SIX NATIONS IN NUMBERS

THIS year’s Six Nations gets under way on Friday. Here is a statistical look ahead to the tournament. 28 England hold the record for winning the Home Nations, Five Nations and Six Nations Championship on the most occasions, two clear of nearest challengers Wales. The same is true for Grand Slams, 13 to 11. 14 Ireland last year recorded their 14th overall win as well as their third Grand Slam. 65 Italy captain Sergio Parisse shares the record for the most appearances in the competition with former Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll (below) and has the chance to pull clear this year. Rory Best will match O’Driscoll’s total if he appears in all five of Ireland’s games. 557 Former Ireland out-half Ronan O’Gara has scored more points in the competition than any other player. 26 O’Driscoll’s career try tally remains a record. 7 Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale last year set a record for tries in one tournament in the Six Nations era. He was one short of the alltime record, set in the Five Nations by England’s Cyril Lowe in 1914 and Scotland’s Ian Smith in 1925. 50 France kicker Maxime Machenaud led all pointsscorers in 2018, one ahead of Wales’ Leigh Halfpenny. 13 Having only joined the competition in 2000, Italy already have as many wooden spoons as France and are long odds-on favourites to move ahead of them with another this year. 24 This will be the 24th season of the women’s competition. England have won 14 but France are the defending champions. 16 It is the 16th season of the Six Nations Under 20s Championship, with England having eight wins to their name and France also defending that title.