The 2015 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2015 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by the Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 16th series of the Six Nations Championship, the annual rugby union tournament. It was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Including the competition's previous incarnations as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship, it was the 121st edition of the tournament.
Ireland retained their title from the previous year, their 13th triumph in the competition. This was the first time that Ireland had retained their title outright since 1949, having shared the 1983 championship with France after winning in 1982. They were the first team to be awarded the redesigned Six Nations trophy introduced for 2015, which featured six sides as opposed to five.
Participants NationStadiumHead coachCaptainHome stadiumCapacityCityTwickenham Stadium82,000London Stuart LancasterChris RobshawStade de France81,338Saint-Denis Philippe Saint-AndréThierry DusautoirAviva Stadium51,700Dublin Joe SchmidtPaul O'ConnellStadio Olimpico73,261Rome Jacques BrunelSergio Parisse*Murrayfield Stadium67,144Edinburgh Vern CotterGreig LaidlawMillennium Stadium74,500Cardiff Warren GatlandSam Warburton
* Parisse did not play in Italy's final match at home against Wales after an injury sustained in their round four match against France. Leonardo Ghiraldini took his place as captain.
Squads
Table
Fixtures The 2015 Six Nations Championship commenced with a Friday night fixture, once again held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, this time between Wales and England.
Round 1
FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex Cuthbert OC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11George North FH 10Dan BiggarSH 9 Rhys Webb N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c)BF 6 Dan LydiateRL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Jake Ball TP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Richard HibbardLP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements:HK 16Scott BaldwinPR 17Paul James PR 18Aaron Jarvis LK 19Luke Charteris FL 20Justin TipuricSH 21Mike Phillips FH 22Rhys PriestlandFB 23Liam Williams Coach: Warren Gatland FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Luther Burrell LW 11Jonny MayFH 10George FordSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy VunipolaOF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 James HaskellRL 5 George Kruis LL 4 Dave AttwoodTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Tom Youngs PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Kieran Brookes N8 19Nick Easter FL 20Tom CroftSH 21Richard Wigglesworth FH 22Danny CiprianiCE 23Billy Twelvetrees Coach: Stuart Lancaster Man of the Match: George Ford (England)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Mathieu Raynal (France) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland) Notes: Welsh captain Sam Warburton earned his 50th cap for Wales.
FB 15Andrea Masi RW 14Leonardo SartoOC 13Michele Campagnaro IC 12Luca MorisiLW 11Luke McLeanFH 10Kelly HaimonaSH 9 Edoardo GoriN8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Francesco Minto BF 6 Alessandro Zanni RL 5 George Biagi LL 4 Joshua FurnoTP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Matías Agüero Replacements:HK 16Andrea Manici PR 17Alberto De Marchi PR 18Dario Chistolini LK 19Marco Fuser FL 20Marco Barbini SH 21Guglielmo PalazzaniFH 22Tommaso Allan WG 23Giovanbattista Venditti Coach: Jacques Brunel FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Tommy Bowe OC 13Jared PayneIC 12Robbie HenshawLW 11Simon ZeboFH 10Ian Keatley SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jordi MurphyOF 7 Tommy O'DonnellBF 6 Peter O'Mahony RL 5 Paul O'Connell (c)LL 4 Devin TonerTP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Jack McGrath Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17James Cronin PR 18Martin Moore LK 19Iain Henderson N8 20Robbie DiackSH 21Isaac Boss FH 22Ian Madigan FB 23Felix Jones Coach: Joe Schmidt Man of the Match: Conor Murray (Ireland)
Touch judges: Wayne Barnes (England) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Marco Barbini made his international debut for Italy. Seán O'Brien was set to return to the Irish line-up after injury, but was replaced by Tommy O'Donnell in the starting XV following injury in the pre-game warm-up.
