Few competitions in world sport generate as much annual collective excitement as the Guinness Six Nations – the annual tussle for Northern Hemisphere bragging rights. Our Thomas Lyte-made, iconic Six Nations Trophy reflects the emotions and passion that the tournament elicits from supporters in Scotland, England, Wales, Italy, Ireland and France.
As Royal Warrant Holders as silversmiths and goldsmiths to His Majesty the King, Thomas Lyte’s London workshop has played host to some of sport’s most historic and prestigious trophies. This includes the Webb Ellis Rugby World Cup and the Emirates FA Cup, though few competitions hold the iconic status of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
Designed and hand-crafted by our elite team of Master Craftsmen, the trophy was first lifted by the winners of the tournament in March 2015. It was just the second time since 1883 that a new trophy had been awarded. The most recent edition retired as a result of it only representing the original five nations involved in the tournament. Italy brought that number to six in 2000.
Thomas Lyte’s team of in-house designers created the design for the M6N (Men’s Six Nations) trophy. The trophy exemplifies the competition’s extraordinary history and it’s hugely exciting future. The six-sided trophy reflects the six nations involved. Indeed, the names of the combatants are engraved on the similarly six-sided plinth, at the trophy’s base.
Hand spun from sterling 925 silver, the process of making this icon of the rugby world involved a combination of ancient techniques, some of which date back to Roman times, and the very best in modern methods.
The processes of casting, spinning, hand-engraving and polishing were harnessed alongside 3D scanning and 3D printing. Hammers and chisels worked hand-in-hand with technology that could never have been conceived even as recently as 1993, when the Five Nations Trophy, the brainchild of the Earl of Westmorland, was first presented to the winners of the tournament.
An impressive 75cm in height, this distinctive modern masterpiece was hand-spun from 7kg of silver. Our specialist silversmiths and required over 200 hours to complete the job. A stunning plinth contains the names of the six countries contesting the competition. Also included, is the year in which the respective countries joined one of rugby’s most historic events. The names of all the previous winners of the Six Nations, which started life as the Home Nations involving England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland back in 1883, are also engraved alongside the winners of the Thomas Lyte-made trophy, since it was first awarded.
One of rugby’s most instantly recognisable trophies, the Six Nations spends a vast amount of time on the road. The trophy spends ten months between tournaments touring rugby clubs, schools and other venues to spread the M6N’s values and traditions. As such, it naturally accrues dents, scratches and, occasionally, more dramatic damage. As the restorers of the trophy, it’s always a proud moment when it once again leaves our London workshop looking as pristine as it did on the day it set off to begin its new life in 2015.
Champion craftsmanship. ?
Designed and crafted in ?? from over 50 pieces of sterling silver by Her Majesty’s silversmiths, @ThomasLyte, the @SixNationsRugby trophy is ready to find its champion.
The question is: are you?
#SportIsGREAT ? ?? pic.twitter.com/F2LE4gKeFS— GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign (@GREATBritain) February 6, 2021
As the oldest international tournament in world rugby, the Six Nations has evolved constantly since its inception. Originally held between the four home nations, France joined the Championship in 1910. Barring a brief hiatus in the troubled 1930s and throughout the Second World War, France have been part of the tournament’s fabled fabric ever since.
The final Five Nations Championship was held in 1999, with Italy then being added in 2000. One of the Championship’s main attractions is its simplicity, with every team playing each other once.
The eventual group winners following the final round of matches – which are generally played on the second or third weekend of March – are crowned champions.
Thomas Lyte is immensely proud of the relationships it has built in the world of rugby. We have designed and made the Women’s Six Nations Trophy, the EPCR Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. We are also honoured to be the official restorers of both the Rugby World Cup and the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Our team make the conceivable possible, while preserving traditional skills, pioneering modern methods, and promoting authentic British craft across the globe. Combining the latest technologies with centuries of knowledge, Thomas Lyte’s silver workshops in London, England house world-class facilities for an elite team of designers and makers, masters of their craft. Learn about 3D printing, electroforming and other new technologies that our team have introduced to our sustainable handcrafting process.
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Materials. Sterling silver + 24-carat gold plating
Workshop Processes. Planishing, Casting, Spinning, Filing, Sanding, Chasing, Polishing, and Engraving
At Thomas Lyte, we are proud to be the entrusted designers and makers of the Guinness Six Nations trophy.
Take a glance at these fast facts about one of the oldest trophies in use in the sporting world.
