The 2006 Six Nations Championship was the seventh series of the rugby union Six Nations Championship to be held since the competition expanded in 2000 to include Italy. Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the 112th series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship. This was the fourth edition sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland.
This was the last Six Nations to be held before the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road into today's Aviva Stadium. Ireland played their 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Six Nations home fixtures at Croke Park, also in Dublin.
In this year, France won the competition on points difference over Ireland. Ireland received the consolation prize of the Triple Crown Trophy, presented for the first time that year, by winning their matches against the other Home Nations: Wales, Scotland and England. Italy once more collected the Wooden Spoon, but showed considerable improvement over past years, earning a first-ever competition point away from home in a draw against Wales. For the first time since 2000, Scotland won the Calcutta Cup.
Participants
NationVenueCityHead coachCaptainTwickenhamLondon Andy RobinsonMartin CorryStade de FranceSaint-Denis Bernard LaporteFabien PelousLansdowne RoadDublin Eddie O'SullivanBrian O'DriscollStadio FlaminioRome Pierre BerbizierMarco BortolamiMurrayfieldEdinburgh Frank HaddenJason WhiteMillennium StadiumCardiff Mike Ruddock Scott Johnson (caretaker)Gareth Thomas/Michael Owen
Squads
Table
Results Week 1
FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Shane HorganOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Tommy BoweFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Malcolm O'Kelly TP 3 John HayesHK 2 Jerry FlanneryLP 1 Marcus HoranSubstitutions:HK 16Rory BestPR 17Simon BestLK 18Donncha O'Callaghan FL 19Johnny O'ConnorSH 20Eoin ReddanFH 21David HumphreysWG 22Andrew TrimbleCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Cristian StoicaRW 14Pablo CanavosioOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Ludovico NitogliaFH 10Ramiro Pez SH 9 Paul GriffenN8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 Mauro Bergamasco BF 6 Josh SoleRL 5 Andrea Lo Cicero LL 4 Santiago DellapèTP 3 Walter Pozzebon HK 2 Fabio OngaroLP 1 Salvatore PeruginiSubstitutions:HK 16Carlo FestucciaPR 17Andrea MorettiPR 18Martín Castrogiovanni LK 19Carlo Del Fava FL 20Aaron Persico SH 21David Dal MasoFH 22Rima WakaruaCoach:Pierre Berbizier
FB 15Josh Lewsey RW 14Mark CuetoOC 13Jamie NoonIC 12Mike TindallLW 11Ben CohenFH 10Charlie Hodgson SH 9 Harry Ellis N8 8 Martin Corry OF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Joe Worsley RL 5 Danny Grewcock LL 4 Steve BorthwickTP 3 Matt StevensHK 2 Steve Thompson LP 1 Andrew Sheridan Substitutions:HK 16Lee Mears PR 17Julian White LK 18Simon Shaw N8 19Lawrence Dallaglio SH 20Matt Dawson FH 21Andy Goode FB 22Tom Voyce Coach:Andy Robinson FB 15Gareth ThomasRW 14Mark JonesOC 13Hal LuscombeIC 12Matthew Watkins LW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Michael OwenOF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Colin Charvis RL 5 Robert SidoliLL 4 Ian Gough TP 3 Adam R. Jones HK 2 T. Rhys ThomasLP 1 Duncan JonesSubstitutions:HK 16Mefin DaviesPR 17Gethin Jenkins LK 18Adam M. Jones N8 19Alix Popham SH 20Gareth Cooper FH 21Nicky RobinsonFB 22Lee Byrne Coach:Mike Ruddock Notes: This was England's biggest win against Wales since 2002.
FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Chris PatersonOC 13Marcus Di Rollo IC 12Andrew HendersonLW 11Sean LamontFH 10Dan Parks SH 9 Mike Blair N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Ally HoggBF 6 Jason White RL 5 Scott MurrayLL 4 Alastair Kellock TP 3 Bruce Douglas HK 2 Dougie Hall LP 1 Gavin KerrSubstitutions:HK 16Scott Lawson PR 17Craig Smith LK 18Scott MacLeod FL 19Jon Petrie SH 20Chris Cusiter FH 21Gordon Ross WG 22Simon Webster Coach:Frank Hadden FB 15Nicolas Brusque RW 14Cédric HeymansOC 13Florian FritzIC 12Ludovic ValbonLW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10Frédéric MichalakSH 9 Jean-Baptiste Élissalde N8 8 Julien Bonnaire OF 7 Rémy MartinBF 6 Yannick NyangaRL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien PelousTP 3 Pieter de Villiers HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski LP 1 Sylvain MarconnetSubstitutions:HK 16Sébastien Bruno PR 17Olivier Milloud LK 18Lionel NalletN8 19Thomas Lièvremont SH 20Dimitri Yachvili FH 21Benjamin BoyetCE 22Guillaume Boussès Coach:Bernard Laporte Notes: This was Scotland's first victory against France at Murrayfield Stadium since 1996. This was Scotland's first victory against France since 1999. Scotland won their opening match for the first time in the Six Nations. This was Nicolas Brusque's last game for France.
