Dawson and Woodward - with the Six Nations trophy.

The inclusion of Italy meant the year 2000 marked the dawn of a new era for European rugby as the flagship tournament, the Five Nations, became six.

The Italians had been pressing for inclusion for over a decade now and though some so-called experts questioned their right to feast at Northern Hemisphere rugby's top table, any doubts were dispelled when the Azzurri shocked Scotland in their opening match with a magnificent 34-20 triumph.

That heady winter's day in Rome came to represent one of the highlights of the 2000 tournament and fully justified Italy's inclusion, even if they never looked likely to repeat the feat in their remaining matches.

Expansion has long been a theme of a championship that began life in 1883 and involved only four countries, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

The structure changed with the inclusion of France and indeed, it was les Bleus who coined the phrase 'Five Nations' in the 1920's.

Almost inevitably however, the Home Unions fell out with their Gallic cousins and the championship reverted to a domestic affair between 1931-39.

The outbreak of war ensured the tournament would not be contested with five teams until 1947 and that was how it remained - with one exception in 1972 - until the Italians joined last year.

Interest in the modern-day tournament is phenomenal, with tickets to matches among the hardest to obtain in any sport and blanket TV coverage ensuring the players are elevated to superstar status.

But while the tournament attracts more attention than ever before, history may reflect the 70's were a golden age in terms of action on the field.

During that decade a Welsh side including the likes of Gareth Edwards, Barry John, JPR Williams and Phil Bennett produced a brand of rugby to enthrall fans worldwide.

Since those heady days in the Valleys the balance of power has shifted, and much to the chagrin of the Welsh the dominant force is now unquestionably the mighty English.

The three lions captured three Grand Slam titles in the 90's as well as notching six triple crowns in eight seasons for good measure.

Only France, with back-to-back slams in 1997 and 1998, offered any real challenge to an English machine who by no fault of their own threatened to turn the tournament into a procession.

However, just when the white flag of surrender was seemingly being raised, the tournament left the 20th century offering proof the magic still remains, with Scotland running out surprise and in many quarters unconsidered winners.

Although normal service was restored in 2000, with another championship for England, the Scots showed there was plenty to offer the neutral when denying Clive Woodward's men the Grand Slam in a dramatic encounter at Murrayfield.