FB 15Scott SpeddingRW 14Yoann HugetOC 13Mathieu Bastareaud IC 12Wesley FofanaLW 11Teddy ThomasFH 10Camille LopezSH 9 Rory Kockott N8 8 Damien ChoulyOF 7 Bernard Le RouxBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c) RL 5 Yoann MaestriLL 4 Pascal Papé TP 3 Rabah Slimani HK 2 Guilhem Guirado LP 1 Alexandre Menini Replacements:HK 16Benjamin Kayser PR 17Uini Atonio PR 18Eddy Ben Arous LK 19Romain Taofifénua N8 20Loann Goujon SH 21Morgan Parra FH 22Rémi TalèsCE 23Rémi Lamerat Coach: Philippe Saint-André FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Tommy Seymour OC 13Mark BennettIC 12Alex Dunbar LW 11Tim VisserFH 10Finn RussellSH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c) N8 8 Johnnie Beattie OF 7 Blair Cowan BF 6 Rob Harley RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Richie Gray TP 3 Euan Murray HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson Replacements:HK 16Fraser Brown PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Geoff Cross LK 19Jim Hamilton FL 20Alasdair Strokosch SH 21Sam Hidalgo-Clyne CE 22Peter Horne WG 23Dougie Fife Coach: Vern Cotter Man of the Match: Camille Lopez (France)
Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: Loann Goujon made his international debut for France. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne made his international debut for Scotland.
Round 2
FB 15Mike Brown RW 14Anthony WatsonOC 13Jonathan JosephIC 12Luther BurrellLW 11Jonny MayFH 10George Ford SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy VunipolaOF 7 Chris Robshaw (c)BF 6 James Haskell RL 5 George KruisLL 4 Dave Attwood TP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Tom Youngs PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Kieran Brookes N8 19Nick Easter FL 20Tom Croft SH 21Richard Wigglesworth FH 22Danny Cipriani CE 23Billy Twelvetrees Coach: Stuart Lancaster FB 15Luke McLeanRW 14Leonardo Sarto OC 13Luca MorisiIC 12Andrea MasiLW 11Giovanbattista VendittiFH 10Kelly Haimona SH 9 Edoardo Gori N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Mauro Bergamasco BF 6 Francesco Minto RL 5 Marco Bortolami LL 4 George BiagiTP 3 Martin Castrogiovanni HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Alberto De Marchi Replacements:HK 16Andrea Manici PR 17Matías Agüero PR 18Dario Chistolini LK 19Joshua Furno FL 20Samuela Vunisa SH 21Guglielmo Palazzani FH 22Tommaso Allan CE 23Giulio Bisegni Coach: Jacques Brunel Man of the Match: Jonathan Joseph (England)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia) Notes: Giulio Bisegni made his international debut for Italy. Nick Easter, aged 36, became the oldest English player to score a try in a test match.
FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Tommy BoweOC 13Jared PayneIC 12Robbie HenshawLW 11Simon ZeboFH 10Johnny Sexton SH 9 Conor MurrayN8 8 Jamie Heaslip OF 7 Seán O'Brien BF 6 Peter O'MahonyRL 5 Paul O'Connell (c)LL 4 Devin Toner TP 3 Mike Ross HK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Jack McGrath Replacements:HK 16Seán Cronin PR 17Cian Healy PR 18Martin Moore LK 19Iain Henderson FL 20Jordi Murphy SH 21Isaac BossFH 22Ian Madigan FB 23Felix JonesCoach: Joe Schmidt FB 15Scott Spedding RW 14Yoann HugetOC 13Mathieu Bastareaud IC 12Wesley Fofana LW 11Teddy Thomas FH 10Camille LopezSH 9 Rory Kockott N8 8 Damien Chouly OF 7 Bernard Le RouxBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Yoann MaestriLL 4 Pascal Papé TP 3 Rabah Slimani HK 2 Guilhem Guirado LP 1 Eddy Ben Arous Replacements:HK 16Benjamin Kayser PR 17Uini Atonio PR 18Vincent Debaty LK 19Romain Taofifénua N8 20Loann Goujon SH 21Morgan Parra FH 22Rémi Talès CE 23Rémi Lamerat Coach: Philippe Saint-André Man of the Match: Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) Stuart Berry (South Africa) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Sean LamontOC 13Mark BennettIC 12Alex Dunbar LW 11Tim VisserFH 10Finn Russell SH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c) N8 8 Johnnie Beattie OF 7 Blair CowanBF 6 Rob HarleyRL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Richie Gray TP 3 Geoff Cross HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson Replacements:HK 16Fraser Brown PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Jon Welsh LK 19Jim Hamilton FL 20Alasdair Strokosch SH 21Sam Hidalgo-Clyne FH 22Greig TonksCE 23Matt Scott Coach: Vern Cotter FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Jonathan Davies IC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Liam WilliamsFH 10Dan BiggarSH 9 Rhys Webb N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c)BF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Jake Ball TP 3 Aaron Jarvis HK 2 Richard Hibbard LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements:HK 16Scott Baldwin PR 17Paul James PR 18Scott Andrews LK 19Luke Charteris FL 20Justin Tipuric SH 21Mike Phillips FH 22Rhys PriestlandCE 23Scott WilliamsCoach: Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Dudley Phillips (Ireland) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Round 3
FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Tommy SeymourOC 13Mark Bennett IC 12Alex DunbarLW 11Sean LamontFH 10Peter Horne SH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c) N8 8 Johnnie Beattie OF 7 Blair CowanBF 6 Rob HarleyRL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Tim Swinson TP 3 Euan Murray HK 2 Ross Ford LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson Replacements:HK 16Fraser Brown PR 17Ryan Grant PR 18Geoff Cross LK 19Ben Toolis FL 20Hamish Watson SH 21Sam Hidalgo-Clyne FH 22Greig Tonks CE 23Matt Scott Coach: Vern Cotter FB 15Luke McLeanRW 14Michele VisentinOC 13Luca MorisiIC 12Enrico BacchinLW 11Giovanbattista Venditti FH 10Kelly Haimona SH 9 Edoardo GoriN8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Simone Favaro BF 6 Francesco MintoRL 5 Joshua FurnoLL 4 George Biagi TP 3 Dario Chistolini HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Matías Agüero Replacements:HK 16Andrea Manici PR 17Alberto De Marchi PR 18Lorenzo Cittadini LK 19Marco Fuser FL 20Samuela Vunisa SH 21Guglielmo PalazzaniFH 22Tommaso Allan CE 23Giulio Bisegni Coach: Jacques Brunel Man of the Match: Luke McLean (Italy)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France) Leighton Hodges (Wales) Television match official: Graham Hughes (England) Notes: Enrico Bacchin and Michele Visentin made their international debuts for Italy. Ben Toolis and Hamish Watson made their international debuts for Scotland. Italy got its first Six Nations win since beating Ireland 22–15 in 2013, and its second away win since beating Scotland 37–17 in 2007.
FB 15Brice DulinRW 14Yoann HugetOC 13Rémi Lamerat IC 12Wesley Fofana LW 11Sofiane GuitouneFH 10Camille LopezSH 9 Morgan Parra N8 8 Damien Chouly OF 7 Bernard Le RouxBF 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)RL 5 Yoann MaestriLL 4 Romain Taofifénua TP 3 Rabah Slimani HK 2 Guilhem Guirado LP 1 Eddy Ben Arous Replacements:HK 16Benjamin Kayser PR 17Uini Atonio PR 18Vincent Debaty LK 19Jocelino Suta N8 20Loann Goujon SH 21Sébastien Tillous-Borde FH 22Rémi Talès CE 23Mathieu Bastareaud Coach: Philippe Saint-André FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14George NorthOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Liam WilliamsFH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Rhys WebbN8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 Dan LydiateRL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Luke Charteris TP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Scott Baldwin LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard PR 17Paul James PR 18Aaron Jarvis LK 19Bradley Davies FL 20Justin Tipuric SH 21Mike PhillipsFH 22Rhys Priestland CE 23Scott WilliamsCoach: Warren Gatland Man of the Match: Morgan Parra (France)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Notes: Brice Dulin's try was France's first try against Wales since their 2011 Six Nations fixture. Wales captain Sam Warburton equalled Ryan Jones' record of 33 Tests as captain. George North became the youngest player to earn 50 international caps (47 for Wales, 3 for the British and Irish Lions) at the age of 22, surpassing Australia's Joe Roff, who was 24.