The Autumn Nations Cup was a rugby union competition held in November and December 2020 in place of the usual Autumn internationals series typically held in the same period each year, as many teams were avoiding extended travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight teams participated – the teams involved in the Six Nations Championship (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales) plus Georgia and Fiji – divided into two groups of four. Japan were originally going to take part but withdrew due to travel restrictions, resulting in them being replaced by Georgia and moving Fiji to Group B.
Each team played the others in its group once to determine the final group standings; the teams in first place in each group then played each other, as did the teams in second, third, and fourth, to determine the overall standings. The tournament opened with a match between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium on 13 November 2020, and the final matches were hosted by the teams from Group A on the weekend of 5/6 December 2020 (Georgia's "home" match was played at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland). Wales' home matches were played at Parc y Scarlets due to the Millennium Stadium being decommissioned as a COVID-19 hospital. Fiji were forced to concede all of their group games due to a COVID-19 outbreak in their team camp, but they were able to face Georgia in the 7th/8th-place playoff.
England won the tournament after wins over Ireland, Wales, Georgia, and France.
Overview Participants World Rugby rankings denoted in (parentheses) as per start of the tournament NationHead coachCaptain (3) Eddie JonesOwen Farrell (11) Vern CotterSemi Radradra (4) Fabien Galthié Charles Ollivon (12) Levan MaisashviliMerab Sharikadze (5) Andy FarrellJohnny Sexton (14) Franco Smith Luca Bigi (7) Gregor TownsendStuart Hogg (8) Wayne PivacAlun Wyn Jones
Venues StadiumCapacityLocation Twickenham Stadium82,000London Stade de France80,698Saint-Denis Stade de la Rabine9,500Vannes Aviva Stadium51,700Dublin Murrayfield Stadium67,144Edinburgh Stadio Artemio Franchi43,147Florence Stadio del Conero23,967Ancona Parc y Scarlets14,870Llanelli
Fixtures
Group A PositionNationGamesPointsTriesBonus pointsTable pointsPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATriesLoser133008220+621021013232016237+2553008331024056–1634004430031081–71110000
Round 1
Team details FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Andrew ConwayOC 13Chris FarrellIC 12Robbie Henshaw LW 11James LoweFH 10Johnny Sexton (c) SH 9 Jamison Gibson-ParkN8 8 Caelan DorisOF 7 Josh van der Flier BF 6 Peter O'MahonyRL 5 James RyanLL 4 Quinn Roux TP 3 Andrew Porter HK 2 Rónan Kelleher LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Dave Heffernan PR 17Ed Byrne PR 18Finlay Bealham LK 19Tadhg Beirne FL 20Will Connors SH 21Conor Murray FH 22Billy Burns WG 23Keith Earls Coach:Andy Farrell FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Liam WilliamsOC 13Jonathan Davies IC 12Owen WatkinLW 11Josh AdamsFH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Gareth Davies N8 8 Taulupe Faletau OF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Shane Lewis-HughesRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c) LL 4 Will Rowlands TP 3 Tomas Francis HK 2 Ryan Elias LP 1 Rhys Carré Replacements:HK 16Elliot Dee PR 17Wyn Jones PR 18Samson Lee LK 19Jake Ball FL 20Aaron Wainwright SH 21Lloyd Williams FH 22Callum Sheedy WG 23George North Coach:Wayne Pivac Player of the Match: Caelan Doris (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Alexandre Ruiz (France) Television match official: Romain Poite (France) Notes: Jacob Stockdale and Iain Henderson were named to start but were ruled out on matchday and replaced by Quinn Roux and Andrew Conway; Tadhg Beirne was added to the bench. Billy Burns and James Lowe (both Ireland) and Callum Sheedy (Wales) made their international debuts. Tomas Francis (Wales) earned his 50th test cap. George North became the seventh Wales player to earn 100 test caps (97 for Wales, 3 for the British and Irish Lions). He also became the youngest player to earn his 100th cap at 28 years and 225 days, surpassing Australia's Michael Hooper's record of 28 years and 348 days. Johnny Sexton became the seventh Ireland player to earn 100 test caps (94 for Ireland, 6 for the British and Irish Lions). Alun Wyn Jones became the first player to earn 150 test caps (141 for Wales, 9 for the British and Irish Lions).
