The Six Nations trophy has been destroyed in a fire during transit, organisers have confirmed, with a replacement not expected to be ready until 2027.
The incident occurred after round three of the championship while the trophy was being transported between host nations. The vehicle carrying the silverware was involved in an incident that caused fire damage, though no passengers were injured.
Following an assessment by the official trophy manufacturer, it was determined the trophy could not be restored to its original presentation standard. An identical exhibition trophy will be used for the remainder of this year's tournament, meaning the winners will lift a replica rather than the original.
A new trophy has been commissioned in the same design as the original, with materials from the damaged version incorporated into the new creation to preserve its heritage. The manufacturing process will take approximately 365 hours, with completion targeted for the 2027 Six Nations.
The trophy, made of silver, was originally created in 2015 to reflect the expansion to six teams when Italy joined the championship in 2000. France are currently favourites to win this year's tournament and would be the first to lift the interim replica trophy.
