The 2017 Six Nations Championship was the 18th series of the Six Nations Championship, the annual northern hemisphere rugby union championship. The tournament was also known as the RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
It was contested by defending champions England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Including the competition's previous iterations as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship, it was the 123rd edition of the tournament.
For the first time the 2017 tournament used the bonus point system common to most other professional rugby union tournaments. As well as the standard four points for a win and two for a draw, a team scoring four tries in a match received an additional league table point, as did a team losing by seven or fewer points. Additionally, to ensure that a team winning all of its five matches (a Grand Slam) would also win the Championship, three bonus points were to be awarded for this achievement.
For the second successive year, the championship was won by England with a round to spare. However, they were denied the Grand Slam and Triple Crown in the final game by a defeat to Ireland in the final round, the fifth time this has happened to England in the Six Nations era (2000, 2001, 2011, 2013 and 2017) and the third time at the hands of the Irish (the other two being 2001 and 2011).
Participants NationStadiumHead coachCaptainHome stadiumCapacityLocationTwickenham Stadium 82,000London Eddie JonesDylan HartleyStade de France 81,338Saint-Denis Guy NovèsGuilhem GuiradoAviva Stadium 51,700Dublin Joe SchmidtRory Best 1Stadio Olimpico 73,261Rome Conor O'SheaSergio ParisseMurrayfield Stadium 67,144Edinburgh Vern CotterJohn Barclay 2Millennium Stadium 74,500Cardiff Rob Howley (caretaker)Alun Wyn Jones 1 Except the round 2 match against Italy, when Best was a late withdrawal due to illness and Jamie Heaslip took over the captaincy. 2 Replaced original captain Greig Laidlaw, who was ruled out of the Championship after sustaining an injury during Scotland's game against France in round 2.
Squads
Table
Fixtures Round 1
FB 15Stuart Hogg RW 14Sean MaitlandOC 13Huw Jones IC 12Alex DunbarLW 11Tommy SeymourFH 10Finn Russell SH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c)N8 8 Josh Strauss OF 7 Hamish Watson BF 6 Ryan WilsonRL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Zander FagersonHK 2 Fraser Brown LP 1 Allan Dell Replacements:HK 16Ross Ford PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Simon BerghanLK 19Tim Swinson FL 20John Barclay SH 21Ali PriceFH 22Duncan Weir CE 23Mark Bennett Coach: Vern Cotter FB 15Rob KearneyRW 14Keith Earls OC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Robbie HenshawLW 11Simon ZeboFH 10Paddy JacksonSH 9 Conor MurrayN8 8 Jamie HeaslipOF 7 Seán O'Brien BF 6 CJ StanderRL 5 Devin TonerLL 4 Iain Henderson TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Rory Best (c)LP 1 Jack McGrath Replacements:HK 16Niall ScannellPR 17Cian Healy PR 18John Ryan LK 19Ultan Dillane FL 20Josh van der Flier SH 21Kieran MarmionFH 22Ian KeatleyWG 23Tommy Bowe Coach: Joe Schmidt Man of the Match: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) Nick Briant (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: Scotland reclaimed the Centenary Quaich for the first time since 2013, the last time they beat Ireland. Scotland won their opening Six Nations match for the first time since 2006. Ireland lost their opening Six Nations match for the first time since 2012. Stuart Hogg became Scotland's highest try scorer in the Six Nations. Ireland received the first bonus point in the history of the Six Nations.
FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Jonny May OC 13Jonathan Joseph IC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Elliot DalyFH 10George Ford SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Nathan HughesOF 7 Tom WoodBF 6 Maro ItojeRL 5 Courtney LawesLL 4 Joe Launchbury TP 3 Dan ColeHK 2 Dylan Hartley (c) LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Jamie George PR 17Matt Mullan PR 18Kyle SincklerFL 19Teimana HarrisonFL 20James Haskell SH 21Danny Care CE 22Ben Te'o WG 23Jack Nowell Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15Scott SpeddingRW 14Noa NakaitaciOC 13Rémi Lamerat IC 12Gaël FickouLW 11Virimi VakatawaFH 10Camille Lopez SH 9 Baptiste Serin N8 8 Louis PicamolesOF 7 Kevin GourdonBF 6 Damien Chouly RL 5 Yoann MaestriLL 4 Sébastien Vahaamahina TP 3 Uini Atonio HK 2 Guilhem Guirado (c) LP 1 Cyril Baille Replacements:HK 16Clément Maynadier PR 17Rabah Slimani PR 18Xavier Chiocci LK 19Arthur Iturria FL 20Loann Goujon SH 21Maxime Machenaud FH 22Jean-Marc Doussain WG 23Yoann Huget Coach: Guy Novès Man of the Match: Louis Picamoles (France)
Touch judges: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Television match official: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Notes: Arthur Iturria (France) made his international debut. England won their 15th consecutive match, their longest winning run.
