2009 Six Nations Championship
| 2009 Six Nations Championship | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 7 February 2009 - 21 March 2009 | ||
| Countries |
 England France Ireland Italy Scotland Wales
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| Tournament statistics | |||
| Champions |
Ireland (11th title) |
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| Grand Slam |
Ireland (2nd title) |
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| Triple Crown |
Ireland (10th title) |
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| Calcutta Cup |
England
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| Millennium Trophy |
Ireland
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| Centenary Quaich |
Ireland
|
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| Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy |
France
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| Matches played | 15 | ||
| Attendance | 981,963 (65,464 per match) | ||
| Tries scored | 56 (3.73 per match) | ||
| Top point scorer(s) |
Ronan O'Gara (51) |
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| Top try scorer(s) |
Brian O'Driscoll (4) Riki Flutey (4) |
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| Player of the tournament |
Brian O'Driscoll
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The 2009 Six Nations Championship, known as the 2009 RBS 6 Nations because of the tournament's sponsorship by The Royal Bank of Scotland, was the 10th Six Nations Championship, an annual rugby union competition contested by the six major Northern Hemisphere rugby union national teams. The tournament was held between 7 February and 21 March 2009.
Although the tournament was the tenth in its current format, including the competition's time as the Home Nations Championship and the Five Nations Championship, it was the 115th Northern Hemisphere rugby union championship.
The championship was contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Ireland won the Grand Slam and Triple Crown, their first Grand Slam since 1948 and Triple Crown since 2007. It was Ireland's second Grand Slam in total.
England finished as runners-up, and they also won the Calcutta Cup. The 2009 tournament featured the first Friday night game in its history, played between France and Wales at the Stade de France.
The tournament began on 7 February 2009, when England hosted Italy in the earlier of the day's two matches. Ireland played France later that evening, with Scotland versus Wales the following day.
The reigning champions on entering the 2009 tournament were Wales, who won the Grand Slam and Triple Crown in 2008. The winners of both accolades in 2009 were Ireland, with Ronan O'Gara's dropped goal leaving the score in the final match against Wales in Cardiff on 21 March at 17–15. Wales's Stephen Jones then missed a late penalty from just inside the Ireland half to leave Wales in fourth position. Ireland's two tries in that match came from captain Brian O'Driscoll and Tommy Bowe scored in quick succession in the 44th and 46th minutes respectively.Paul O'Connell received the Triple Crown and Ireland's captain Brian O'Driscoll lifted the trophy. It was Ireland's first Grand Slam in 61 years, their last one being in 1948. This was achieved in the first Six Nations Championship since Declan Kidney was appointed as manager of the Ireland team, succeeding Eddie O'Sullivan who resigned after the previous tournament.
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