Team details FB 15Elliot DalyRW 14Jonathan Joseph OC 13Ollie Lawrence IC 12Henry SladeLW 11Jonny MayFH 10Owen Farrell (c)SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy VunipolaOF 7 Jack Willis BF 6 Maro ItojeRL 5 Joe LaunchburyLL 4 Charlie Ewels TP 3 Will Stuart HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Ellis Genge Replacements:HK 16Tom Dunn PR 17Mako Vunipola PR 18Kyle Sinckler FL 19Ben Earl FL 20Tom Curry SH 21Dan Robson FH 22Max Malins CE 23Joe Marchant Coach:Eddie Jones FB 15Lasha KhmaladzeRW 14Aka TabutsadzeOC 13Giorgi KveseladzeIC 12Merab Sharikadze (c)LW 11Sandro Svanidze FH 10Tedo AbzhandadzeSH 9 Gela Aprasidze N8 8 Beka Gorgadze OF 7 Giorgi Tkhilaishvili BF 6 Beka SaghinadzeRL 5 Grigor Kerdikoshvili LL 4 Lasha JaianiTP 3 Beka Gigashvili HK 2 Shalva Mamukashvili LP 1 Mikheil Nariashvili Replacements:HK 16Jaba Bregvadze PR 17Guram Gogichashvili PR 18Lekso Kaulashvili FL 19Otar Giorgadze FL 20Tornike Jalaghonia LK 21Giorgi Javakhia SH 22Vasil Lobzhanidze WG 23Alexander Todua Coach:Levan Maisashvili Player of the Match: Jamie George (England)
Assistant refereess: Craig Evans (Wales) Adam Jones (Wales) Television match official: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) Notes: Demur Tapladze had been named on the bench for Georgia, but was withdrawn ahead of kick off and replaced by Giorgi Javakhia. Max Malins, Jack Willis (both England) and Sandro Svanidze (Georgia) made their international debuts. Jamie George became the first England men's hooker to score a hat-trick. The two nations faced each other outside of a Rugby World Cup for the first time.
Round 2
Team details FB 15Elliot DalyRW 14Jonathan Joseph OC 13Ollie Lawrence IC 12Henry SladeLW 11Jonny MayFH 10Owen Farrell (c)SH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy VunipolaOF 7 Sam Underhill BF 6 Tom CurryRL 5 Joe Launchbury LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Kyle Sinckler HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Tom Dunn PR 17Ellis Genge PR 18Will Stuart LK 19Jonny Hill FL 20Ben Earl SH 21Dan Robson FH 22George Ford FH 23Max Malins Coach:Eddie Jones FB 15Hugo Keenan RW 14Keith EarlsOC 13Chris FarrellIC 12Bundee AkiLW 11James LoweFH 10Ross Byrne SH 9 Jamison Gibson-Park N8 8 Caelan DorisOF 7 Peter O'MahonyBF 6 CJ Stander RL 5 James Ryan (c)LL 4 Quinn Roux TP 3 Andrew PorterHK 2 Rónan Kelleher LP 1 Cian Healy Replacements:HK 16Rob Herring PR 17Finlay Bealham PR 18John RyanLK 19Iain Henderson FL 20Will Connors SH 21Conor Murray FH 22Billy Burns WG 23Jacob Stockdale Coach:Andy Farrell Player of the Match: Maro Itoje (England)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France) Alexandre Ruiz (France) Television match official: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Team details FB 15Liam Williams RW 14Johnny McNicholl OC 13Nick TompkinsIC 12Johnny WilliamsLW 11Louis Rees-ZammitFH 10Callum SheedySH 9 Kieran Hardy N8 8 Aaron WainwrightOF 7 Justin Tipuric (c) BF 6 James BothamRL 5 Seb Davies LL 4 Jake BallTP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Elliot Dee LP 1 Wyn Jones Replacements:HK 16Sam Parry PR 17Nicky Smith PR 18Leon Brown LK 19Cory Hill FL 20James Davies SH 21Rhys Webb FH 22Ioan Lloyd WG 23Jonah Holmes Coach:Wayne Pivac FB 15Lasha KhmaladzeRW 14Aka Tabutsadze OC 13Giorgi KveseladzeIC 12Merab Sharikadze (c)LW 11Alexander Todua FH 10Tedo AbzhandadzeSH 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze N8 8 Beka GorgadzeOF 7 Beka Saghinadze BF 6 Otari Giorgadze RL 5 Konstantin Mikautadze LL 4 Grigor KerdikoshviliTP 3 Beka Gigashvili HK 2 Jaba Bregvadze LP 1 Mikheil Nariashvili Replacements:HK 16Giorgi Chkoidze PR 17Guram Gogichashvili PR 18Lekso Kaulashvili LK 19Lasha Jaiani FL 20Giorgi Tkhilaishvili SH 21Gela Aprasidze WG 22Demur Tapladze WG 23Tamaz Mchedlidze Coach:Levan Maisashvili Player of the Match: Aaron Wainwright (Wales)
Assistant refereess: Andrew Brace (Ireland) Frank Murphy (Ireland) Television match official: Joy Neville (Ireland) Notes: James Botham, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd and Johnny Williams (all Wales) made their international debuts. Joy Neville became the first woman to perform television match official duties in a major men's international competition.
