| 2021 Six Nations Championship | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 6 February – 26 March 2021 | ||
| Countries | |||
| Tournament statistics | |||
| Champions |  Wales (28th title) | ||
| Triple Crown | Wales (22nd title) | ||
| Matches played | 15 | ||
| Attendance | 0 (0 per match) | ||
| Tries scored | 86 (5.73 per match) | ||
| Top point scorer(s) |  Johnny Sexton (65 points) | ||
| Top try scorer(s) |  Duhan van der Merwe (5 tries) | ||
| Player of the tournament | Hamish Watson[1] | ||
| |||
The 2021 Six Nations Championship (known as the Guinness Six Nations for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd Six Nations Championship, the annual rugby union competition contested by the national teams of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales, and the 127th edition of the competition (including all its previous incarnations as the Home Nations Championship and Five Nations Championship). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament started just three months after the end of the previous tournament and all matches took place without spectators.
England began the tournament as defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament on points difference,[2] but only managed two wins in this tournament and finished fifth, ahead of only Italy.[3] Wales, having finished fifth in 2020, entered the final weekend with four wins out of four and the possibility of a Grand Slam, but were beaten 32–30 by France in Saint-Denis following a late try.[4]
France's third match, against Scotland, had to be rescheduled after an outbreak of COVID-19 in the French camp; the match was moved to the Friday night following the final round of matches,[5] with France needing to win by at least 21 points with a try-scoring bonus point to overtake Wales at the top of the table. They led by three points going into the final minute, only for Scotland to score a try that gave them the win and Wales the title.[6]
- ^ "HAMISH WATSON WINS GUINNESS SIX NATIONS PLAYER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP 2021". Sixnationsrugby.com. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Dawnay, Oliver (31 October 2020). "England crowned 2020 Six Nations champions on points difference as France defeat Ireland". talkSPORT. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Morrow, Michael (20 March 2021). "Ireland 32-18 England: Hosts impress as they stun dismal England despite Bundee Aki red card". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Griffiths, Gareth (20 March 2021). "France 32-30 Wales: Late drama as hosts deny Wales Grand Slam at death". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "Six Nations 2021: France v Scotland rescheduled for 26 March". BBC Sport. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "Six Nations: Wales win title as Scotland beat France in Paris". BBC Sport. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.