The Complete Guide to Six Nations Rugby Trophies
The Six Nations Championship represents far more than just a premier rugby union competition. It embodies a complex tapestry of historic rivalries and traditions between six proud rugby-playing nations. While the championship trophy itself is the ultimate prize, there are actually ten distinct trophies and awards that teams can potentially secure throughout the tournament.
The Championship Trophy and Wooden Spoon
The Championship Trophy stands as the most prestigious award in Six Nations rugby. First presented in 1993 through the initiative of the Earl of Westmorland, this sterling silver masterpiece features fifteen panels representing the players on the field and three handles symbolizing the match officials. A redesigned version was introduced in 2015. France currently holds this coveted trophy after their championship victory in 2025. Interestingly, there is no separate trophy awarded for achieving a Grand Slam victory.
At the opposite end of the spectrum lies the Wooden Spoon, a metaphorical award presented to the team finishing at the bottom of the Six Nations table each year. While England and Ireland have remarkably never received this dubious honor, the other four nations have all experienced this disappointment. Wales claimed their first Wooden Spoon since 2003 in 2024, while Italy broke their eight-year streak of finishing last that same year. Scotland last received the Wooden Spoon in 2015, with France most recently earning it in 2013.
Historic Rivalry Trophies
The Calcutta Cup represents the oldest international rugby trophy in existence, contested exclusively between England and Scotland since 1879. Crafted from melted-down donated rupees, this historic cup predates the next oldest rivalry trophy by over a century. While England historically leads in Calcutta Cup victories, Scotland has dominated recent encounters. England broke Scotland's winning streak by claiming the cup in 2025.
The Triple Crown represents another prestigious achievement, awarded to any of the four home nations that defeats the other three within a single championship. Although the concept dates back to the original Four Nations tournament, a physical trophy has only been awarded since 2006. Ireland currently leads with five Triple Crown victories, surpassing Wales' four wins. England has secured three crowns, while Scotland has not won the Triple Crown since 1990, and it was not awarded in 2025.
Additional Championship Trophies
The Millennium Trophy, established in 1988 to commemorate Dublin's millennium anniversary, is contested between England and Ireland. England holds more overall victories, though Ireland won three consecutive matches before England reclaimed it in 2024. Ireland then regained the trophy in the opening round of 2025.
The Centenary Quaich, named after the traditional Gaelic drinking vessel, has been awarded to the winner of Ireland versus Scotland matches since 1989. Ireland dominates this fixture, having won every encounter since 2017.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy honors the famous Italian general on the 200th anniversary of his birth and is contested between Italy and France. Italy has only won this trophy twice in nineteen attempts, managing a draw with France in 2024.
The Auld Alliance Trophy, created in 2018 to commemorate rugby players lost in conflict, celebrates the historic treaty between Scotland and France. France currently leads with four victories to Scotland's three.
The Doddie Weir Cup, also established in 2018, raises funds for motor neurone disease research in honor of the late Scottish rugby player. Both Wales and Scotland have won this trophy three times each, with Scotland seeking a fourth consecutive victory. After initial controversy, both nations now donate six-figure sums to MND causes from these matches.
The Cuttitta Cup, named for former Italian player and Scottish coach Massimo Cuttitta who died from COVID-19 in 2021, features handles representing the prop position he played and coached. Italy won the cup for the first time in 2024, Scotland reclaimed it in 2025, and Italy retook it in the opening round of 2026.
The Newest Addition
The Solidarity Trophy represents the newest addition to Six Nations rugby, introduced for the 2026 championship for matches between Ireland and France. This trophy celebrates the deep historical and cultural connections between the two nations. France dominated the inaugural match, defeating Ireland 36-14 in the opening round of 2026.
Each of these ten trophies adds unique layers of history, rivalry, and meaning to the Six Nations Championship, transforming what might appear as a simple rugby tournament into a rich tapestry of international sporting tradition and competition.
