Published 11 May 2026 · Before every Guinness Six Nations match, two national anthems are belted out by 50,000 to 80,000 supporters standing shoulder to shoulder. God Save the King, Flower of Scotland, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, Ireland's Call, La Marseillaise and Il Canto degli Italiani: here are the history, the lyrics and the symbolism behind each one.
Rugby is one of the few sports where the national anthems take on an almost sacred dimension. Three reasons for that:
The British national anthem, sung by default by England in rugby (unlike Scotland and Wales, who use their own anthems). Origins uncertain: the tune is thought to date back to the 17th century; the lyrics in their current form date from 1744. It became "God Save the King" again in September 2022 with the accession of Charles III, after 70 years of "God Save the Queen" under Elizabeth II.
God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the King!
Sung at Twickenham by 82,000 supporters, accompanied by the Band of the Royal Marines on the biggest occasions. The moment is solemn but usually short (the first verse only). It is generally followed by "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", the unofficial anthem of England's supporters.
Scotland uses Flower of Scotland in rugby (and across most sports) rather than God Save the King. Written in 1965 by Roy Williamson of folk group The Corries, it became the unofficial anthem through usage from the early 1990s, when the Scotland rugby team adopted it for home internationals.
O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see your like again,
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward's army,
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.
The song evokes the Scottish victory at Bannockburn in 1314 over the army of King Edward II of England, which allowed Scotland to keep its independence. "Proud Edward's army" is a direct reference to that founding battle.
Sung a cappella by 67,100 supporters at Murrayfield. It is one of the most moving moments in world rugby: the lyrics are intoned with no music, just voices, in the fading light of a February Saturday. It is regularly ranked among the greatest sporting anthems on the planet.
The official Welsh anthem is Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ("Old Land of My Fathers"), written in 1856 by Evan James (lyrics) and his son James James (music). It was the first anthem to be officially adopted in the British Isles.
Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.
"The land of my fathers is dear to me, old land where the minstrels are honoured and free; its warring defenders so gallant and brave, for freedom their life's blood they gave."
Sung in Welsh at the Principality Stadium, with the roof closed, by 73,900 voices. The acoustic effect is staggering: the resonance of the Welsh "ll" sounds and the rising melody create an emotional wave that few stadia in the world can match. It is very often followed by "Bread of Heaven" and "Calon Lân", traditional Welsh hymns.
An Irish peculiarity: the rugby team represents both Irelands (the Republic of Ireland plus Northern Ireland, which is British). To avoid a political clash between the Irish anthem (Amhrán na bhFiann, the anthem of the Republic) and God Save the King (the British anthem), a neutral song was commissioned: Ireland's Call, composed in 1995 by Phil Coulter.
Ireland, Ireland,
Together standing tall,
Shoulder to shoulder,
We'll answer Ireland's call.
At the Aviva Stadium (in the Republic of Ireland), rugby uses both anthems: first Amhrán na bhFiann (the official anthem of the Republic), then Ireland's Call. Away from home or at neutral venues, only Ireland's Call is played. This double ritual in Dublin is a moment loaded with history and symbolism.
The national anthem of France since 1795 (and confirmed in 1879 under the Third Republic). Composed by Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg in April 1792, it was originally entitled "War Song for the Army of the Rhine". It was renamed "La Marseillaise" after the federalist volunteers from Marseille sang it as they marched to Paris to defend the embattled Republic.
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé,
L'étendard sanglant est levé !
Entendez-vous dans nos campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes !
Aux armes, citoyens !
Formez vos bataillons !
Marchons, marchons !
Qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons !
At the Stade de France, La Marseillaise is performed by a brass band and then taken up a cappella by 80,000 supporters. Before the biggest fixtures (Le Crunch, Ireland v France), children's choirs or official guest artists sometimes lead the verse. The version sung in France varies: some stop at the chorus, others belt out the famous "Marchons, marchons !".
The Italian national anthem, written in 1847 by Goffredo Mameli (lyrics) and Michele Novaro (music), often called the "Inno di Mameli" or "Fratelli d'Italia" (from its opening line). An anthem of the Risorgimento (Italian unification), it was officially adopted in 1946.
Fratelli d'Italia,
L'Italia s'è desta,
Dell'elmo di Scipio
S'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
Ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
Sung at full lung by Italian supporters at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The anthem is fast, almost jaunty, which stands out against the more martial or contemplative anthems of the other nations. The moment of "Fratelli d'Italia" taken up by 70,000 voices turns Rome into a stronghold of Italian rugby.
A subjective question, but a recurring one. Rugby fan polls generally place the following in the top three:
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