Six Nations Rugby Championship Trophy

Each year, the RBS Six Nations Championship Trophy is presented to the winning team. Below are some interesting facts regarding the trophy:

The idea of a Trophy for the Six Nations Championship was first thought of by the Earl of Westmorland, and was first presented in 1993 to France (the winners that season). It is held in trust by the Six Nations Championship Trophy Trust.

The Trophy is made of 200 ounces of sterling silver and is insured for £55,000. It was designed by James Brent-Ward, a silversmith designer, and made by eight craftsmen at the London silversmith firm William Comyns. The inside of the Trophy was originally silver, but it became so tarnished from repeated fillings with champagne that it has been lined with 22 carat gold to protect it.

There are fifteen sides to the Trophy, representing each player, and three handles representing each official ie the referee and two touch judges. Around the wooden base of the Trophy is the emblem of each of the six national unions.

The handle, or finial, on the lid is interchangeable and represents the current champions. The current champions are Wales so at the moment the finial is the one decorated with Prince of Wales' feathers. The finials of the five challenging teams are kept in a hidden drawer in the plinth throughout the Championship.

The capacity of the Trophy is exactly five bottles of champagne, one for each of the original Five Nations, and the trophy has a lip at the rim, designed so that it is easy to drink from.

Six Nations Championship Trophy Trust

Six Nations Trophies

Different Trophies are awarded to the different categories of winners of Six Nations Championship.

like:

1. Championship Trophy

2. Triple Crown Trophy

Several other trophies are contested within the main competition, mostly as long-standing fixtures between pairs of teams.

Calcutta Cup - England versus Scotland; contested annually since 1879.

Centenary Quaich - A quaich is a celtic drinking vessel, and is contested between Celtic neighbours Scotland and Ireland. It was first contested in 1989, and the two teams play for it annually.

Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy - Contested between France and Italy in memory of Giuseppe Garibaldi; first awarded in 2007.

Millennium Trophy - Presented to celebrate Dublin's millennium in 1988 the Millennium Trophy is contested between England and Ireland.

Grand Slam - All nations: awarded when one nation defeats the other five.