Six Nations 2024: Sarra Elgan explores the drama, passion and emotion of tournament

The Six Nations tournament is here again.

England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales each have their own folklore – their own heroes.

Rugby presenter Sarra Elgan speaks to key figures from each team who will live the drama, passion and emotion of the 2024 competition.

Wales

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named a new-look squad following injuries, unavailability and retirements of many of the biggest names in rugby.

The squad includes five uncapped players, eight who have never experienced the cauldron of the Six Nations and led by the second youngest captain in Welsh rugby history.

“Yes, that is a little bit scary,” joked Gatland.

“We try to replicate the speed of the Six Nations but you can’t coach experience.

“But I’m excited because we’ve got a young group coming in, there’s a good culture, they work hard and if the crowd sees you giving 100% they will get behind you and you’ve got a chance to win games.”

Gatland is the most experienced coach in the tournament’s history as he prepares to embark on his 17th campaign.

“It’s a tournament but every game is an event,” said Gatland.

“It’s about rivalries, bragging rights, playing in front of big crowds where 30% or 40% of the crowd are away fans. There’s no better atmosphere than a tight Six Nations game.

“The first game is incredibly important. But if you win that, anything can happen.”

Wales kick-off their campaign against Scotland.

Scotland

Gregor Townsend’s side began last year’s tournament with memorable victories at Twickenham and a record win over Wales.

However defeats to France and Ireland ended any hope of a title, although victory over Italy secured a best finish – third – for five years.

“The expectation has been growing over the years and we have been getting better,” said fly-half Finn Russell.

“Last year we had two great performances. The conversations then were those that we’d never had before and the media had never really spoken us up before.

“But we didn’t back it up and as a group, we need to learn and grow from that.”

He added: “Scotland has never won the Six Nations. That’s always the goal. Some players get to win it a lot but it’s something that I’m desperate to do.”

England

England were fourth last year in Steve Borthwick’s first campaign, having previously finished third and fifth under Eddie Jones, but defied the odds to reach a World Cup semi-final.

Marcus Smith has joined a long injury list that has already denied Borthwick the entire midfield axis that helped the side to that third-placed finish, with Owen Farrell and Joe Marchant unavailable, and Ollie Lawrence and Manu Tuilagi injured.

Scrum-half Ben Youngs, wing Jonny May and Courtney Lawes have retired while British and Irish Lions flanker Tom Curry is injured.

Prop Ellis Genge said: “We came so close [in the World Cup]. Everyone probably thought we wouldn’t get out of the pool but as soon as we started to pick up momentum, the whole country got behind us which felt amazing.

“There’s no more expectation on us. Everyone always expects us to do well. I don’t think the other nations are in a bad spot, we’re not necessarily in a brilliant place but every camp has worked out what they’re going to do, so it’s going to be a brilliant tournament.”

Italy

Stephen Varney, the Welsh-speaker from Pembrokeshire, is the son of a former Neath flanker but opted for the land of his grandfather.

“Italy came calling before Wales. My mates probably think I’m a bit of an idiot for not waiting out for Wales but you have to take your opportunities when you can,” he said.

He has since won 24 caps, played in a World Cup and is now aiming to secure the number nine jersey under new Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada.

“This year’s Six Nations is massive with a new coach. Gonzalo has a different style with more of a kicking strategy,” said Varney.

“That’s his philosophy so we have to back it and hopefully we can do well.”

Ireland

Andy Farrell knows all about handling pressure. He is the defending Six Nations winning coach, reigning World Coach of the Year and recently appointed British and Irish Lions boss for the 2025 tour to Australia.

Ireland won the Grand Slam last year but no team has done it twice in a row in 26 years, since France in 1998.

“It’s definitely harder being at the top, to be shot down, but that’s where you want to be,” said Farrell.

“There’s no better competition. The fierce rivalries and respect that rolls on from one year to the next. What intrigues me most are the twists and turns for every team during the eight-week period.

“Grand Slams are unbelievably hard, winning a title is almost as hard. Everyone just wants to still be in it going into the last week.”

Ireland open the defence of their title away to France.

France

Just like Ireland, the French are still coming to terms with an early World Cup exit. Though as the tournament hosts, Les Bleus could be forgiven for taking it even harder as they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by eventual winners South Africa.

“I’m still not over it,” admitted defence coach Shaun Edwards.

“The first few weeks were the worst. I had to take myself off… it was difficult. As a coach you really beat yourself up about these things. I still beat myself up about games I lost 14 years ago.”

France have lost players to injury as well as their talismanic scrum-half Antoine Dupont, who will miss the tournament to compete at this summer’s Olympic Sevens in Paris.

“We’ve had a few injuries, which have hurt us and there’s no Antoine, but I’m happy to see him chase his dream. Good on him,” added Edwards.

You can watch Sarra Elgan’s Six Nations Preview on BBC One Wales at 19:00 GMT on Thursday or on demand on BBC iPlayer.