{"id":45153,"date":"2024-02-02T15:10:59","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T14:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1783178"},"modified":"2024-02-02T15:37:47","modified_gmt":"2024-02-02T14:37:47","slug":"how-do-six-nations-bonus-points-work-bonus-points-explained","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/how-do-six-nations-bonus-points-work-bonus-points-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"How do Six Nations bonus points work? Bonus points explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your guide to bonus points in the Six Nations 2024, including why teams are awarded them and when they were introduced. <\/p>

By Rhys Jones\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 02 February 2024 at 14:10 PM<\/p>

\n\n

The Six Nations Championship kicks off this weekend with an added fervour, as Netflix\u2019s Six Nations: Full Contact will hopefully bring new eyes to the sport.<\/p>\n

England open their tournament against Italy in Rome, where they\u2019ll be expected to leave with a win and a bonus point.<\/p>\n

The Six Nations has had a bonus point system since 2017, having been prevalent in club competitions and other international tournaments before the Six Nations adopted it.<\/p>\n

RadioTimes.com<\/a> brings you all the details about the bonus points system for the Six Nations 2024.<\/p>\n

How do Six Nations bonus points work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When a team scores four or more tries in a match, they earn a bonus point on top of the points they earn from the game. Another bonus point is also available if a team loses a match within seven points. Here\u2019s the full round-up of how Six Nations points work:<\/p>\n

Points<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Four<\/strong> points are awarded for a win.<\/li>\n
  • Two<\/strong> points are awarded for a draw.<\/li>\n
  • Zero<\/strong> points are awarded for a defeat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Bonus points<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • One<\/strong> try bonus point is awarded for scoring four or more tries in a match.<\/li>\n
    • One<\/strong> losing bonus point is awarded for losing by seven or fewer points.<\/li>\n
    • Two<\/strong> bonus points can be earned if teams meet both of the criteria above.<\/li>\n<\/ul>

      When was the bonus point system introduced?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      Bonus points in rugby first made their official appearance New Zealand\u2019s domestic competition the National Provincial Championship in 1995.<\/p>\n

      The 2017 Six Nations was the first time that bonus points were used in the tournament.<\/p>\n

      They had been avoided in the Six Nations because a team could win all five games, known as a Grand Slam, but lose out on the title if another team won four games with a bonus point and then lost one match by seven points or fewer, getting a losing bonus point.<\/p>\n

      Organisers solved this by awarding any team that wins all five games an additional three points. This ensures that a Grand Slam winning team tops the table with at least 23 points.<\/p>\n

      England\u2019s last Six Nations title win, in 2020, was decided by a bonus point.<\/p>\n

      A crucial penalty from Owen Farrell at the end of the game meant that despite losing 24-17 in Paris, it gave them a losing bonus point that proved to be the difference as they tied on points with France, beating them on points difference to win the title.<\/p>\n