by Dolores Moore

Created on: March 13, 2009

The Six Nations Rugby Championship brings many of us to fever pitch as we watch the triumphs and defeats of the best rugby union teams the nations can field, during the months of February and March. The "Nations" concerned are England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. But this was not always the case; the rugby internationals of this tournament used to comprise the British Isles home teams. The first home International Championship took place in 1883, and France joined the tournament in 1910. This called for a change of name, and it became the Five Nations, with Italy joining in to make it Six only quite recently. Each of the home teams are the only potential winners of the mythical Triple Crown. This title and honor dates back to the year 1893, when Wales won it for the first time.

So just exactly what is the Triple Crown? Believe it or not, there was no actual physical trophy. Instead, it represented the achievement of one of the British home sides. Each side plays every other side once during the tournament, and the winning side accrues two points. A drawn game gives a team one point. To achieve the glorious title of Triple Crown winners, a home team must win against each of the other home teams. So if, for example, Ireland beat England, Scotland and Wales in their matches, then the Irish side would be awarded the Triple Crown.

Can you imagine any other sporting tournament where there is no cup or actual trophy carried home with pride? That is the special quality of this wonderful game and the true sportsmanship it embodies. For over 100 years, nothing was presented to show, but the pride and glory of winning were always enough.

But in 2006, with the sponsorship of Royal Bank of Scotland, at last a trophy was crafted and presented. It was Ireland who took it way, having beaten all the home nations. The actual trophy is a silver dish weighing three kilos and measuring 42cms in diameter. Hamilton and Inches, silversmiths of Edinburgh, Scotland, made this, taking over four months to make this great piece.

Yet the Triple Crown is not just about a heavy and beautifully made piece of silver. It is about playing rugby for your nation, against the other nations of your home islands, and being victorious. It is a symbol of pride in your country, your team and your best game. It is a mystical, mythical symbol, this Triple Crown.

While it represents only one of the competitions within the Six Nations Tournament, it must surely define the winner as a great national team, worthy of carrying off an extraordinary prize, steeped in history. The Triple Crown is simply that, the essence of sportsmanship, the symbol of glory.

Some further thoughts and views of the Six Nations matches so far can be found at http://annamaria-collectingthoughts.blogspot.com

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