2025 Tournament: Prizes & Awards Guide

by Liam O'Connor

France currently holds the most prestigious silverware in the Six Nations, but the championship offers far more than just one trophy.

The annual Six Nations tournament—featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales—isn’t just about claiming the overall championship. Beyond the main prize, a collection of trophies celebrates specific rivalries and achievements, adding layers of history and prestige to each match. From the ancient Calcutta Cup to the newly minted Solidarity/Solidarité Trophy, the competition is steeped in tradition.

A fascinating array of trophies awaits the victors in the Six Nations, each with its own unique story.

  • The Six Nations Championship Trophy, the ultimate prize, wasn’t introduced until 1993.
  • The Triple Crown, awarded for a clean sweep against the home nations, has a history stretching back to the “Invisible Cup.”
  • Several historic rivalries are celebrated with dedicated trophies, like the Calcutta Cup, contested since 1879.
  • New trophies, like the Solidarity/Solidarité Trophy, continue to be added, reflecting the evolving relationships between the competing nations.

The Championship’s Crown Jewel

Six Nations Championship trophy

The Six Nations trophy is the ultimate prize in northern hemisphere rugby (Getty Images)

While the tournament’s roots stretch back to 1883, a dedicated trophy wasn’t awarded until 1993, when France topped the table in the then-Five Nations Championship. That original trophy was used until 2014, when it was replaced with a new design following Ireland’s championship win. The current cup, still in use today, features six sides, representing each of the competing teams.

Current holders: France

A Consolation Prize with History

Triple Crown trophy

Dan Sheehan of Ireland lifts the Triple Crown trophy, surrounded by teammates, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff

Ireland missed out on the Six Nations Championship but still won the consolation prize of a Triple Crown in 2025 (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The Triple Crown, awarded to a team that defeats the other three “home nations” (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), is a coveted prize. For much of the tournament’s history, the Triple Crown existed without a physical trophy, known simply as the “Invisible Cup.” A new shield was introduced in 2006, when Ireland secured the win.

Interestingly, a retired miner named Dave Merrington crafted a bespoke Triple Crown trophy from a lump of coal in the 1970s. Though never formally presented, it remains on display at the World Rugby Museum in Twickenham.

Current holders: Ireland

Rivalries Etched in Silver

Beyond the championship and Triple Crown, numerous trophies celebrate specific rivalries within the Six Nations. All five of Scotland’s matches now have an associated trophy, while France and Ireland boast three apiece. England and Italy have two, and Wales has one.

Calcutta Cup

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England and Scotland have been playing for the Calcutta Cup for well over a century (Getty Images)

The oldest trophy in the Six Nations, the Calcutta Cup, has been contested between England and Scotland since 1879. Forged from rupees collected after the disbandment of the Calcutta Rugby Football Club, it represents a unique piece of sporting history.

Current holders: England

Millennium Trophy

Jacob Stockdale of Ireland poses with the Millennium Trophy after the Guinness Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium on March 20, 2021 in Dublin, Ireland.

Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale demonstrates how this particular Six Nations trophy also works as a hat (Charles McQuillan – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Contested between England and Ireland since 1988, the Millennium Trophy commemorates Dublin’s millennial celebrations and is designed in the shape of a Viking helmet.

Current holders: Ireland

Centenary Quaich Trophy

onathan Sexton of Ireland with the Centenary Quaich after the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Scotland and Ireland at BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland in March 2023.

The Centenary Quaich takes its name from a Gaelic word for a shallow Scottish cup (Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Introduced in 1989, the Centenary Quaich—named after a Gaelic word for a shallow cup—is contested between Ireland and Scotland. Ireland has held the trophy since 2018.

Current holders: Ireland

Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy

 Italy celebrate victory after the RBS Six Nations match between Italy and France on March 12, 2011 in Rome, Italy.

Italy celebrate a rare victory in the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy in 2011 (Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

France and Italy compete for the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy, introduced in 2007. Named after the Italian national hero who also fought for France, the trophy’s design is notably unconventional.

Current holders: France

Auld Alliance Trophy

Charles Ollivon of France receives the Auld Alliance Trophy as HRH Princess Anne looks on after the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Scotland and France at BT Murrayfield Stadium on February 10, 2024

France’s Charles Ollivon collects the Auld Alliance Trophy in 2024 (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

First contested in 2018, the Auld Alliance Trophy commemorates the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, honoring the French and Scottish rugby players who lost their lives.

Current holders: France

Doddie Weir Cup

Finn Russell of Scotland poses for a photo with the Doddie Weir Cup trophy following the teams victory in the Guinness Six Nations 2024 match between Wales and Scotland at Principality Stadium on February 03, 2024

Scotland’s Finn Russell with the Doddie Weir Cup in 2024 (Warren Little/Getty Images)

Named in honor of former Scotland international Doddie Weir, who passed away in 2022 after battling motor neurone disease, the Doddie Weir Cup has been contested between Wales and Scotland since a special inaugural match in November 2018.

Current holders: Scotland

Cuttitta Cup

Italy captain Michele Lamaro lifts the Cuttitta Cup with his teammates after beating Scotland in the 2026 Six Nations

Italy reclaimed the Cuttitta Cup after beating Scotland in Rome in February 2026 (Giampiero Sposito/Federugby via Getty Images)

The newest addition to the Six Nations trophies, the Cuttitta Cup is awarded to the winner of the annual Scotland vs. Italy match, beginning in 2022. It’s named for Massimo Cuttitta, a former Italian captain and Scottish scrum coach who died in 2021.

Current holders: Italy

Solidarity/Solidarité Trophy

France captain Antoine Dupont holds aloft the Solidarity/Solidarité Trophy after his team’s victory over Ireland in the 2026 Six Nations.

France captain Antoine Dupont becomes the first man to lift the new Solidarity/Solidarité Trophy (Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

The newest addition to the Six Nations trophies, this prize is awarded to the winner of the annual France vs. Ireland match. According to the IRFU, the Solidarity/Solidarité Trophy “celebrates the unique relationship between Ireland and France, fierce sporting rivals on the field, and long-standing partners beyond it.”

Current holders: France

The Wooden Spoon

The Wooden Spoon is the Six Nations “trophy” no team wants to win, awarded to the team finishing bottom of the table. Unsurprisingly, it isn’t presented to the captain.

Italy has “won” it 18 times since joining the competition in 2000, while Wales has finished with the unwanted honor for the last two seasons.

Current holders: Wales


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