Week 2
FB 15Christophe DominiciRW 14Aurélien RougerieOC 13Florian FritzIC 12David MartyLW 11Cédric HeymansFH 10Frédéric Michalak SH 9 Jean-Baptiste Élissalde N8 8 Julien BonnaireOF 7 Olivier Magne BF 6 Yannick Nyanga RL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien PelousTP 3 Pieter de VilliersHK 2 Raphaël Ibañez LP 1 Olivier Milloud Substitutions:HK 16Sébastien Bruno PR 17Sylvain Marconnet LK 18Lionel Nallet FL 19Rémy Martin SH 20Dimitri Yachvili FH 21Benjamin Boyet CE 22Ludovic ValbonCoach:Bernard Laporte FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Shane HorganOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Tommy Bowe FH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David WallaceBF 6 Simon EasterbyRL 5 Paul O'ConnellLL 4 Malcolm O'Kelly TP 3 John HayesHK 2 Jerry FlanneryLP 1 Reggie Corrigan Substitutions:HK 16Rory BestPR 17Simon Best LK 18Donncha O'Callaghan FL 19Johnny O'ConnorSH 20Eoin ReddanFH 21David HumphreysWG 22Andrew Trimble Coach:Eddie O'Sullivan Notes: Ronan O'Gara became Ireland's all-time top point-scorer after converting Andrew Trimble's try.
FB 15Cristian StoicaRW 14Pablo Canavosio OC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Ludovico NitogliaFH 10Ramiro PezSH 9 Paul GriffenN8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Josh Sole RL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 Carlos Nieto HK 2 Fabio Ongaro LP 1 Salvatore Perugini Substitutions:HK 16Carlo Festuccia PR 17Andrea Lo Cicero PR 18Martín Castrogiovanni LK 19Carlo Del Fava FL 20Silvio Orlando SH 21Simon Picone FH 22Rima WakaruaCoach:Pierre Berbizier FB 15Tom VoyceRW 14Mark CuetoOC 13Jamie NoonIC 12Mike Tindall LW 11Ben CohenFH 10Charlie HodgsonSH 9 Harry Ellis N8 8 Martin CorryOF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Joe Worsley RL 5 Danny Grewcock LL 4 Steve BorthwickTP 3 Matt StevensHK 2 Steve Thompson LP 1 Andrew Sheridan Substitutions:HK 16Lee Mears PR 17Julian White LK 18Simon Shaw N8 19Lawrence Dallaglio SH 20Matt Dawson FH 21Andy GoodeWG 22James Simpson-Daniel Coach:Andy Robinson
FB 15Gareth ThomasRW 14Mark JonesOC 13Hal Luscombe IC 12Matthew WatkinsLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Dwayne PeelN8 8 Michael OwenOF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Colin Charvis RL 5 Robert SidoliLL 4 Ian GoughTP 3 Adam R. Jones HK 2 T. Rhys Thomas LP 1 Duncan JonesSubstitutions:HK 16Mefin Davies PR 17Gethin Jenkins LK 18Adam M. JonesN8 19Gareth Delve SH 20Mike PhillipsFH 21Nicky RobinsonFB 22Lee Byrne Coach:Mike Ruddock FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Chris PatersonOC 13Ben MacDougallIC 12Andrew HendersonLW 11Sean LamontFH 10Dan ParksSH 9 Mike Blair N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Ally Hogg BF 6 Jason WhiteRL 5 Scott MurrayLL 4 Alastair Kellock TP 3 Bruce DouglasHK 2 Scott Lawson LP 1 Gavin KerrSubstitutions:HK 16Ross Ford PR 17Craig SmithLK 18Scott MacLeodFL 19Jon Petrie SH 20Chris CusiterFH 21Gordon Ross WG 22Simon Webster Coach:Frank Hadden Notes: Steve Walsh showed Scott Murray a red card after he kicked Ian Gough in the face in a ruck. This was the first red card issued in the Six Nations since Alessandro Troncon was sent off against Ireland in 2001. Mike Ruddock resigned as Wales coach after this match due to a conflict with the Welsh Rugby Union.
