THE SIX NATIONS trophy will be “retired from ceremonial use” and replaced after suffering fire damage in an incident during transit, tournament organisers said today.
The trophy was damaged when the vehicle transporting it was involved in a road traffic incident in Ireland after the third round of matches.
No passengers were injured, but it was deemed the trophy could not be restored to its original state, according to the manufacturer.
After 10 years of celebrating Grand Slams and Six Nations Championships, the trophy will be replaced! 🤝
The exhibition trophy will be used for the remainder of the 2026 Championship. This trophy is identical to the original 🏆
A new trophy will be created using materials and… pic.twitter.com/bqwg4dGAWQ
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 2, 2026
Introduced in 2015 to reflect the tournament’s expansion to six teams, the 75‑centimetre silver trophy will be replaced by an “identical” replica for the rest of this year’s championship.
A new trophy will be commissioned for the 2027 edition.
“Whilst this accident is hugely unfortunate, the situation adds another chapter to the history of a trophy that represents one of global sport’s most celebrated tournaments, with its roots reaching back to 1883,” said a statement on the Six Nations website.
Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
