Rugby Triple Crown – Everything you need to know

by Luke Andrews, 22 June 2023

In the world of rugby, if you are English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh, the holy grail is your country winning the jewel in the crown, the rugby Triple Crown. Winning the Triple Crown means you have beaten all your local rivals, and you can rightly brag that your team is the best in the UK. But what exactly is the Triple Crown in rugby? Join us as we explore the previous winners and revisit some of the past glories and tell you everything you need to know about rugby’s Triple Crown.

The ‘Triple Crown’ in rugby is a prestigious achievement that signifies a team’s dominance over its closest rivals and is a popular market when betting on rugby.

The term Triple Crown was first mentioned in an 1894 article in The Irish Times when Ireland, for the first time, managed to defeat all other home nations in a single season. This tradition is still upheld today, with the Triple Crown awarded to any team that triumphs over the other three in the Championship within a year.

The Triple Crown was once referred to as ‘The Invisible Cup’ due to its lack of a physical form. However, in 2006, a hefty silver shield, crafted in Edinburgh over four months, was commissioned as a tangible trophy for the winners. An earlier award, carved from coal by a retired English miner in the mid-1970s, never saw the light of day.

Triple Crown (rugby union) on Wikipedia is illustrated with this. Can you do better? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_%28rugby_union%29 pic.twitter.com/Wgw9I21pen

— Wiki Photo Fight (@WikiPhotoFight) March 28, 2018

All four home nations have had the honour of winning the Triple Crown. England leads with 26 victories, followed by Wales with 22, Ireland with 11, and Scotland with 10. Ireland won the most recent Triple Crown in the Six Nations Championship 2023.

The longest gap without a Triple Crown was experienced by Ireland, who went 49 years from 1899 to 1948 without securing the title. Scotland has not won a Grand Slam in 31 years, dating back to their 1990 Grand Slam victory.

The record for the most consecutive Triple Crowns is shared by England and Wales, both achieving four in a row. England’s streak ran from 1995 to 1998, while the renowned Welsh team, including Gareth Edwards, claimed the title from 1976 to 1979.

The Triple Crown has been awarded since the inaugural Home Nations Championship in 1883. The list of winners by year includes England (26 times), Wales (22 times), Ireland (11 times), and Scotland (10 times).

History and Evolution of the Triple Crown

Out of the 125 tournaments that took place from 1883 to 2021, a Triple Crown victor emerged in 69 instances. There were twelve years when the competition was not held due to the World Wars, with the most recent instance of no Triple Crown winner being in the 2017 season.

Both Wales and England have managed to hold onto the Triple Crown for four years in a row, with Wales achieving this from 1976 to 1979 and England from 1995 to 1998. Neither Scotland nor Ireland have been able to secure the Triple Crown for more than two consecutive championships.

It’s interesting to note that winning the Triple Crown does not guarantee victory in the year’s tournament. France or Italy might win the tournament or Grand Slam, and a home team could complete the Triple Crown.

In rare instances, one home nation might secure the Triple Crown, while another takes home the championship title (excluding the Grand Slam). The Triple Crown victors who didn’t manage to win the Championship include Ireland in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2022, Wales in 1977, England in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2014. In all these instances, except for 2014, France emerged as the champions. In 2014, Ireland claimed the Six Nations championship despite their loss to England, the Triple Crown winners, marking the first instance of a team winning the Triple Crown but ultimately losing the overall title to another eligible team.

Triple Crown winners who only managed to share the Championship include England in 1954 (after a loss to France, shared the title with both France and Wales) and 1960 (when France drew and shared the title), and Wales in 1988 (lost to France and shared the title).

The table below provides a breakdown of the number of Triple Crown victories by each country, along with the years they were achieved.

Memorable Triple Crown Deciders (350 words) England was the first team to win the Triple Crown in 1883, 140 years ago. As you can imagine, in 140 years, there have been many thrilling moments in the race for the Triple Crown. This next section will share some of the best Triple Crown moments in recent times.

Wales 32-20 Ireland (2005)

A historic occasion occurred in Cardiff in 2005 when Wales secured their first Grand Slam since 1978 along with their first Triple Crown since 1988. Beyond the match itself, this monumental win echoes the Welsh team’s tireless resilience and fierce determination.

A momentous showdown was anticipated in Round 5 – Wales was competing for the Grand Slam while Ireland aimed to secure consecutive victories under its belt. Though there existed even an outside opportunity that could render the Irish winners of the Championship provided they clinched a significant win. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be since Welsh players demonstrated remarkable skill and emerged victorious with a final score of 32-20 – marking another milestone as they made history by winning over Ireland at their new home turf.