Week 3
FB 15Thomas CastaignèdeRW 14Aurélien RougerieOC 13Florian FritzIC 12Damien Traille LW 11Christophe DominiciFH 10Frédéric MichalakSH 9 Jean-Baptiste ÉlissaldeN8 8 Thomas LièvremontOF 7 Olivier Magne BF 6 Yannick NyangaRL 5 Jérôme ThionLL 4 Fabien PelousTP 3 Pieter de VilliersHK 2 Raphaël IbañezLP 1 Olivier Milloud Substitutions:HK 16Sébastien BrunoPR 17Sylvain Marconnet LK 18Lionel NalletFL 19Julien Bonnaire SH 20Dimitri YachviliCE 21David Marty FB 22Cédric HeymansCoach:Bernard Laporte FB 15Cristian StoicaRW 14Pablo CanavosioOC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11David dal MasoFH 10Ramiro PezSH 9 Paul Griffen N8 8 Sergio ParisseOF 7 Mauro BergamascoBF 6 Josh Sole RL 5 Marco BortolamiLL 4 Carlo Del FavaTP 3 Enrico Pavanello HK 2 Fabio Ongaro LP 1 Salvatore Perugini Substitutions:HK 16Giorgio Intoppa PR 17Andrea Lo Cicero PR 18Mario Savi LK 19Valerio BernabòFL 20Alessandro Zanni SH 21Roberto Pedrazzi WG 22Ezio GalonCoach:Pierre Berbizier
FB 15Hugo SouthwellRW 14Chris PatersonOC 13Marcus Di Rollo IC 12Andrew HendersonLW 11Sean LamontFH 10Dan Parks SH 9 Mike Blair N8 8 Simon TaylorOF 7 Ally HoggBF 6 Jason WhiteRL 5 Alastair KellockLL 4 Scott MacLeod TP 3 Bruce Douglas HK 2 Dougie Hall LP 1 Gavin KerrSubstitutions:HK 16Ross Ford PR 17Craig Smith LK 18Nathan Hines FL 19Jon PetrieSH 20Chris Cusiter FH 21Gordon Ross WG 22Simon Webster Coach:Frank Hadden FB 15Josh LewseyRW 14Mark CuetoOC 13Jamie NoonIC 12Mike TindallLW 11Ben CohenFH 10Charlie HodgsonSH 9 Harry Ellis N8 8 Martin Corry OF 7 Lewis MoodyBF 6 Joe WorsleyRL 5 Danny Grewcock LL 4 Steve BorthwickTP 3 Julian WhiteHK 2 Steve ThompsonLP 1 Andrew Sheridan Substitutions:HK 16George ChuterPR 17Perry Freshwater LK 18Simon Shaw N8 19Lawrence Dallaglio SH 20Matt Dawson FH 21Andy GoodeFB 22Tom VoyceCoach:Andy Robinson Notes: This was Scotland's first victory against England since 2000. Scotland won the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2000. England's defeat meant no team was able to win the Grand Slam. Scott Murray's suspension meant he missed his first match in the Championship, bringing to an end a run of 36 consecutive appearances.
FB 15Geordan MurphyRW 14Shane HorganOC 13Brian O'DriscollIC 12Gordon D'ArcyLW 11Andrew TrimbleFH 10Ronan O'GaraSH 9 Peter StringerN8 8 Denis LeamyOF 7 David Wallace BF 6 Simon Easterby RL 5 Malcolm O'KellyLL 4 Donncha O'CallaghanTP 3 John HayesHK 2 Jerry Flannery LP 1 Marcus Horan Substitutions:HK 16Rory Best PR 17Simon Best LK 18Mick O'Driscoll FL 19Johnny O'Connor SH 20Eoin ReddanFH 21David HumphreysFB 22Girvan DempseyCoach:Eddie O'Sullivan FB 15Lee Byrne RW 14Mark JonesOC 13Hal LuscombeIC 12Matthew WatkinsLW 11Dafydd JamesFH 10Stephen Jones SH 9 Dwayne PeelN8 8 Michael OwenOF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Colin Charvis RL 5 Robert SidoliLL 4 Ian GoughTP 3 Adam R. JonesHK 2 T. Rhys Thomas LP 1 Duncan Jones Substitutions:HK 16Mefin Davies PR 17Gethin Jenkins FL 18Jonathan ThomasN8 19Gareth Delve SH 20Mike PhillipsCE 21Gavin Henson FB 22Barry Davies Caretaker coach:Scott Johnson Notes: This was Wales' biggest defeat against Ireland since 2002.
Week 4
FB 15Lee ByrneRW 14Mark JonesOC 13Hal LuscombeIC 12Matthew WatkinsLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Dwayne Peel N8 8 Michael OwenOF 7 Martyn WilliamsBF 6 Colin Charvis RL 5 Robert SidoliLL 4 Ian GoughTP 3 Adam R. JonesHK 2 T. Rhys Thomas LP 1 Duncan Jones Substitutions:HK 16Mefin Davies PR 17Gethin Jenkins FL 18Jonathan ThomasN8 19Alix Popham SH 20Mike Phillips FH 21Nicky RobinsonCE 22Gavin HensonCaretaker coach:Scott Johnson FB 15Ezio GalonRW 14Pablo Canavosio OC 13Gonzalo CanaleIC 12Mirco BergamascoLW 11Ludovico NitogliaFH 10Ramiro PezSH 9 Paul GriffenN8 8 Josh SoleOF 7 Maurizio Zaffiri BF 6 Sergio ParisseRL 5 Michele SepeLL 4 Santiago Dellapè TP 3 David Dal Maso HK 2 Carlo Festuccia LP 1 Salvatore PeruginiSubstitutions:HK 16Fabio Ongaro PR 17Andrea Lo Cicero PR 18Martín Castrogiovanni LK 19Carlo Del Fava FL 20Alessandro ZanniSH 21Giorgio IntoppaFB 22Cristian Stoica Coach:Pierre Berbizier Notes: Italy won their first points in an away match in the competition. This was the first draw in the Six Nations since Scotland and Wales drew 28–28 in 2001.