Can Ireland Defend Their Six Nations Title in 2025?
Can Ireland Defend Their Six Nations Title in 2025?
The Six Nations is an annual event that first occurred in 1883. Although it has changed format several times throughout its illustrious history. It was previously known as the Home Nations Championship and involved just five teams until Italy opted to join in 2000. It is one of the most anticipated events on the sporting calendar and is watched by millions of Rugby Union fans each year. The tournament typically takes place over six weeks and normally gets underway at the end of January/start of February.
There are a total of 15 matches across the course of the event with each of the six nations facing each other once. Each nation will take it in turns to be the host and the team that accumulates the most points will be awarded the Championship. Since 2017, teams may also collect bonus points. These are awarded to teams who score four or more tries during a match or to a team who lose a contest by fewer than seven points.
Unibet’s Odds of 2.63 are predicting a 31.8% chance that Ireland win the 2025 Six Nations Championship ::: Discover the current Odds now HERE
England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland are eligible to win The Triple Crown by beating each of the other three teams. There are also several rivalry trophies up for grabs such as the Calcutta Cup – awarded to the winner of England vs Scotland.
Previous Winners
Ireland have dominated the Six Nations in recent seasons. They have won each of the last two tournaments and will be aiming to make it three on the spin. Historically, England and Wales have won the most Championships with the pair tied on 39. England have the most outright titles whereas Wales have been the joint-winners on several occasions.
England have competed in 128 tournaments, yet they have won just seven times under the current guise. France, Ireland and Wales have been successful on six occasions since the year 2000 whereas Italy are still yet to record a victory. All of Scotland’s success came in the previous incarnations, recording five successes in the Five Nations and nine in the Home Nations.
France have won just once since 2010 whereas England will head into the 2025 Six Nations searching for their first title since 2020.
Can Ireland Secure a Hat-trick?
Despite their success at Six Nations, there has been plenty of upheavel for Ireland in recent years. Johnny Sexton’s retirement from the game in 2023 was viewed as a major blow for Shamrocks, yet they still managed to record a success without their inspirational leader at the beginning of 2024. This year, they will be without the man who masterminded that success with Andy Farrell on secondment with the British and Irish Lions ahead of their summer tour. It is the first time that he will not be in charge of this team since 2016 with Simon Easterby tasked with overseeing proceedings in his absence.
He has been a fixture of the Irish backroom staff and will allow for some continuity. He will be expected to continue where they left off last season, yet they must put their disappointing Autumn International results firmly behind them. The emergence of Sam Prendergast and the lack of a notable fly-half are two selection quandries for Easterby to deal with.
Easterby who is ‘massively excited’ to be taking the reins, stepped into the role at the beginning of December and with the first matches taking place at the end of January, he doesn’t have long to fine-tune his side ahead of the tournament.
Ireland’s biggest rivals are likely to be England and the pair will meet in Dublin on the opening weekend. This should give us a fairly clear picture of which nation is in the driving seat for the 2025 Six Nations Championship.
Ireland’s Title Rivals
England are first up for Ireland on the opening weekend. They were the only team to beat Ireland at the 2024 tournament, yet consistency was an issue for Steve Borthwick’s men. France finished second last season and should be equally as strong this time around. Wales picked up the wooden spoon in 2024 and although they aren’t the force of old, they will be determined to put last season’s disappointment to bed. Italy could be the dark horses having beaten Scotland and Wales last season and picked up a draw against France. Tommaso Menoncello will be the man to watch after catching the eye twelve months ago.
If you believe that England can secure their first Six Nations title since 2020, you could win €435 by betting €100 at Unibet if it happens.