Six Nations Rugby Union Betting

England will launch their 2009 Six Nations campaign against Italy on February 7 at Twickenham. England last won the Six Nations title in 2003 and will be looking to repeat this success with their new manager and coach Martin Johnson. They play the current champions, Wales, away at The Millennium Stadium of February 14 and then Ireland at Croke Park on February 28. Their last two games are both home matches at Twickenham when they meet France on March 15 and Scotland on March 21, the last day of the tournament.

In striving to end their five years in the wilderness, since their World Cup triumph in 2003 and Six nations Grand Slam in the same year, England will face fierce competition from holders, Wales, who also took the Grand Slam last year, and France who have undergone a renaissance in recent years.

Six Nations Rugby Union Betting options

Rugby Union Betting has changed dramatically in recent times and punters are no longer limited to simple win only bets. Nowadays you can place a wager on :

And lots more. Check out a few Sports Betting sites to see what is available. Live betting is a great innovation that enables you to jump into a game at any point and place your bet. This keeps your interest going right until the end. Spread betting is also available and should be studied carefully because it’s not for the faint-hearted! There are lots of Free Bets on offer to new customers and it’s worth checking out the sites that guide you to the best deals and the right place for you. There’s also loads of info including gossip, inside stories, statistics and tips to help you on your way.

More about the Six Nations Tournament

The Six Nations is an international rugby union tournament whose origins can be traced back to 1871 as a four-nation event comprising matches between England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. France joined the fray in 1910 and the event had become the Five Nations. Italy was invited in 2000 and the Six Nations era had begun.

Played annually, the format of the Championship is simple; each team plays every other team once, with home field advantage alternating from one year to the next. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. If a team gains victory in each of its matches this is a "Grand Slam". Back to back "Grand Slams" have occurred on five occasions but only twice in recent times: England in 1991/1992 and by France in 1997/1998.

Victory by any Home Nation over all three of the others is awarded the "Triple Crown". England achieved four consecutive Triple Crowns in 1995-1998 inclusive and hold the record for the number won with 23. Also contested within the tournament is the Calcutta Cup contested between England and Scotland. Since 1988, the Millennium Trophy has been awarded to the winner of the game between England and Ireland. The Guiseppe Garibaldi Trophy is bestowed upon the winner of the France v. Italy match.