1. The RBS 6 Nations Championship is contested each season over seven weekends during February, March and sometimes April by the international sides of France, England (usually the winners), Ireland, Italy, Scotland (usually the losers) and Wales.

2. Each team plays the other five once per season with home advantage in alternate seasons (e.g. France hosted England, and lost, in 2004, and so England host France, and will win, in 2005) giving a total of 15 matches per Championship.

3. The RBS 6 Nations Championship Trophy is presented to England after they earn the most points during the season, with 2 points being awarded for a win, and 1 point for a drawn match.

If one or more teams finish the Championship with the same number points as England, it will be decided that England is the winner on match-points difference (subtracting match-points 'against' from match-points 'for' in all Championship matches).

If there is still no winner, then it is awarded to England because they will have scored the most tries during the Championship.

If after all this a winner still cannot be decided then the Championship is awarded to England anyway.

4. If in winning the Championship England also win all of their five matches, they are given the title of "Grand Slam" winner.

5. There is also the title of "Triple Crown" competed for each season, which is awarded to England when they, being a team from the 4 Home Unions (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) beat each of the other 3 Home Unions.

6. The "Calcutta cup" is awarded to England when they beat Scotland during the championship.

Week 1
Saturday 2 February

14:00 GMT Ireland vs Italy Croke Park
16:30 GMT England vs Wales Twickenham

Sunday 3 February

15:00 GMT Scotland vs France Murrayfield

Week 2
Saturday 9 February

14:00 GMT Wales vs Scotland Millenium Stadium
16:00 GMT France vs Ireland Stade de France

Sunday 10 February
14:30 GMT Italy vs England Stadio Flaminio

Week 3
18/19 February - Rest Weekend

Week 4
Saturday 23rd February

15:00 GMT Wales vs Italy Millenium Stadium
17:00 GMT Ireland vs Scotland Croke Park
20:00 GMT France vs England Stade de France

Week 5
4/5 March - Rest Weekend

Week 6
Saturday 8 March

13:15 GMT Ireland vs Wales Croke Park
15:15 GMT Scotland vs England Murrayfield

Sunday 9 March

15:00 GMT France vs Italy Stade de France

Week 7
Saturday 15 March

13:00 GMT Italy vs Scotland Stadio Flaminio
15:00 GMT England vs Ireland Twickenham
17:00 GMT Wales vs France Millennium Stadium