Six Nations bonus points: Board introduces controversial bonus point system to encourage try scoring

THE SIX NATIONS will introduce a controversial new bonus points system for the 2017 tournament.

The system, which is used in club rugby and the Rugby World Cup, will see an extra point awarded to teams who score four tries in a match or lose by seven points or fewer.

Four points will now be awarded for a win and two for a draw.

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The Six Nations Council said bonus points will be introduced on a one-year trial basis 'to encourage and reward try-scoring and attacking play.'

However the council itself has reservations about the system with boss John Feehan condemning it this year as 'inherently unfair'.

With five games being played by each side, those teams who play three home are automatically at an advantage.

England will play three home games in the 2017 tournament, including against Scotland and Italy, so will be expected to rake in the bonus points.

The Six Nations has made one change to regular rugby rules to ensure that any team which secures a Grand Slam will automatically get the trophy.

Under a bonus point system, it would be possible for a team who won four games to finish above a team who won the Grand Slam if they secured the maximum bonus points.

But to ensure that doesn't happen, there will be a three point 'Grand Slam bonus'.

Six Nations chairman Pat Whelan said: "We needed to ensure that whatever bonus point system we selected would work with the already proven structure of the Championships, and would serve to materially improve what is already there.

"We are happy that the system that we have decided to trial is the one best-suited to our Championships, and we are delighted to be going ahead with this new development.

"We believe that the initiative will enhance our competitions for fans, teams, broadcasters and all of those for whom the Championship means so much."

How will the new trial bonus points system work?

• A team winning a game shall be awarded FOUR match points
• If the winning team score four tries or more in the process, FIVE match points
• If a team loses a match, they shall be awarded NO match points
• If a team loses a match by a margin of seven points or less, OR scores four tries, ONE match point
• If a team loses a match by a margin of seven points or less, AND scores four tries, TWO match points
• Teams that draw a match shall each be awarded two match points
• In a draw, any teams who score four or more tries shall be awarded a further match point - so THREE match points
• Grand Slam: A team that wins all five of its matches shall be awarded a further THREE match points