For those of you who don't know, Wales won the 2019 edition, the 20th Six Nations to take place and secured a Grand Slam in the process, giving them a fantastic springboard into the World Cup that took place in Japan over the autumn.
But with South Africa taking the world title, the six nations of the north are looking to reignite their legacies. Here is the run down on the six sides trying to emulate that feat, most of them with new head coaches and a host of debutants in line to make a splash...
ENGLAND
World Cup Runners-Up
Pre Tournament Odds: 5/6 Fav
Home Stadium: Twickenham, London
Head Coach: Eddie Jones
Captain: Owen Farrell
The World Cup runners-up in Japan have entered a self confessed "grieving period" following their final defeat against the South Africans, the favourites for the tournament need to re-establish their mojo very quickly with their first fixture in Paris against an always unpredictable French side.
And it has not been plain-sailing since that night in Kanagawa either, with the Saracens salary cap breach playing a major part in player relations in the lead up to this tournament. The reigning English and European Champions have been automatically relegated this season due to dangerously overstepping the salary cap, and with multiple players in the England camp, there is a risk of a touch of awkwardness heading into a major tournament.
England have named 8 uncapped players in their squad with names such as George Furbank making waves in the Premiership with Northampton Saints able to make a big impact if needed. One glaring omission however is a back-up Number 8, with Billy Vunipola struggling with injury and no one to replace him.
WALES
World Cup Semi-Finalists
Pre Tournament Odds: 11/2
Home Stadium: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Head Coach: Wayne Pivac
Captain: Alun Wyn Jones
The reigning Grand Slam champions have shaken off controversy well this year, with pre-World Cup clamour surrounding their coaching staff and betting irregularities casting a cloud over an optimistic side in good form.
Their biggest challenge is the new coaching setup, as Warren Gatland has moved on along with feared coach Shaun Edwards; and it remains to be seen if a new regime will work out.
They did well out in Japan however, falling narrowly at the semi-final hurdle to a world class South African side and their chances of retaining their crown are looking good, especially with home games against Italy and France kicking off their campaign. A pivotal game at Twickenham could make or break their tournament in Round Three.
Key men belong in the pack, with captain Alun Wyn Jones voted the Player of the Tournament in 2019 in the middle of the scrum along with the Best No.8 in the world at the moment in Taulupe Faleteu and a player I rate highly in Justin Tipuric.
The return of Rhys Webb from Toulon makes him eligible for selection as well, rounding off a positive outlook for a Welsh side I tip to retain their title.
For those of you who fancy a flutter, 11/2 is pretty good odds for a team as strong as this, and despite facing England away from home, they have experience of doing it on the biggest stage. In the 2015 World Cup no less...
FRANCE
World Cup Quarter Finalists
Pre Tournament Odds: 7/1
Home Stadium: Stade de France, Paris
Head Coach: Fabien Galthie
Captain: Charles Ollivon
France will have been disappointed with their World Cup campaign, losing out by a single point to Wales at the quarter-final stage, but the tag of perennial "who knows what" still looms large in a French side full of flair and natural talent but somehow lacking an edge of teams from yesteryear.
Even the most seasoned of pundits struggle to explain why France are so inconsistent, but a new approach might be on the cards as the 41-strong squad has an average age of just 24.
The old guard of Bastareaud, Michalak and Huget have been replaced by the younger breed, with one name in particular to look out for being fly-half Romain Ntamack - a name familiar with the more of ardent of rugby fans - but the Number 10 has been working wonders with Toulouse in the Super 14 and is highly tipped to be the playmaker that guides France to past glories. However, with a tough opening fixture against England to look forward to, before facing Wales in Cardiff - two games they will not be favourites for - their tournament could derail before it's even begun...
IRELAND
World Cup Quarter Finalists
Pre Tournament Odds: 4/1
Home Stadium: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Head Coach: Andy Farrell
Captain: Jonathan Sexton
Ireland were on the wrong end of one of the World Cup's more magical stories as they fell to Japan in the group stages, condemning them to a quarter final with the All Blacks that they inevitably lost, and lost convincingly.
One of the sides with a new head coach in Andy Farrell, the Irish will hope for a clean slate after an up and down time under Joe Schmidt. Their World Cup performance was offset by reaching a Number One world ranking at one point, and a strong Six Nations could be the start of another peak for Irish rugby.
At 34, Jonathan Sexton is the linchpin of an Irish old guard that no longer includes hooker Rory Best, who seemed to be in an Irish shirt since 1980.
Bundee Aki is a name to look out for at inside centre along with CJ Stander who now has enough experience to kick on and be an outstanding performer but I can't see another Irish Grand Slam happening in this edition as Wales and England are too strong at the moment.
There's also been a lot of talk over Englishman Andy Farrell's role in this new look setup. Not because he's English but simply because he may not bring something new to a team that needs it.
SCOTLAND
Knocked Out in the World Cup Pool Stages
Pre Tournament Odds: 33/1
Home Stadium: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Head Coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Stuart Hogg
Problems aplenty for the Scottish, and that's not including what was a disastrous World Cup campaign in which they failed to escape the pool, finishing behind Ireland and hosts Japan.
