Money Ball: What’s At Stake In The Six Nations This Weekend

With the Six Nations set to reach a crescendo this weekend, there’s more than glory at stake as serious prize money is also on the line for all the competing teams, meaning there’s no such thing as a dead rubber, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

Going into the final round, table-topping Ireland have one hand on the title – and a hefty winner’s purse – with 16 points.

Second-placed England, on 12 points, could snatch the title if the Irish slip up against Scotland and they fry France, while the Scots and Les Bleus – both on 11 points – have a small mathematical chance of getting their hands on the crown.

Italy are fifth on eight points with winless Wales, who they play on Saturday, in danger of ending with the wooden spoon having picked up just three points. 

Players aren’t driven by money, but rather competition and the desire to be the best. In fact, they probably don’t know what sort of prize money is at stake in the Northern Hemisphere showpiece. For them, it’s about the love of the game, representing their country and winning silverware. The money that comes with it, is merely a bonus.

Those in the boardrooms of the respective national bodies, on the other hand, are fully aware of the financial benefits that come with winning, as well as the consequences of losing. They’ve no doubt kept a close eye on the log throughout the Championship and know what’s at stake this weekend.

With prize money dropping with every position, there’s something to play for for each of the six sides on Saturday. The Championship boasts a total prize pot of £16.5 million, with the champions winning a cool £5 million. The runners-up receive £3.5 million and the third-place finishers £2.5 million, followed by £2 million, £1.5 million and £1 million for the teams finishing fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

The remaining £1 million is reserved as a Grand Slam bonus if a team completes the clean sweep. Thus, should Ireland beat Scotland at home to finish with four wins, the last-gasp 23-22 loss to England at Twickenham would’ve cost them an extra million quid. 

Since whoever this year’s winners will be failed to clinch the Grand Slam, that prize money will be split equally (£200,000) between the five remaining nations.

In the driver’s seat, Ireland will clinch back-to-back titles and bank the £5 million winner’s purse if they pick up two log points from their blockbuster home clash against Scotland. That would lead to England and France playing for the £3.5 million runners-up purse in Lyon.

Meanwhile, a big win for Italy in Cardiff could see them finish as high as third, although, that’s highly unlikely. As for Wales, they’re gunning for a bonus-point victory and keeping the Azzurri from adding to their log points, not so much for the extra £500,000, but rather, to avoid the wooden spoon.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.