The game produced an exhilarating experience where Gethin Jenkins scored an impressive try during the first half of the match; this resulted in Wales leading by 16-6 points at halftime – absolutely astonishing! Moreover, Gavin Henson contributed significantly by scoring both a drop goal and a long-range penalty while Kevin Morgan put forward his efforts to extend Wales’ advantage even more with his successful try of his own – extending their points margin to 29-6! However, there was no room for relaxation since Ireland took on the challenge head-on & bounced back strongly through their scores from Marcus Horan & Geordan Murphy. This set the stage for an electrifyingly nerve-wracking finish!

#OTD in 2005 Wales beat Ireland 32-20 to win their first Grand Slam since 1978 🏆 pic.twitter.com/87AVr7zji0

— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) March 19, 2021

Despite the intense pressure, Wales held their nerve, and thanks to the boot of Stephen Jones, they secured an additional 16 points, which gave them the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam. A testament to their unwavering grit, exceptional talent, and undaunted resolve – this match is forever etched into the treasured history of Welsh rugby.

England 24-28 Ireland (2006)

Recounting events from 17 years ago, we look back at an exciting match between rivals Ireland and England that took place at Twickenham in 2006 in what turned out to be a close contest. With emotions running high among players and fans alike, Ireland ultimately emerged triumphant with a final score of 28 24 – earning them the prestigious Triple Crown title in the process.

The first half of play saw Ireland leading by just three points after Shane Horgan responded quickly to Jamie Noons’ initial attempt for England. Both teams were making smart moves throughout and exchanging advantages constantly throughout the game until Steve Borthwick scored one for England. However, Denis Leamy kept Irish hopes alive with another vital score; this led up to two subsequent penalties by Andy Good, which helped England pull ahead by just three points again before an edge-of-the-seat finale saw Horgan make an unforgettable final run that clinched victory and pride for Ireland.

While France kept the ultimate title, this match remains a time capsule of Irish rugby history, showcasing the team’s resilience and skill in the face of tough competition. Irish fans have little hesitation in reminding the England fans of this historic victory.

Ireland 12-16 Wales (2008)

In 2008, a mere two years after their previous victory, Wales once again claimed the Triple Crown. This time, however, the triumph was achieved in the fourth round of the Championship, breaking the pattern of our previous examples.

Wales, having already conquered England on their home turf and Scotland on theirs, as well as Italy, had their sights set on the Grand Slam. On the other hand, Ireland was still running for the Triple Crown.

The match was a gruelling contest of wills, with Shane Williams’ 40th Test try – a record-equalling feat – giving Wales the upper hand. The winger weaved a spell of his own, slicing through Ireland’s defence to score the game’s only try in the corner.

#rugby history today 08/03 in 2008 : Ireland 12-16 Wales – IRFU lose in Dublin in 2008 rugby test match https://www.ticketsrugby.com/rugby-tickets/games/Ireland-Wales-rugby-tickets.php pic.twitter.com/tS50EcLneg

— Ireland-Wales-Rugby (@Ireland_Wales) March 8, 2017

Ireland, however, was not ready to concede. A penalty by Ronan O’Gara brought them within a point of their rivals. But it was James Hook’s last-minute kick that cemented a memorable victory for Warren Gatland’s team. Riding on this wave of success, Wales went on to secure the Slam against France in the fifth round.

England 25-21 Wales (2016)

In 2016, England’s rugby team, under the guidance of Eddie Jones, showcased a remarkable performance that led them to their 25th Triple Crown. The victory was a result of a thrilling 25-21 win over Wales at Twickenham during the fourth round of the Championship. This win brought them just one victory away from their first Grand Slam in 13 years.

The match was a classic, with England narrowly winning thanks to Owen Farrell’s impressive 20-point contribution. England had a comfortable 16-0 lead at halftime, courtesy of an Anthony Watson try and three successful penalties from Farrell.

The game was remarkably open, with England choosing to go wide rather than straight. They could have scored two tries in the opening 14 minutes, but Ben Youngs knocked the ball on as he tried to apply downward pressure over the Wales line after Mike Brown had broken Jonathan Davies’s tackle. Dan Cole also had a chance to score but ended up grounding the ball on his own arm.

