A look at “2023 Six Nations Championship” Rugby holds a comfortable position in the top 10 most popular sports in the world. With just over 500 million fans the world over, the sport is certainly in no danger of losing its ranking any time soon. Now that the first month of the new year is reaching its end, many sports fans are excited for the 2023 sports seasons. Rugby fans especially are waiting with baited breath for the February 4, the day that the Six Nations Championship will kick off.
What is the Six Nations Championship?
For anyone new to Rugby, the Six Nations Championship, or the Guinness Six Nations Championship, is a yearly competition between, as you might have guessed, six nations. The competitors are England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. Sponsored by one of the biggest beer companies in the world, the Six Nations Championship is a huge deal.
Every year, the number of fans and attendees seems to be growing. Unsurprising, as sports in general tend to be get a lot more fans as the years roll. One huge factor in the popularization of sports is the growth of the online betting industry. Some of the new betting sites in the UK are now gaining a lot more traction than ever. And while most focus on football, rugby, cricket, and horse racing are all incredibly popular, and gaining some major traction.
So, if you are a newcomer, in this article, we would like to go over the teams and the event, and explain anything you might need to know.
France
We start out with the current defending champions, France’s Blues. In 2022, the French team won the Grand Slam, securing their position as the champions. It was their 10th Grand Slam title, and their 18th overall title. The French’s home stadium will be the Stade de France, with a capacity of over 81,000, located in Saint-Denis. The team is captained by Antoine Dupont, and coached by Fabien Galthie, who is quite a star in the rugby world.
In the first round, France is scheduled to go up against the Italian team. The match will take place on February 5, at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The second round will see Les Bleus go up against the Irish at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. In the third round, the Scottish team will be visiting France, for a match at the Stade De France. In round four, France and England will be settling their rivalry in London, and finally, in Round 5, the Welsh will get a chance at the defending champions.
England
Captained by Owen Farrell and coached by Steve Borthwick, the Red Rose are Rugby’s most successful national team. Perhaps unsurprising, as the sport’s roots do stem from Victorian England. With 29 championship titles and 13 Grand Slams, England is coming into this hungry for a win. Perhaps even more fired up by their loss to France at the 2022 World Cup.
The English team will be playing their home games in London, at the Twickenham Stadium, and in the first round they are facing off against Scotland. The match will take place on February 4, in London. The rivalry between the two teams is somewhat legendary, so the match should be a clash to remember.
Scotland
And speaking of Scotland, let us take a look at the Thistle, and their standing in the rugby world today. Currently ranked at number 7 by World Rugby, the Scottish team are quite accomplished. They are camptained by Jamie Ritchie and coached by Gregor Townsend.
Often referred to as “England B” due to a history of pilfering English players, the Scottish team has a long standing and quite bitter rivalry with the English team, which should come to ahead on February 4, when the two face off in the first round.
The Scots will be playing their home games at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. The stadium will see use in the second round, when the Scottish team goes up against the Welsh.
Ireland
The Irish and the Welsh teams are going to be the opening act in 2023’s Six Nations Championship. Scheduled to play on February 4, at 14:15 GMT. The game will be held in Prinicipality Stadium in Cardiff, meaning the Welsh will be right at home.
However, don’t discount the Shamrock just yet. The team is one of the best in the world right now, having reached the number 1 ranking in 2019, and again in 2022. They still hold the number 1 ranking today, and are certainly among the favorites to win the title. In 2022, they won the Triple Crown, their 12th title in the Six Nations Championships.
Wales
In 2019, the Welsh Rugby team hit its peak, when they were ranked number one by World Rugby. However, since then, the team has been on a decline. Currently ranked at number 9, the Welsh might just be the black horse of the 2023 Six Nations Championship. After all, they certainly have a lot to prove.
Coached by Warren Gatland and captained by Ken Owens, the Three Feathers are the second half of the 2023 opening act. They will face down Ireland in Principality Stadium on February 4 in the 2023 Six Nations Championship’s inaugural match. The tensions are high, and though Ireland is the clear-cut favorite, the Welsh might still surprise us.
Italy
Last on the list, and in the rankings is the Italian national team, the Gli Azzurri. Currently, they hold the lowest rank out of the six teams, settled at 11. And considering their first match will be against last year’s champions, France, the odds are not in their favor.
Still, don’t discount the Italians just yet. Captain Michele Lamaro and head coach Kieran Crowley might just pull out a victory, and take the Gli Azzurri to the top. Though chances for that are slim, at least according to most analysts. Still, stranger things have happened. As the old saying goes, “don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
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