Scotland and Ireland could be preparing themselves for a Triple Crown showdown when the teams meet in Dublin for the final round of the Six Nations.
The title is one of several honours competed for in each year’s Six Nations, but is one that the home nations love to secure.
Defining the Triple Crown: The story behind the “Invisible Cup”
The Triple Crown is a competition within the Six Nations. It is given to either England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland if they can beat all three of the other home nations. In some years, the Triple Crown is not awarded, and in some years, the winner of the Triple Crown does not win the Six Nations.
The Triple Crown was first competed for in 1883 during the inaugural Home Nations Championship. Until France were added in 1910 to the championship, this was the equivalent of the Grand Slam.
The trophy associated with the title was only awarded for the first time in 2006. Before then, there was no trophy given. This is why it is sometimes known as the ‘Invisible Cup’.
The All-Time Leaderboard: Who Rules the Home Nations
| Nation | Triple Crowns won | Home Nations 1883-1910 | Five Nations 1911-1928 | Home Nations 1929-1946 | Five Nations 1947-1999 | Six Nations 2000-now |
| England | 26 | 1883 1884 1892 | 1913 1914 1921 1923 1924 1928 | 1934 1937 | 1954 1957 1960 1980 1991 1992 1995 1996 1997 1998 | 2002 2003 2014 2016 2020 |
| Wales | 22 | 1893 1900 1902 1905 1908 1909 | 1911 | 1950 1952 1965 1969 1971 1976 1977 1978 1979 1988 | 2005 2008 2012 2019 2021 | |
| Ireland | 14 | 1894 1899 | 1948 1949 1982 1985 | 2004 2006 2007 2009 2018 2022 2023 2025 | ||
| Scotland | 10 | 1891 1895 1901 1903 1907 | 1925 | 1933 1938 | 1984 1990 |
The “Six Nations Era” Shift: Ireland’s 21st-Century dominance
Since the year 2000, Ireland have won it eight times out of their 14 in total.
The next closest teams in this period are Wales and England, who have won five. In this period, however, Ireland have only been able to win the Grand Slam three times, while Wales have won it four of the five times that they have won the Triple Crown.
Winning the Triple Crown, losing the title: The statistical anomalies
There have been 10 occasions where a home nation’s side has won the crown but has lost to France in the Six Nations (or Five Nations) Championship. Wales won it in 1977 while losing to France. England have managed this four times in 1997,1998, 2002 and 2014. England have done this more often with five Triple Crowns without the title in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2022 and 2025.
2014 was a massive anomaly as England won the Triple Crown, but Ireland won the Championship.
The longest droughts: Analysing Scotland’s 30-year wait
Scotland last won the Triple Crown in 1990 when they won their third Grand Slam. This means they have not won the Triple Crown in over 30 years. They last won the championship in 1999, the last year before it became the Six Nations. This could be another milestone that could reach 30 years in the waiting.
Consistency and streaks: The record for consecutive Crowns
Wales and England have both won the Triple Crown on four consecutive occasions. Wales won it from 1976 to 1979. England won it on four occasions from 1995 to 1998.
Ireland had won the title two years in a row (1948-1949 and 2022-2023), but Scotland have never won it two years in a row.
Glossary of Rugby Terms
