The 2021 Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd Six Nations Championship, the annual rugby union competition contested by the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales, and the 127th edition of the competition (including all its previous incarnations as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament started just three months after the end of the previous tournament and all matches took place without spectators.
England began the tournament as defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament on points difference,[2] but only managed two wins in this tournament and finished fifth, ahead of only Italy.[3] Wales, having finished fifth in 2020, entered the final weekend with four wins out of four and the possibility of a Grand Slam, but were beaten 32–30 by France in Saint-Denis following a late try.[4]
France's third match, against Scotland, had to be rescheduled after an outbreak of COVID-19 in the French camp; the match was moved to the Friday night following the final round of matches,[5] with France needing to win by at least 21 points with a try-scoring bonus point to overtake Wales at the top of the table. They led by three points going into the final minute, only for Scotland to score a try that gave them the win and Wales the title.[6]
Bonus points are awarded to any team that scores four or more tries in a match and/or loses by seven points or fewer.
Three bonus points are awarded to a team that wins all five of their matches (a Grand Slam). This ensures that a team that wins a Grand Slam tops the table with at least 23 points, as another team could lose one match while winning two bonus points and win the other four matches while winning four bonus points for a maximum of 22 points.
Tiebreakers
If two or more teams are tied on table points, the team with the better points difference (points scored less points conceded) is ranked higher.
If the above tiebreaker fails to separate tied teams, the team that scores the higher number of total tries (including penalty tries) in their matches is ranked higher.
If two or more teams remain tied after applying the above tiebreakers then those teams will be placed at equal rank; if the tournament has concluded and more than one team is placed first then the title will be shared between them.
Fixtures
The fixtures were announced on 20 March 2019. As with 2020, no matches were scheduled on a Friday night[a] and the final match of the tournament was scheduled for peak time.[7]
George North (Wales) – at the age of 28 and 320 days – became the youngest player to earn 100 caps for his country, surpassing Australia's Michael Hooper by 28 days.
George North scored a try in his sixth consecutive Six Nations game against Italy, the best run for a player against a single team in the tournament.[16]
Ken Owens was the first hooker to score two or more tries in a Six Nations game since Shane Byrne scored two against Wales for Ireland in 2004.[17]
Scotland recorded their biggest win in any of the Six Nations, Five Nations or Home Nations tournaments, surpassing their previous record of 29 points, set against Italy in 2017.[20]
Billy Burns (Ireland) had been named on the bench, but was ruled out ahead of kick off through injury and replaced by Ross Byrne.
Max Malins (England) had been named to start at fullback, but was ruled out ahead of kick-off through injury; Elliot Daly moved to fullback from centre, Ollie Lawrence replaced him at 13 and George Martin came onto the bench.
Matt Fagerson was originally named at number 8 for Scotland, but suffered an injury in training and was replaced by Nick Haining; Ryan Wilson replaced Haining among the substitutes.[24]
Scotland won in Paris for the first time since a 36–22 victory in 1999.
With this victory, Scotland beat both England and France away from home for the first time in the tournament since 1926 and only the second time in 45 attempts.
^The postponed round 3 match between France and Scotland was ultimately played on a Friday.
^Postponed to 26 March 2021 due to a number of positive COVID-19, tests in the France camp.[14][15]
^Andrew Brace was originally appointed to this fixture, but was moved to officiate the England v France game with Jaco Peyper unable to travel due to travel restrictions.
^Andrew Brace replaces Jaco Peyper, who was unable to travel due to travel restrictions.
^Pascal Gaüzère replaced Jaco Peyper, who was unable to travel due to travel restrictions.