Six Nations Rugby Heats Up: Trophy Heritage From 1883 🏉

England, Wales and Ireland are tied at the top with two rounds to go in Six Nations 2016. The Championship trophy — sterling silver, designed by James Brent Ward in 1993 — carries lessons in modernizing a heritage competition.

Modern Trophy for Ancient Rivalry

The competition dates to 1883, but the trophy is only 23 years old. The decision to commission a contemporary cup for an ancient rivalry signals confidence — the heritage lives in the rivalry, not the silverware. For your tournament with deep history but a tired trophy, recommissioning a new cup is not a betrayal of tradition. It is a refresh of the artifact while preserving the story.

Six Handles for Six Nations

The trophy carries six handles — one for each participating nation. The visual logic is immediate and photographs cleanly from any angle. For multi-team tournaments you organize, embedding the team count in the trophy form (handles, panels, base segments) creates a self-explaining artifact that does not need a placard.