It’s the oldest rugby competition on earth, and it may well be the best.
With its roots in the Home Nations Championship that was first played in 1883, the Six Nations will see the six biggest European rugby teams come together for seven weeks of rugby heaven. France, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland and Italy will all fight it out in a round-robin tournament to determine who will be crowned the 2023 Six Nations champion.
Can France defend their title this year after completing the Grand Slam in 2022? Or will Ireland prove why they’re the No. 1 ranked team in the world and make the perfect start to this World Cup year? With new coaches, how will Wales and England fare? And what about the tournament’s banana skins, Scotland and Italy, who are looking better and better? We look at the outright betting odds for the Six Nations 2023 to answer these questions with odds from bookmaker William Hill.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 2nd, 2:00 A.M. (GMT)
Ireland and France are the two clear favourites to win the tournament here, sitting neck and neck with odds of 2.25 and 3.00 respectively. England and Wales are also both decent chances to claim the title but less likely according to William Hill at 5.00 and 11.00. For Scotland and Italy, it would take a miracle if either side was to win their first Six Nations title with Scotland at 23.00 and Italy at a whopping 501.00.
We say this tournament is Ireland’s to lose, and they’re a solid bet at 2.25 to win the Six Nations 2023. The men in green open their campaign with a tough away game against Wales, who will be much improved under Warren Gatland. Survive that, and Ireland are in the box seat—their toughest remaining games will be at home against France and England with two easier away matches against Italy and Scotland. If Ireland can roll momentum from a hard-fought first round victory into a second round home win over France, you’d have to think they have one hand on the trophy already.
While France and England both offer sound betting opportunities as well and could certainly put together strong campaigns, Wales is the next most attractive option for those who don’t want to back Ireland.
Wales is paying a healthy 11.00 return to win the Six Nations, considering how poor their season was last year—three out of four home losses to end 2022 and a fifth placed finish in the Six Nations. However, they’re back under the command of Warren Gatland, who led them to Six Nations glory four times and could very well be the dark horse to win this tournament. Week one against Ireland will prove very telling.
