The Six Nations Rugby Championships

• The Six Nations Rugby Championships superseded the Five Nations tournament in 2000 when Italy joined the existing five competing nations of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France. The winners of the Championship are now also known as the European Champions.

• The format is a simple league structure with each team playing the other once. Unlike similar football tournaments there is no home and away fixture, rather home advantage is alternated each year. If any team wins all their games they are known to have won the Grand Slam, as well as the Championship itself.

• Since the Six Nations began, France have won the Championship five times, England three times, Wales twice and Ireland once. Scotland and Italy have not yet won the Six Nations. All three of the last Championships were won with a Grand Slam, France in 2010, Ireland in 2009 and Wales in 2008.

• England last victory in the tournament was back in 2003 following back to back victories in 2000 and 2001. Scotland's last triumph was back in the final year of the old Five Nations competition in 1999.

• Within the Six Nations Championships other trophies are also up for grabs. The Triple Crown is awarded to either England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, if one of those nations wins all their matches against each of the others. The Calcutta Cup is awarded to the victors between England and Scotland. The Millennium Trophy is awarded to the victors between England and Ireland.

• The winners of the Six Nations Rugby Championships are now presented with the Championship Trophy conceived by the Earl of Westmorland and first presented to France in 1993. The trophy was originally silver on the inside but became so corroded by champagne celebrations that it is now lined with 22 carat gold.

One of the greatest things about the Six Nations as an international tournament is that it comes around annually and I for one can't wait for it to begin again.