The 2023 Six Nations tournament has begun on Saturday, February 4th and will conclude on Saturday, March 18th. This highly anticipated annual competition features six of the top northern hemisphere rugby union nations – England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales.
As the reigning champions, France will be looking to defend their title after securing the Grand Slam in the 2022 competition. This year’s Six Nations coincides with the 2023 Rugby World Cup, so the competition is expected to be more intense than ever, with teams eager to make a statement over their rivals.
We look in-depth at the 2023 Six Nations tournament, including the available betting markets, recommended bookmakers, and popular betting options.
2024 Six Nations Upcoming Fixtures
Round 1
4th February – Wales v Ireland
4th February – England v Scotland
5th February – Italy v France
Round 2
11th February – Ireland v France
11th February – Scotland v Wales
12th February – England v Italy
Round 3
25th February – Italy v Ireland
25th February – Wales v England
26th February – France v Scotland
Round 4
11th March – Italy v Wales
11th March – England v France
12th March – Scotland v Ireland
Round 5
18th March – Scotland v Italy
18th March – France v Wales
18th March – Ireland v England
Favourites to Win the 2024 Six Nations Championship
The 2023 Six Nations is set to be a closely contested competition, with France and Ireland currently frontrunners in the betting. As the reigning Six Nations champions, France will be looking to defend their title.
At the same time, Ireland impressed in 2022, winning a series in New Zealand and defeating top-ranked teams such as South Africa and Australia. As a result, bookmakers are having difficulty separating these two nations, making the 2023 Six Nations an exciting and unpredictable tournament.
Top Bookmakers for Six Nations Betting
If you want to get involved and bet on the Six Nations, we’ve highlighted five bookmakers you should definitely check out.
Betway
Betway is a top-notch bookmaker for having a bet on the Six Nations, thanks partly to the Betway Rugby Club. Members of this club receive a $5 free bet each week when they place a $20 wager on rugby the previous week (terms and conditions apply). This offer is open to all Betway customers.
If you’re new to Betway, you can take advantage of their fantastic new customer offer before placing a bet on the Six Nations – you can claim up to a $60 free bet. In addition, they offer competitive odds and a broad range of betting options, and you can cash out your bets throughout the tournament.
Betway offers live betting on every Six Nations match for those who like to place in-play bets. Additionally, the Betway app allows you to manage your Six Nations betting from your mobile device, available for both iOS and Android users.
William Hill
William Hill is an excellent option for those who enjoy having an early bet on the Six Nations. They offer a broad range of betting markets and odds on the tournament, allowing you to take advantage of the betting value ahead of the start of the championship.
If you prefer in-play betting, William Hill also provides live betting on every match during the Six Nations, accessible through their highly-rated mobile site and app.
The Acca Freedom promotion at William Hill is a fantastic choice for punters who want to place an Acca bet on the Six Nations. It allows you to boost your returns or insure your Acca if one selection lets you down.
Finally, a $20 free bet welcome bonus for new customers to William Hill is available, inviting you to join one of the oldest and most respected names in the gambling industry.
Pinnacle
Pinnacle is a globally popular sportsbook renowned for offering some of the best odds in online sports betting. For punters looking to bet on the Six Nations, Pinnacle should be your first choice with its wide range of betting markets, including a strong focus on handicap betting with multiple spreads available on their mobile site.
While Pinnacle may not offer any welcome bonuses or promotions, it compensates for this by providing highly competitive odds and high bet limits – some of the highest you will find anywhere.
The Live Centre section is an excellent feature for in-play betting on the Six Nations and offers valuable statistics and analysis. Additionally, the Betting Resource centre is helpful for punters of all sports, offering detailed previews of all the teams and betting tips for top matches.
Betiton
Betiton is an up-and-coming sportsbook that is gaining popularity among sports betting fans in NZ, particularly those who enjoy betting on rugby.
Offering a wide variety of rugby union betting options and generous odds and bonuses, Betiton is a top choice for Six Nations betting. In addition, with a license from the UK Gambling Commission, Betiton is a reliable and secure platform for online sports betting.
As a new customer, you can take advantage of Betiton’s offer – a $10 free bet when you sign up and place a $15 wager. The free bet can be used on any sport, including Six Nations rugby, making it an excellent opportunity to try out the site.
Six Nations Bet Types
Having a bet on the Six Nations is highly popular and provides various betting markets for each match and championship. Some of the most common Six Nations bets include:
- Outright Champion – A bet on which team will come out on top and win the 2023 Six Nations tournament.
- Match Outcome – A bet on the result of a single match, including team a winning, team b winning, or the game ending in a draw.
- Handicap Betting – This type of bet involves giving or taking away points from each team and is popular when there is a clear favourite in the match outcome market. For example, Italy may receive 20 points from Ireland, meaning Ireland would need to win by 21 points or more to cover the handicap.
- The Margin of Victory – A bet on the winning team and the number of points they will win by. For instance, Scotland to beat Italy by a margin of 15 to 20 points.
Six Nations Live Betting
The Six Nations is a popular event among punters, with some choosing to place pre-match wagers while others prefer the excitement of placing a live bet on the Six Nations action. Live betting offers the opportunity to better understand the match before placing a bet. It is available on all Six Nations games and allows you to make informed decisions based on the unfolding action.
Six Nations Trophies
The Six Nations tournament is unique in that it offers several prestigious trophies to be won – here are some of the prominent ones to keep an eye out for as the tournament progresses.
- Six Nations Championship Trophy – This is the prize awarded to the outright winner of the tournament, currently held by France.
- Triple Crown – This trophy goes to one of the Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland, or Wales) if they successfully beat their three rivals during the tournament. Ireland is the current holder, having won the Triple Crown in 2022.
- Calcutta Cup – This trophy is contested between England and Scotland and is the oldest international rugby union trophy. Scotland currently holds the Calcutta Cup, defeating England 20-17 in 2022.
Although no trophy is awarded, the Grand Slam is a highly-regarded achievement in the Six Nations. It occurs when one nation defeats all five other teams during the tournament. England holds the record for the most Grand Slams, with 13, while France recorded a Grand Slam in 2022.
History of the Six Nations
The Six Nations tournament, as it is known today, came into existence in 2000 with the addition of Italy to the former Five Nations competition. The Five Nations was established in 1910 with the inclusion of France to the Home Nations Championship, which first began in 1883.
It is now the premier northern hemisphere international rugby tournament.
Similar Tournaments to the Six Nations
The Rugby Championship serves as the southern hemisphere equivalent of the Six Nations. It features Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa competing against each other over a series of home and away matches.
FAQs
The 2023 Six Nations competition will take place from February to March, with England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales participating in a schedule of home and away matches.
France are the reigning Six Nations champions, having lifted the trophy in 2022.
The Six Nations tournament is held annually, normally taking place in February and March.
England boasts the most successful record in the history of the Six Nations, having claimed the championship trophy 29 times in various forms.
Yes, having a bet on the Six Nations is popular with many punters, with the leading bookmakers providing pre-match and in-play betting options on every game and offering outright betting markets.
