The Friday Numbers

As its Friday March 6th, we thought we'd have a little fun with Six Nations Rugby. Apologies for the lack of posts this week... reality crashed our party and this weekend it's a trek to Lincoln Nebraska (Husker baseball on the agenda). Regular posting should resume then.

Getting on with it already:

- The Six Nations Championship was known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship. (Italy was added in 2000.) For those unaware, Six Nations is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The winner is considered ‘the rugby champion of Europe’ despite the lack of the official title.

- Despite the second-most wins (34) since the start of Six Nations, Ireland has not won the trophy in 23 years, the longest current drought.

- In 2007 Ireland was dealt a cruel blow. For the second time on the final day of the Six Nations rugby union tournament, a game was decided by a video replay. This time it decided the champion, as France beat Scotland on the replay decision, consequently giving them the tournament win over Ireland.

- The Championship trophy has 15 side panels, representing the 15 members of the team. There are three handles to represent the three referees.

- Each team plays the other teams in the pool one time. In 1972, all five teams finished in a tie, the only time it has happened since the inception of the tournament in 1883.