Six Nations icons: The leading points scorer for each team
Rugby is a simple game. To win, you must score more points than your opposition.
In the Six Nations, we have seen some of the most efficient points scorers of all time take to the field and battle it out against one another.
In general, some of the most technically gifted players in the sport’s history have graced the pitches of western Europe, helping their nations to success.
Sports News Blitz rugby union writer Charlie Elliott looks at each team's top points scorer in the Six Nations era.
England: Owen Farrell
A common theme that will arise in this list is the inclusion of half-backs as the top scorers.
This is because players in these positions, especially fly-half, tend to take many of the kicks and therefore get the most points.
England legend Owen Farrell is no different, with 528 points in the tournament over the years, putting him in third place on the all-time list.
Always there when needed and a man for the big occasion, his kicking was consistently brilliant throughout his amazing career.
Still playing at Racing 92, the quality remains, and he is an outside shout for the British and Irish Lions tour this year.
However, his chances are boosted by the fact that his father is the head coach.
The top points scorer at Saracens by far, with 2838 points over a 16-year run at the London club, he was unplayable in his prime.
With Farrell leading them, England won three Six Nations titles, not a bad return by any means.
Ireland: Johnny Sexton
Before talking about the brilliant Johnny Sexton, Ronan O’Gara deserves a mention.
This is because O’Gara is the second highest points scorer in Six Nations history but still doesn’t make this list.
As you will have worked out, this puts Sexton at number one of all time.
With 566 points, the Leinster legend is easily one of the best to have ever played the sport.
Like many on this list, he was an outstanding leader and always came up with the goods when his country needed him the most.
The Irishman is one of the best kickers of all time.
Defensively solid too, there were no clear weaknesses in his game, and he retired in 2023 at a level similar to when he was in his prime.
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Scotland: Chris Paterson
Given that Scotland often don’t have huge amounts of success in the Six Nations, having a player in seventh place on the all-time list is testament to Paterson’s ability.
More of a full-back, but equally adept at fly-half, he continues the trend of this list featuring outstanding kickers.
With 403 points in the competition, he is one of only seven players who have over 300 points.
His most notable run was between 2007 and 2008, where he kicked 36 successive goal kicks without missing a single one - at the time, this was believed to be a world record.
22 tries at Test level shows a good ability to find the try line and although he isn’t the most well-known name on this list, he was a great player in his day.
Wales: Stephen Jones
Wales are currently going through their worst run in history, but a mention of Stephen Jones and fans’ memories are cast back towards a great time to be a fan of the nation.
Fly-half Jones got 467 points in the competition and is just ahead of compatriot Leigh Halfpenny in the rankings.
Only 43 points separated them when Halfpenny retired from Test rugby.
Originally at Llanelli, the Scarlets, Clermont before returning to Scarlets and finishing his career at Wasps, Jones has seen a lot of different places thanks to rugby and was well received by all of the fanbases he played under.
Six Test caps and 53 points for the British and Irish Lions - when he featured in the tours to New Zealand and South Africa - is a remarkable feat.
Now an assistant coach in Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika, he looks to be improving as a coach. There’s also the possibility that we might see him as a Wales head coach in the future.
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France: Frederic Michalak
As many French players are, Frederic Michalak was versatile as both a scrum-half and a fly-half, similar in that sense to players such as Antoine Dupont.
A great kicker - though, he will sadly always be remembered for his World Cup nightmare in the 2003 semifinal against England, where he had a poor game from his boot.
What is forgotten from that tournament is the fact that he was the second highest points scorer behind Jonny Wilkinson in the whole campaign.
Outside the top ten of all-time scorers in the Six Nations, Michalak might not have been as successful as some of the other names but was instrumental in a good period for France.
Italy: Tommaso Allan
The only current player on this list, Perpignan fly-half Tomasso Allen can extend his healthy lead as Italy’s top points scorer, and he continues to do so in the 2025 Six Nations.
It has been a year since he surpassed Diego Dominguez, as he continues to put some daylight between the two.
Only 31 years old, the fly-half has a few years left in his legs and with Italy getting continuously better, could have more opportunities at points.
Allen has overseen a huge transition for his national side since his debut in 2013.
Gli Azzurri have gone from whipping boys and Wooden Spoon certainties to genuine competitors with the ability to give anyone a shock on their day.
Interestingly, it could have been a different path, as he played for Scotland U20, and would have been much needed depth behind Finn Russell for the past few years.
Fortunately, it seems that he made the right decision declaring for the country of his birth.
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