Rugby - a game like American Football (Gridiron) except played by real men - unlike American Footballers (we call it American Football cos "soccer" is "football" on Britain) who wear 10 tonnes of Kevlar body armour, stupid helmets and play a game that stops every 30 seconds.
The Six Nations Championship is held every year between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. England are the World Champions and Wales are the Six Nations Champions.
This year's Championship started on Saturday and here are the results -
England 47 - 13 Wales
Ireland 26 - 16 Italy
Scotland 20 - 16 France
Scotland did World Champs England a massive favour by pulling of a SHOCK victory against France, England's nearest challengers. Scotland, along wth Italy, are usually the Tournament's annual whipping boys.
The table after 1 round of games -
...............P........W.......D.........L........F.......A.....Points........P/D
England....1.........1.......0.........0.......47......13.....2..............34
Ireland.....1.........1.......0.........0.......26......16.....2..............10
Scotland...1.........1........0.........0......20......16.....2...............4
France......1.........0........0........1......16......20.....0..............-4
Italy.........1.........0........0.......1.......16......26.....0..............-10
Wales.......1........0.........0........1......13......47.....0..............-34
England's Mark Cueto scores a try (a touchdown) against Wales at Twickenham, England's home ground. Wales haven't won at Twickenham since 1988. Also, notice the lack of huge amounts of body armour and helmets.
Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel carved a huge hole through England's defence and feeds open-side flanker Martyn Williams for the score. The sides go in 15-10 to England at half-time.
© PA
Mark Cueto was a constant threat...
© Reuters
...but it was Mike Tindall's score with 19 minutes left that was the killer blow.© PA
Lawrence Dallaglio scored on his return to England duty after 17 months in retirement, Matt Dawson scampered over and Tom Voyce completed the rout.
© Reuters
Ireland VS Italy. Ireland welcomed back Brian O'Driscoll as they began their 2006 RBS Six Nations campaign against Italy.
© Reuters
Ireland's Marcus Horan battled hard throughout but it was Jerry Flannery, making his full debut, who ran in Ireland's opening try. Italy hit back immediately with a sharp try from Mirco Bergamasco.
© PA
A surprising decision by the referee not ask the fourth referee to rule on Tommy Bowe's break saw a key try given to Ireland despite Mauro Bergamasco holding the Irishman up.
© PA
Paul O'Connell gave a man-of-the-match performance as rusty Ireland triumphed over battling Italy by 26 points to 16.
© PA
Scotland VS France - Sean Lamont shocked France with a try (touchdown) after 12 minutes as Scotland impressed early on at Murrayfield. Scotland went in 13-3 ahead at half-time.
The Scots conceded a try but ran out deserved 20-16 winners over the pre-tournament favourites courtesy of two tries from Lamont and the boot of Chris Paterson.
At the weekend, England play Italy, Wales play Scotland and Ireland play France.
After France's shock defeat by lowly Scotland (previously, Scotland had only won ONE Six Nations game in about 4 years) World Champions England are the new favourites for the Six Nations title and, after their demolition of Wales, look like the tournaments form team.
The Six Nations Championship is held every year between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy. England are the World Champions and Wales are the Six Nations Champions.
This year's Championship started on Saturday and here are the results -
England 47 - 13 Wales
Ireland 26 - 16 Italy
Scotland 20 - 16 France
Scotland did World Champs England a massive favour by pulling of a SHOCK victory against France, England's nearest challengers. Scotland, along wth Italy, are usually the Tournament's annual whipping boys.
The table after 1 round of games -
...............P........W.......D.........L........F.......A.....Points........P/D
England....1.........1.......0.........0.......47......13.....2..............34
Ireland.....1.........1.......0.........0.......26......16.....2..............10
Scotland...1.........1........0.........0......20......16.....2...............4
France......1.........0........0........1......16......20.....0..............-4
Italy.........1.........0........0.......1.......16......26.....0..............-10
Wales.......1........0.........0........1......13......47.....0..............-34
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FmarkcuetoR_350x250.jpg&hash=6ac6d0f2fd31198791902bc7d9753441)
England's Mark Cueto scores a try (a touchdown) against Wales at Twickenham, England's home ground. Wales haven't won at Twickenham since 1988. Also, notice the lack of huge amounts of body armour and helmets.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FdwaynepeelPA_350x250.jpg&hash=9b4b049e91aa08d942994b575d0a27da)
Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel carved a huge hole through England's defence and feeds open-side flanker Martyn Williams for the score. The sides go in 15-10 to England at half-time.
© PA
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FcuetobreaksR_350x250.jpg&hash=e1268bae90ac9af9a241552eadfd4ac2)
Mark Cueto was a constant threat...
© Reuters
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FtindallmikePA_350x250.jpg&hash=b2cb60cfa67aa464d98e3da4ad968282)
...but it was Mike Tindall's score with 19 minutes left that was the killer blow.© PA
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FdallagliotryR_350x220.jpg&hash=80973e4bf8f75ec77ca03e1390ea5897)
Lawrence Dallaglio scored on his return to England duty after 17 months in retirement, Matt Dawson scampered over and Tom Voyce completed the rout.
© Reuters
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FgonazaloR_350x230.jpg&hash=6d102dd8522f449238fc09f6da530310)
Ireland VS Italy. Ireland welcomed back Brian O'Driscoll as they began their 2006 RBS Six Nations campaign against Italy.
© Reuters
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FmarcushoranPA_350x230.jpg&hash=752c57038466d4394780289fa89a98a9)
Ireland's Marcus Horan battled hard throughout but it was Jerry Flannery, making his full debut, who ran in Ireland's opening try. Italy hit back immediately with a sharp try from Mirco Bergamasco.
© PA
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FtommybowePA_350x230.jpg&hash=2ba39cdf67e083f01bc2b3426b49ba33)
A surprising decision by the referee not ask the fourth referee to rule on Tommy Bowe's break saw a key try given to Ireland despite Mauro Bergamasco holding the Irishman up.
© PA
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2Fo%27connellPA_350x300.jpg&hash=31869dd8e1627a572374f3268d3d2f7a)
Paul O'Connell gave a man-of-the-match performance as rusty Ireland triumphed over battling Italy by 26 points to 16.
© PA
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FlamonttryR_350x200.jpg&hash=9ed0fbc465c457194532d6f359087832)
Scotland VS France - Sean Lamont shocked France with a try (touchdown) after 12 minutes as Scotland impressed early on at Murrayfield. Scotland went in 13-3 ahead at half-time.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.dailymail.co.uk%2Fimg%2Fgalleries%2Fsixnation040206%2FblairmikeR_350x200.jpg&hash=9500de20b42158d2357906e9a0e448df)
The Scots conceded a try but ran out deserved 20-16 winners over the pre-tournament favourites courtesy of two tries from Lamont and the boot of Chris Paterson.
At the weekend, England play Italy, Wales play Scotland and Ireland play France.
After France's shock defeat by lowly Scotland (previously, Scotland had only won ONE Six Nations game in about 4 years) World Champions England are the new favourites for the Six Nations title and, after their demolition of Wales, look like the tournaments form team.