FB 15Edoardo Padovani RW 14Giulio Bisegni OC 13Tommaso Benvenuti IC 12Luke McLeanLW 11Giovanbattista VendittiFH 10Carlo Canna SH 9 Edoardo Gori N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Maxime MbandaBF 6 Braam SteynRL 5 George Biagi LL 4 Marco Fuser TP 3 Lorenzo Cittadini HK 2 Ornel Gega LP 1 Andrea Lovotti Replacements:HK 16Leonardo Ghiraldini PR 17Sami Panico PR 18Pietro Ceccarelli LK 19Joshua Furno FL 20Francesco Minto SH 21Giorgio Bronzini FH 22Tommaso Allan CE 23Michele Campagnaro Coach: Conor O'Shea FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14George NorthOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Scott Williams LW 11Liam WilliamsFH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Rhys Webb N8 8 Ross Moriarty OF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Sam WarburtonRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c) LL 4 Jake Ball TP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Ken Owens LP 1 Nicky Smith Replacements:HK 16Scott Baldwin PR 17Rob Evans PR 18Tomas Francis LK 19Cory Hill FL 20James King SH 21Gareth Davies FH 22Sam Davies CE 23Jamie Roberts Coach: Rob Howley Man of the Match: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Craig Maxwell-Keys (England) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England)
Round 2
FB 15Edoardo PadovaniRW 14Angelo EspositoOC 13Tommaso Benvenuti IC 12Luke McLeanLW 11Giovanbattista VendittiFH 10Carlo Canna SH 9 Edoardo Gori N8 8 Sergio Parisse (c)OF 7 Simone Favaro BF 6 Maxime MbandaRL 5 Dries van Schalkwyk LL 4 Marco FuserTP 3 Lorenzo Cittadini HK 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini LP 1 Andrea Lovotti Replacements:HK 16Ornel Gega PR 17Sami Panico PR 18Dario Chistolini LK 19George Biagi N8 20Braam Steyn SH 21Giorgio Bronzini FH 22Tommaso Allan CE 23Michele Campagnaro Coach: Conor O'Shea FB 15Rob Kearney RW 14Keith EarlsOC 13Garry RingroseIC 12Robbie Henshaw LW 11Simon Zebo FH 10Paddy JacksonSH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 Jamie Heaslip (c)OF 7 Seán O'Brien BF 6 CJ StanderRL 5 Devin Toner LL 4 Donnacha Ryan TP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Niall Scannell LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16James Tracy PR 17Jack McGrath PR 18John Ryan LK 19Ultan Dillane FL 20Josh van der Flier SH 21Kieran Marmion FH 22Ian Keatley WG 23Craig Gilroy Coach: Joe Schmidt Man of the Match: CJ Stander (Ireland)
Touch judges: Angus Gardner (Australia) Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England) Notes: Niall Scannell (Ireland) made his test debut. Ireland captain Rory Best was named to start but was withdrawn from the team due to illness on the day of the match. CJ Stander became the first forward to score a hat-trick in the Six Nations. Ireland earned the first try bonus point in the history of the Six Nations. This was Ireland's largest victory in the tournament.
FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Scott Williams LW 11Liam WilliamsFH 10Dan BiggarSH 9 Rhys Webb N8 8 Ross Moriarty OF 7 Justin Tipuric BF 6 Sam WarburtonRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)LL 4 Jake BallTP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Ken Owens LP 1 Rob Evans Replacements:HK 16Scott Baldwin PR 17Nicky Smith PR 18Samson Lee LK 19Cory Hill N8 20Taulupe Faletau SH 21Gareth Davies FH 22Sam DaviesCE 23Jamie Roberts Coach: Rob Howley FB 15Mike BrownRW 14Jack Nowell OC 13Jonathan Joseph IC 12Owen FarrellLW 11Elliot DalyFH 10George FordSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Nathan Hughes OF 7 Jack Clifford BF 6 Maro ItojeRL 5 Courtney LawesLL 4 Joe LaunchburyTP 3 Dan Cole HK 2 Dylan Hartley (c) LP 1 Joe Marler Replacements:HK 16Jamie George PR 17Matt Mullan PR 18Kyle Sinckler FL 19Tom Wood FL 20James Haskell SH 21Danny Care CE 22Ben Te'o WG 23Jonny May Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Joe Launchbury (England)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Nick Briant (New Zealand) Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: George North was named to start for Wales but was replaced by Alex Cuthbert after failing to recover from injury.
FB 15Scott SpeddingRW 14Noa NakaitaciOC 13Rémi LameratIC 12Gaël FickouLW 11Virimi Vakatawa FH 10Camille LopezSH 9 Baptiste Serin N8 8 Louis PicamolesOF 7 Kevin GourdonBF 6 Loann Goujon RL 5 Yoann Maestri LL 4 Sébastien VahaamahinaTP 3 Uini Atonio HK 2 Guilhem Guirado (c) LP 1 Cyril Baille Replacements:HK 16Christopher Tolofua PR 17Rabah Slimani PR 18Xavier Chiocci LK 19Julien Le Devedec N8 20Damien Chouly SH 21Maxime Machenaud FH 22Jean-Marc DoussainWG 23Yoann Huget Coach: Guy Novès FB 15Stuart HoggRW 14Sean MaitlandOC 13Huw JonesIC 12Alex Dunbar LW 11Tommy SeymourFH 10Finn Russell SH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c) N8 8 Josh StraussOF 7 Hamish WatsonBF 6 John Barclay RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Zander Fagerson HK 2 Fraser Brown LP 1 Allan Dell Replacements:HK 16Ross Ford PR 17Gordon Reid PR 18Simon Berghan LK 19Tim Swinson FL 20John Hardie SH 21Ali Price FH 22Duncan Weir CE 23Mark Bennett Coach: Vern Cotter Man of the Match: Kevin Gourdon (France)
Touch judges: John Lacey (Ireland) Luke Pearce (England) Television match official: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Notes: Stuart Hogg (Scotland) earned his 50th test cap. Simon Berghan (Scotland) made his international debut.
Round 3
FB 15Stuart Hogg RW 14Tommy SeymourOC 13Huw JonesIC 12Alex DunbarLW 11Tim VisserFH 10Finn RussellSH 9 Ali Price N8 8 Ryan WilsonOF 7 John Hardie BF 6 John Barclay (c)RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Richie GrayTP 3 Zander FagersonHK 2 Fraser Brown LP 1 Gordon Reid Replacements:HK 16Ross Ford PR 17Allan Dell PR 18Simon BerghanLK 19Tim SwinsonFL 20Hamish Watson SH 21Henry Pyrgos FH 22Duncan WeirCE 23Mark BennettCoach: Vern Cotter FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14George NorthOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Scott Williams LW 11Liam WilliamsFH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Rhys WebbN8 8 Ross Moriarty OF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Sam WarburtonRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)LL 4 Jake Ball TP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Ken Owens LP 1 Rob Evans Replacements:HK 16Scott Baldwin PR 17Nicky Smith PR 18Samson Lee LK 19Luke Charteris N8 20Taulupe Faletau SH 21Gareth DaviesFH 22Sam Davies CE 23Jamie Roberts Coach: Rob Howley Man of the Match: Finn Russell (Scotland)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Matthew Carley (England) Television match official: Rowan Kitt (England) Notes: Scotland ended a record nine-match losing streak against Wales by winning for the first time since their 21–9 victory in 2007. With this victory, Scotland climbed from seventh to fifth in the World Rugby Rankings, their highest position since the rankings were introduced in 2003, overtaking South Africa and Wales.