Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the eighty-eighth series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship.

Ten matches were played between 16 January and 20 March.

The team's only defeat came on the final day of the competition, losing 22-9 to France in Paris, denying the Irish what would have been only their second ever Grand Slam.

Wales's defeat by Scotland was their first loss at home in a Five Nations championship match since France won at Cardiff in March 1968.

The Ireland vs Wales game was delayed by a week due to a frozen pitch in Dublin.