England dominated the first half, finding themselves in their own 22 only twice. On both occasions, Maro Itoje managed to steal the ball and forced the Wales hooker Scott Baldwin to concede a penalty for holding on after quickly getting into position to contest for possession. The England half-backs George Ford and Ben Youngs teased and tormented Wales, widening the point of attacks and constantly bringing Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, and Jack Nowell into play. Being comfortable with confronting ball-carriers head-on, Wales struggled to get moving targets in their sights.

Wales missed 20% of their tackles, and there was not one part of the game where they were superior to England. Yet, they scored three tries to one and were within a fourth of winning the game. Perhaps it was the thought of having to face the defence coach Shaun Edwards in the dressing room that finally stirred them.

Despite the late resurgence from Wales, with George North and Taulupe Faletau scoring two tries within four minutes, England managed to hold on to their lead. This victory secured a historic Triple Crown for England and paved the way for their 13th Grand Slam.

England 33-30 Wales (2020)

In an electrifying game tainted by disputes, England triumphed with a 33-30 victory over Wales, clinching the Triple Crown in the Guinness Six Nations. England’s initial tries by Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly in the first half gave them a substantial lead. Yet, the spectre of their previous year’s downfall in Cardiff lingered as Justin Tipuric executed an incredible try immediately after the break.

Nevertheless, England counteracted decisively with penalties from Owen Farrell and George Ford, succeeded by a try from Manu Tuilagi. Tuilagi was subsequently issued a red card for a dangerous tackle, reducing England to a mere 13 players on the field. Wales managed to score late consolation tries through Dan Biggar and Tipuric, but it was insufficient to overturn England’s advantage.

The win sustained England’s championship aspirations, although the concluding round face-off with Italy was deferred due to Covid-19. Conversely, Wales endured their third successive Six Nations loss. The game also observed a contentious episode involving Joe Marler and Alun Wyn Jones. Before the match, Wales was dealt the sorrowful news of the demise of ex-centre Matthew J Watkins.

The game commenced with a try from Watson in the fourth minute following a cunning change of strategy masterminded by Ben Youngs. Wales had opportunities but failed to exploit them, leading to the initial contentious moment when they fumbled the ball over the line. Penalties were reciprocated between Farrell and Biggar, and England sustained a setback when Jonny May didn’t reappear after a head injury assessment. England’s kicking strategy, steered by Ford, was successful in navigating the team around the field. The second try originated from a commanding scrum, succeeded by a precise finish from Daly. Biggar kicked a long-distance penalty, and immediately after the break, Wales conjured a stunning try through Tipuric. England, however, regained dominance with consecutive Farrell penalties and cemented the game with Tuilagi’s try in the 61st minute.

Wales retaliated with late tries from Biggar and Tipuric but fell short.

England see off Wales to win Triple Crown 🏉

England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 remain in the 2020 Six Nations title race 🏆 after they secured a 33-30 victory over Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 at Twickenham in a tetchy encounter.

— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) March 7, 2020

Eddie Jones, England’s head coach, voiced his annoyance with referee Ben O’Keefe following Tuilagi’s red card. Jones condemned World Rugby’s clampdown on hazardous play, contending that Tuilagi was attempting a lawful tackle and that the verdict lacked practical judgment. Despite the numerical disadvantage towards the game’s conclusion, Jones conceded that Wales had the upper hand and lauded his team for their resilience. The match was characterised by controversy and a spirited ambience, with Joe Marler’s incident with Alun Wyn Jones contributing to the dramatic showdown.

Full List of Triple Crown Winners

The 1883 Home Nations Championship marked the debut series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Between 16th December 1882 and 3rd March 1883, five games were conducted. The competition involved England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

England emerged as the debut champions, and by overcoming the other three nations, they became the initial recipients of the Triple Crown, even though the term was not employed at that time (in fact, not until 1894).

In 1911, the competition was expanded to five teams when France joined the competition.

The format changed once again in 2002 when Italy was added to create the Six Nations Championship. Here is a list of Triple Crown winners in the Six Nations era.

As you can see from the table above, you don’t need to go back far to see the last time when the Triple Crown was won, as Ireland clinched it in March this year. A 29-16 win over 14-man England secured a Grand Slam for Ireland and ensured they retained the Triple Crown title.

The Six Nations 2024 will start on Saturday, 16th March 2024. In early betting, bet365 has France as 6/5 favourites, just ahead of Ireland at 11/8. England are rated as 11/2, with Scotland (14/1), Wales (28/1) and Italy (500/1) all considered rank outsiders.