The 2020 Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) was the 21st Six Nations Championship, the annual rugby union competition contested by the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales, and the 126th edition of the competition (including all the tournament's previous versions as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship). The tournament began on 1 February 2020, and was scheduled to conclude on 14 March; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Italy's penultimate match against Ireland and all three of the final weekend's matches were postponed with the intention of being rescheduled.[2][3] It was the first time any match had been postponed since 2012, and the first time more than one match had been delayed since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001.[4] In July 2020, a revised fixture schedule was announced, with the last four games being played in October.[5][6]
England became the first team to win the title despite losing their first game since Wales did so in 2013. It was England's 39th title overall (including shared titles), drawing them level with the record Wales set the previous year, and extended their record of 29 outright titles.[7]
A bonus 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 points are awarded to a team that wins all five of their matches (a Grand Slam). This ensures that a Grand Slam winning team will always top the table with a minimum of 23 points. A team that loses a single match could only achieve a maximum of 22 points – they could win four matches with four try bonus points and lose the remaining match but still win two bonus points while losing that game.
Tiebreakers:
If two or more teams are tied on table points, the team with the better match 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 in its 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 will be shared between them.
Fixtures
The fixtures were announced on 20 March 2019. For the first time since 2013, no matches were scheduled on a Friday night. The final match of the tournament also returned to peak time for the first time since 2016.[8]
Damian Penaud (France) was originally named in the starting line-up, but was ruled out with a calf injury. Vincent Rattez replaced him, while Arthur Vincent took Rattez's place on the bench.[14]
France won their opening Six Nations match for the first time since beating Italy 23–21 in 2016.[15] England lost their opening Six Nations match for the first time since 2014, which was also a loss to France in Paris.[citation needed]
England failed to score points in the first half for the first time in a Six Nations match since their 35–3 victory over Ireland in 1988.[16]
Alessandro Zanni (Italy) was originally named in the starting line-up, but suffered an injury in the pre-match warm-up and replaced by Dean Budd. Budd's place on the bench was taken by Jimmy Tuivaiti.[22]
Iain Henderson was named as a lock for Ireland, but withdrew from the team for family reasons; he was replaced by Devin Toner, whose place on the bench was taken by Ultan Dillane.
England secured their 26th Triple Crown, their first since 2016.[23]
Manu Tuilagi became the first England player to be sent off since Elliot Daly was dismissed against Argentina in 2016. It was also the first red card in a Six Nations match since Stuart Hogg was sent off for Scotland against Wales in 2014.[citation needed]
This was Scotland's 200th win in the Six Nations, including Home Nations and Five Nations tournaments.
Scotland won back-to-back matches against France, after also defeating them in August 2019, for the first time since 1964.
Camille Chat was named on the bench for France as hooker, but withdrew in the warm-up ahead of the game due to a hamstring injury, with Peato Mauvaka replacing him.
Wales made 19 changes to the team that was selected for the original fixture on 14 March, while Scotland made 15 changes.[27][28]
Justin Tipuric was named in the starting XV at openside flanker, but was ruled out ahead of kick-off. James Davies replaced him in the starting team with Aaron Wainwright joining the replacements.
Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) earned his 149th international cap (140 for Wales, 9 for the British and Irish Lions) to surpass New Zealand's Richie McCaw's record as the most capped international rugby player.
Scotland won three consecutive Six Nations matches for the first time since 1996.
This was Scotland's first win in Wales since 2002.
Wales finished in fifth place with one win, their worst performance since 2007.
Wales played a home game away from the Millennium Stadium for the first time since playing Romania at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham in 2003. It was also the first Welsh international played in Llanelli since 1998 and the first Six Nations game in Llanelli since 1893, making this the first international match played at Parc y Scarlets.
Cian Healy became the sixth Ireland player to earn his 100th test cap.
France required a win by 28 points to win the championship, while Ireland needed a bonus-point win or a margin of seven points (or six if they scored at least one try). As neither side met their requirements, England won a record 29th outright title.[32][33]
^Nic Berry was initially appointed as referee, but travel restrictions meant the match was reassigned to Matthew Carley.
^This game was originally due to go ahead on 14 March, and teams had been announced, but it was postponed on 13 March.[26]
^Angus Gardner was initially appointed as referee, but travel restrictions meant the match was reassigned to Andrew Brace.
^Due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, this game was first arranged to be played behind closed doors on 14 March, but was postponed the following day,[29] and ultimately rescheduled for 31 October.[30]
^*The match between France and Ireland, initially scheduled for 14 March, was postponed on 9 March due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.[31]
