olimpico, built for the 1960 Olympics. The setting is impressive. Italy home tickets are generally more accessible in price than the northern venues, and Rome as a destination sells itself. Customers who've done the Rome trip tell us it was underrated — more affordable, less hectic, and the city obviously does its part.
Browse Italy Six Nations tickets
The Home and Away Rotation
The Six Nations runs on a strict two-year alternating cycle. Every team hosts every other team in alternate years. If you want to see England in Paris, you need to check which year France is home. Miss it and the next chance is two years later.
The upside is that the fixture list is entirely predictable in advance — which is why we can sell tickets for upcoming editions before official schedules are announced. We know who's hosting who. The dates come later. Full schedule: Six Nations fixtures page.
The Rivalries
England vs France — le Crunch — tends to attract the largest number of travelling supporters of any Six Nations fixture. Thousands of English fans make the Paris trip each time it comes around. Ireland vs England carries a different kind of weight. Scotland vs England is the Calcutta Cup, the oldest international rugby trophy still being contested. Wales vs England has a habit of deciding the championship in the final weeks.
Every match in the Six Nations has context. There isn't a fixture in the draw that doesn't mean something to both sets of supporters.
How to Buy Six Nations Tickets
Official Six Nations tickets go primarily to national union members, supporters' clubs and hospitality. That leaves most people looking elsewhere. Rugby Box Office offers tickets to all Six Nations fixtures across all six venues, with our RBO Guarantee on eligible bookings.
Browse all Six Nations tickets
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Six Nations Championship?
An annual international rugby union tournament between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Each nation plays the other five once per edition across six weekends from late January to mid-March. Roots going back to 1883.
When does the Six Nations take place?
Late January or early February to mid-March each year. The final weekend — when all three remaining matches are played on the same day — often decides the championship.
Which Six Nations venue is hardest to get tickets for?
Ireland at the Aviva and England at Twickenham are consistently the most difficult. The Aviva is smaller and demand is high every year. Twickenham has a large official member allocation, which means the public-facing inventory is smaller than the capacity suggests.
Can I buy Six Nations tickets before fixtures are officially announced?
Yes. Because the rotation is fixed, we list tickets for upcoming editions before the official schedule is confirmed. The RBO Guarantee covers you if the confirmed details don't suit your plans.
What is the Grand Slam?
Winning all five matches in a single Six Nations edition. Relatively rare, which is why it still carries weight when it happens.
Which Six Nations away trip is worth doing?
All of them have their reasons, but Rome is the one customers tell us they'd do again. Less hectic than Dublin or Paris during match week, more accessible on price, and the city does the rest. Dublin is the one everyone wants most on paper. Rome is the one that surprises people.