Coach Townsend is already under an immense amount of pressure to reverse fortunes, but he has not been helped by the apparent implosion of Finn Russell, who has been dumped from the squad after an all-nighter before a squad meeting before doubling down and producing an almighty social media storm that has upset almost all involved with Scottish Rugby.
Also the news that the Chief Executive of Rugby Scotland received a pay packet of almost £1 million has reportedly infuriated players and coaches alike, so the problems continue to mount up for Scotland ahead of their opening game in Ireland on Saturday afternoon.
ITALY
Knocked Out in the World Cup Pool Stages
Pre Tournament Odds: 1,000/1
Home Stadium: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Head Coach: Franco Smith (Interim)
Captain: Luca Bigi
There was a time, not so long ago, that many were excited about the improvement of Italian rugby, especially when they beat Scotland in the 2016 Six Nations championship. Led by the effervescent Sergio Parisse, maybe they belonged at the world's top table after all?
But it wasn't to be. Parisse will be given one more game before he retires, but the Italians have not won a Six Nations game since that iconic day five years ago, leading to some saying they should be replaced in the tournament altogether by the up and coming Georgians.
Their chances this year look equally as slim, although Tommaso Allan looks decent at fly-half, but it wouldn't surprise me one jot if they left with the wooden spoon once again. A negative World Cup campaign has also left them in a bit of a rut, (although they missed out on a knockout spot courtesy of two small nations called New Zealand and South Africa), but there's little to get excited about if you're an Italian fan this time around.
...
Wales are my pick. Who's yours?
They did well out in Japan however, falling narrowly at the semi-final hurdle to a world class South African side and their chances of retaining their crown are looking good, especially with home games against Italy and France kicking off their campaign. A pivotal game at Twickenham could make or break their tournament in Round Three.
The return of Rhys Webb from Toulon makes him eligible for selection as well, rounding off a positive outlook for a Welsh side I tip to retain their title.
For those of you who fancy a flutter, 11/2 is pretty good odds for a team as strong as this, and despite facing England away from home, they have experience of doing it on the biggest stage. In the 2015 World Cup no less...
FRANCE
World Cup Quarter Finalists
Pre Tournament Odds: 7/1
Home Stadium: Stade de France, Paris
Head Coach: Fabien Galthie
Captain: Charles Ollivon
France will have been disappointed with their World Cup campaign, losing out by a single point to Wales at the quarter-final stage, but the tag of perennial "who knows what" still looms large in a French side full of flair and natural talent but somehow lacking an edge of teams from yesteryear.
The old guard of Bastareaud, Michalak and Huget have been replaced by the younger breed, with one name in particular to look out for being fly-half Romain Ntamack - a name familiar with the more of ardent of rugby fans - but the Number 10 has been working wonders with Toulouse in the Super 14 and is highly tipped to be the playmaker that guides France to past glories. However, with a tough opening fixture against England to look forward to, before facing Wales in Cardiff - two games they will not be favourites for - their tournament could derail before it's even begun...
IRELAND
World Cup Quarter Finalists
Pre Tournament Odds: 4/1
Home Stadium: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Head Coach: Andy Farrell
Captain: Jonathan Sexton
Ireland were on the wrong end of one of the World Cup's more magical stories as they fell to Japan in the group stages, condemning them to a quarter final with the All Blacks that they inevitably lost, and lost convincingly.
One of the sides with a new head coach in Andy Farrell, the Irish will hope for a clean slate after an up and down time under Joe Schmidt. Their World Cup performance was offset by reaching a Number One world ranking at one point, and a strong Six Nations could be the start of another peak for Irish rugby.
Bundee Aki is a name to look out for at inside centre along with CJ Stander who now has enough experience to kick on and be an outstanding performer but I can't see another Irish Grand Slam happening in this edition as Wales and England are too strong at the moment.
There's also been a lot of talk over Englishman Andy Farrell's role in this new look setup. Not because he's English but simply because he may not bring something new to a team that needs it.
SCOTLAND
Knocked Out in the World Cup Pool Stages
Pre Tournament Odds: 33/1
Home Stadium: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Head Coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Stuart Hogg
Problems aplenty for the Scottish, and that's not including what was a disastrous World Cup campaign in which they failed to escape the pool, finishing behind Ireland and hosts Japan.
Also the news that the Chief Executive of Rugby Scotland received a pay packet of almost £1 million has reportedly infuriated players and coaches alike, so the problems continue to mount up for Scotland ahead of their opening game in Ireland on Saturday afternoon.
ITALY
Knocked Out in the World Cup Pool Stages
Pre Tournament Odds: 1,000/1
Home Stadium: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Head Coach: Franco Smith (Interim)
Captain: Luca Bigi
There was a time, not so long ago, that many were excited about the improvement of Italian rugby, especially when they beat Scotland in the 2016 Six Nations championship. Led by the effervescent Sergio Parisse, maybe they belonged at the world's top table after all?
Their chances this year look equally as slim, although Tommaso Allan looks decent at fly-half, but it wouldn't surprise me one jot if they left with the wooden spoon once again. A negative World Cup campaign has also left them in a bit of a rut, (although they missed out on a knockout spot courtesy of two small nations called New Zealand and South Africa), but there's little to get excited about if you're an Italian fan this time around.
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Wales are my pick. Who's yours?
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