Six Nations Betting: What Are The Odds Of A Grand Slam In 2023?

Daire Walsh

There have been 12 winners of the Six Nations Grand Slam since the tournament was expanded in 2000 and betting sites are examining the possibility of a 13th triumph occurring in this year’s Championship.

Slam champions in 2002, 2004 and 2010, France once again claimed full honours in 2022 with five consecutive victories during a hectic spring window.

It came as little surprise that Fabien Galthie’s men managed to pull off this feat as Les Bleus were the pre-tournament favourites to come away with a Championship success at the very least.

They then welcomed their main challengers – Ireland – to Stade de France in Saint-Denis for round two of the tournament.

It may have been a tough contest overall, but the French came through with a precious win in the end and it gave them the confidence that another Grand Slam could be achieved.

While Scotland’s last Slam was 33 years ago in the Five Nations era, England, Wales and Ireland have all secured it more than once since it became the Six Nations a decade later.

With Ireland and France currently the number one and two ranked teams in world rugby, there are certainly sides in the tournament capable of a clean sweep.

Odds Are On No Grand Slam Winner Emerging

Still, six of the last 10 Championships have failed to produce a Grand Slam winner and the best rugby betting sites are giving a slight edge on none of the six teams in the tournament pulling off this achievement in 2023.

UK bookmakers are offering Evens on there being no unbeaten side in this year’s Six Nations.

With so much at stake in the Rugby World Cup 2023 that is being held in France this autumn, it is easy to see why even the strongest contenders in the tournament might slip up at some point.

Ireland Viewed As The Most Likely Team To Secure A Slam

Grand Slams have been as rare as hen’s teeth for Ireland in the past – as Six Nations Triple Crown wins were far more common – though the gaps have become shorter over time.

After pulling off their maiden Slam victory in the 1948 Five Nations, it took them all of 61 years to do so again.

As a Ronan O’Gara drop goal helping them to defeat Wales and claim top honours in the 2009 Six Nations.

It only took the Ireland men’s team – their female compatriots also secured a Grand Slam in 2013 – nine years to scale similar heights with Jonathan Sexton a key figure behind their magnificent 2018 Slam triumph.

He is set to have another huge part to play in this year’s tournament (injury permitting) and Ireland are seen as the most likely side to come away with a Grand Slam at 3/1 with BetVictor.

Given this is a year when Ireland will welcome England and France to their home patch of the Aviva Stadium – and unlike the previous visit the two teams paid to Dublin in 2021, there will be a full house in attendance – this could be an ideal time for the Green Army to add another Grand Slam to their roll of honours.

France Still Very Much In The Mix For Another Slam

Though it seems peculiar that the defending Slam champions are behind Ireland in the reckoning, it is a very small margin that has France in their current position.

Odds of 33/10 with 888sport show France are worth serious consideration to remain on a winning trajectory throughout the tournament.

The French are the one scalp that Ireland haven’t claimed since Andy Farrell became their head coach in the aftermath of the 2023 World Cup and there will be pressure on them to deliver when the title holders arrive at the Aviva Stadium on February 11.

Borthwick Has Tough Task Coming Into England Fold

Considering he is only in the job for a matter of weeks, it would be somewhat miraculous if Steve Borthwick was to guide England to a Grand Slam in 2023.

He won the tournament as a forwards coach under his predecessor Eddie Jones in 2016, but it looks like being a much trickier task for him now – despite his recent success in the English Premiership with Leicester.

The odds available on England bridging a seven-year gap to their last Slam victory are set at 9/1 by William Hill.

Wales Looking To Recover From Difficult 2022

Wales are more recent Grand Slam champions (2019), but the substandard form of 2022 that saw Wayne Pivac losing his job as head coach has certainly seen their stock fall.

While they were Six Nations champions in 2021 – and were moments away from adding a Slam – just one win from five in last year’s tournament leaves them with a lot of ground cover.

Warren Gatland might be back in the coaching hot seat, but bookmakers are viewing a Welsh Slam victory as a 40/1 possibility.

Scotland And Italy Outside Of The Reckoning For The Slam

With no recent history of a Grand Slam, it is no surprise that Scotland are well behind Ireland, France, England and Wales in the betting.

The odds available on Gregor Townsend’s men enjoying a winning march through the Six Nations are 66/1 with betting apps.

As the team that helped to make it a Six Nations Championship, all would-be Slam contenders need to treat the challenge of Italy with respect.

Though the Azzurri have shipped some heavy defeats in the recent past, their opponents still have to do the business on the field of play.

The end of last year’s Championship saw Italy finally recording another Six Nations win following a 36-game losing streak stretching back over several seasons.

They are feeling much better about competing in the tournament as a result, but a Grand Slam for the Italians is a long way off happening.