Global Scope: RBS 6 Nations Preview

The RBS Six Nations Championship is an annual rugby union tournament that is played internationally between England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, and Italy. When the match between Wales and Ireland begin on February 2nd, it will be the start of the tournament's 14th edition under its current format and name. However, the Six Nations is the successor to the Five Nations Championship and the Home Nations Championship. The Home Nations, played between England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales was the first ever international rugby union tournament. The tournament's format and name switched around from Home Nations Championship (1883 - 1909 and 1932 - 1939) to Five Nations Championship (1910 - 1931 and 1947 - 1999) until it reached its current format and name as The Six Nations Championship. Naturally, since the tournament is played by the top 6 European rugby powers, the winner is referred to as the European Champions.