The classic format: six players, one nation each
With England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the field, the Six Nations is the perfect sweepstake for exactly six people: one nation each, no leftovers, no multiples, done by mid-March. If your group is six, draw and you are finished.
The winner is whoever holds the nation that tops the official final table. Five rounds across February and March keep it short enough that nobody drifts away.
How to scale it past six people
Most offices have more than six people, and a six-team field does not stretch. Two formats fix it:
- Syndicates: split the whole group into six teams, draw one nation per syndicate, and split any winnings within the syndicate. Everyone is in, and every match matters to a sixth of the office.
- Parallel draws: run several independent six-player sweepstakes - one per department, floor or group chat. Same event, same rules, several pots.
The side prizes rugby gives you for free
A six-team field needs side prizes to spread the fun, and the Six Nations has famous ones built in:
- Grand Slam bonus: if the champion wins all five matches, their holder takes an extra slice.
- Triple Crown: a bonus for holding the home nation - England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales - that beats the other three.
- The wooden spoon: rugby's own term for finishing last. A small consolation prize for its holder keeps the bottom of the table box office.
- Most tries: a running stat that keeps a mid-table nation worth cheering.
Run the draw before the first whistle
The tournament opens in early February, so collect entries in January and run the draw before round one. One random shuffle assigns the six nations - or seeds each syndicate - and locks the result. SweepstakeDraw's Six Nations draw is free for up to 3 players, with the full draw unlocked for a one-off £1.99.