Round 3
Team details FB 15Leigh Halfpenny RW 14Louis Rees-ZammitOC 13Nick Tompkins IC 12Johnny WilliamsLW 11Josh AdamsFH 10Dan BiggarSH 9 Lloyd Williams N8 8 Taulupe FaletauOF 7 James BothamBF 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes RL 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)LL 4 Jake Ball TP 3 Samson Lee HK 2 Ryan Elias LP 1 Wyn Jones Replacements:HK 16Elliot Dee PR 17Rhys Carré PR 18Tomas Francis LK 19Will Rowlands FL 20Aaron Wainwright SH 21Rhys Webb FH 22Callum Sheedy CE 23Owen Watkin Coach:Wayne Pivac FB 15Elliot DalyRW 14Jonathan Joseph OC 13Henry SladeIC 12Owen Farrell (c)LW 11Jonny MayFH 10George FordSH 9 Ben Youngs N8 8 Billy VunipolaOF 7 Sam Underhill BF 6 Tom Curry RL 5 Joe Launchbury LL 4 Maro ItojeTP 3 Kyle Sinckler HK 2 Jamie George LP 1 Mako Vunipola Replacements:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Ellis Genge PR 18Will Stuart LK 19Jonny Hill FL 20Ben Earl FL 21Jack Willis SH 22Dan Robson FB 23Anthony Watson Coach:Eddie Jones Player of the Match: Sam Underhill (England)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France) Alexandre Ruiz (France) Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Team details FB 15Jacob StockdaleRW 14Hugo KeenanOC 13Chris FarrellIC 12Stuart McCloskeyLW 11Keith Earls FH 10Billy Burns SH 9 Conor Murray N8 8 CJ StanderOF 7 Will Connors BF 6 Tadhg Beirne RL 5 James Ryan (c) LL 4 Iain HendersonTP 3 Andrew Porter HK 2 Rob HerringLP 1 Finlay Bealham Replacements:HK 16Dave Heffernan PR 17Cian Healy PR 18John Ryan LK 19Quinn Roux FL 20Peter O'Mahony SH 21Kieran Marmion FH 22Ross Byrne FB 23Shane Daly Coach:Andy Farrell FB 15Soso MatiashviliRW 14Aka TabutsadzeOC 13Giorgi KveseladzeIC 12Merab Sharikadze (c) LW 11Tamaz Mchedlidze FH 10Tedo AbzhandadzeSH 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze N8 8 Beka Gorgadze OF 7 Tornike JalaghoniaBF 6 Beka SaghinadzeRL 5 Lasha JaianiLL 4 Nodar Tcheishvili TP 3 Beka Gigashvili HK 2 Shalva Mamukashvili LP 1 Mikheil Nariashvili Replacements:HK 16Giorgi Chkoidze PR 17Lekso Kaulashvili PR 18Giorgi Melikidze LK 19Giorgi Javakhia FL 20Mikheil Gachechiladze SH 21Mikheil Alania WG 22Demur Tapladze FB 23Davit Niniashvili Coach:Levan Maisashvili Player of the Match: Iain Henderson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Marius Mitrea (Italy) Notes: Shane Daly (Ireland) and Mikheil Alania and Davit Niniashvili (both Georgia) made their international debuts.
Group B PositionNationGamesPointsTriesBonus pointsTable pointsPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATriesLoser133008620+661012014232017139+32822111331025064–146910543003084–84012000
Round 1
Team details FB 15Matteo Minozzi RW 14Jacopo TrullaOC 13Marco Zanon IC 12Carlo CannaLW 11Mattia BelliniFH 10Paolo GarbisiSH 9 Marcello Violi N8 8 Jake Polledri OF 7 Braam SteynBF 6 Sebastian Negri RL 5 Niccolò CannoneLL 4 Marco LazzaroniTP 3 Giosuè Zilocchi HK 2 Luca Bigi (c) LP 1 Danilo Fischetti Replacements:HK 16Leonardo Ghiraldini PR 17Simone Ferrari PR 18Pietro Ceccarelli N8 19Johan Meyer FL 20Maxime Mbanda SH 21Stephen Varney FH 22Tommaso Allan CE 23Federico Mori Coach:Franco Smith FB 15Stuart Hogg (c)RW 14Darcy Graham OC 13Chris HarrisIC 12Sam Johnson LW 11Duhan van der MerweFH 10Duncan WeirSH 9 Ali Price N8 8 Blade ThomsonOF 7 Hamish WatsonBF 6 Jamie Ritchie RL 5 Jonny GrayLL 4 Scott CummingsTP 3 Zander Fagerson HK 2 Stuart McInally LP 1 Rory Sutherland Replacements:HK 16George Turner PR 17Oli Kebble PR 18WP Nel LK 19Sam Skinner FL 20Nick Haining SH 21Sam Hidalgo-Clyne CE 22James Lang FB 23Blair Kinghorn Coach:Gregor Townsend Player of the Match: Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) Christophe Ridley (England) Television match official: Wayne Barnes (England) Notes: Jacopo Trulla and Stephen Varney (both Italy) made their international debuts.
Round 2