# 1983 Five Nations Championship

The 1983 Five Nations Championship was the 54th series of the rugby union Five Nations Championship.
Including the previous incarnations as the Home Nations and Five Nations, this was the 89th series of the northern hemisphere rugby union championship. Ten matches were played between 15 January and 19 March. For the 17th time, the championship was shared. France and Ireland finished level on points, and no tie-break procedure existed before 1993. It was France's 5th shared title, and Ireland's 8th.
French wing Patrick Estève scored a try against each other team in this tournament, finishing as the top try scorer, with five tries. This was the first time since 1925 that such a feat had been achieved.

## Participants

The teams involved were:
| Nation | Venue | City | Head coach | Captain |
| England | Twickenham | London | Dick Greenwood | Steve Smith/John Scott |
| France | Parc des Princes | Paris | Jacques Fouroux | Jean-Pierre Rives |
| Ireland | Lansdowne Road | Dublin | Willie John McBride | Ciaran Fitzgerald |
| Scotland | Murrayfield | Edinburgh | Jim Telfer | Jim Aitken/Roy Laidlaw |
| Wales | National Stadium | Cardiff | John Bevan | Eddie Butler |

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | France | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 70 | 61 | +9 | 6 |
| 1 | Ireland | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 71 | 67 | +4 | 6 |
| 3 | Wales | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 64 | 53 | +11 | 5 |
| 4 | Scotland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 65 | 65 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | England | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 55 | 79 | −24 | 1 |

## Results

* 1983-01-15
| England | 15–19 | France |
| Pen.: Hare (4) Drops: Cusworth | | Tries: Estève Paparemborde Sella Con.: Blanco (2) Pen.: Camberabero |
* Twickenham, London Attendance: 70,000 Referee: D. I. H. Burnett (Ireland)
| FB | 15 | Dusty Hare |
| RW | 14 | John Carleton |
| OC | 13 | Huw Davies |
| IC | 12 | Paul Dodge |
| LW | 11 | Tony Swift |
| FH | 10 | Les Cusworth |
| SH | 9 | Steve Smith (c) |
| N8 | 8 | John Scott |
| OF | 7 | Peter Winterbottom |
| BF | 6 | Nick Jeavons |
| RL | 5 | Steve Bainbridge |
| LL | 4 | Maurice Colclough |
| TP | 3 | Gary Pearce |
| HK | 2 | Peter Wheeler |
| LP | 1 | Colin Smart |
| Replacements: ||
| LK | | Bob Hesford |
| Coach: ||
| Dick Greenwood ||
| FB | 15 | Serge Blanco |
| RW | 14 | Philippe Sella |
| OC | 13 | Christian Bélascain |
| IC | 12 | Didier Codorniou |
| LW | 11 | Patrick Estève |
| FH | 10 | Didier Camberabero |
| SH | 9 | Gérald Martinez |
| N8 | 8 | Jean-Luc Joinel |
| OF | 7 | Laurent Rodriguez |
| BF | 6 | Jean-Pierre Rives (c) |
| RL | 5 | Jean Condom |
| LL | 4 | Jean-Charles Orso |
| TP | 3 | Robert Paparemborde |
| HK | 2 | Philippe Dintrans |
| LP | 1 | Pierre Dospital |
| Coach: ||
| Jacques Fouroux ||
* 1983-01-15
| Scotland | 13–15 | Ireland |
| Tries: Laidlaw Pen.: Dods (2) Drops: Renwick | | Tries: Kiernan Con.: Campbell Pen: Campbell (3) |
* Murrayfield, Edinburgh Referee: J. Y. Yche (France)
| FB | 15 | Peter Dods |
| RW | 14 | Keith Robertson |
| OC | 13 | Jim Renwick |
| IC | 12 | David Johnston |
| LW | 11 | Roger Baird |
| FH | 10 | Ron Wilson |
| SH | 9 | Roy Laidlaw (c) |
| N8 | 8 | Iain Paxton |
| OF | 7 | David Leslie |
| BF | 6 | Jim Calder |
| RL | 5 | Alan Tomes |
| LL | 4 | Bill Cuthbertson |
| TP | 3 | Iain Milne |
| HK | 2 | Colin Deans |
| LP | 1 | Gerry McGuinness |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Telfer ||
| FB | 15 | Hugo MacNeill |
| RW | 14 | Trevor Ringland |
| OC | 13 | David Irwin |
| IC | 12 | Mike Kiernan |
| LW | 11 | Moss Finn |
| FH | 10 | Ollie Campbell |
| SH | 9 | Robbie McGrath |
| N8 | 8 | Willie Duggan |
| OF | 7 | John O'Driscoll |
| BF | 6 | Fergus Slattery |
| RL | 5 | Moss Keane |
| LL | 4 | Donal Lenihan |
| TP | 3 | Ginger McLoughlin |
| HK | 2 | Ciaran Fitzgerald (c) |
| LP | 1 | Philip Orr |
| Coach: ||
| Willie John McBride ||
* 1983-02-05
| France | 19–15 | Scotland |
| Tries: Estève (2) Con.: Blanco Pen.: Blanco (3) | | Tries: Robertson Con: Dods Pen.: Dods Drops: Gossman (2) |
* Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 45,204 Referee: A. Richards (Wales)
| FB | 15 | Serge Blanco |
| RW | 14 | Philippe Sella |
| OC | 13 | Didier Codorniou |
| IC | 12 | Christian Bélascain |
| LW | 11 | Patrick Estève |
| FH | 10 | Christian Delage |
| SH | 9 | Pierre Berbizier |
| N8 | 8 | Jean-Luc Joinel |
| OF | 7 | Laurent Rodriguez |
| BF | 6 | Jean-Pierre Rives (c) |
| RL | 5 | Jean-Charles Orso |
| LL | 4 | Jean Condom |
| TP | 3 | Robert Paparemborde |
| HK | 2 | Jean-Louis Dupont |
| LP | 1 | Pierre Dospital |
| Replacements: ||
| FL | | Dominique Erbani |
| Coach: ||
| Jacques Fouroux ||
| FB | 15 | Peter Dods |
| RW | 14 | Keith Robertson |
| OC | 13 | Jim Renwick |
| IC | 12 | David Johnston |
| LW | 11 | Roger Baird |
| FH | 10 | Brian Gossman |
| SH | 9 | Roy Laidlaw (c) |
| N8 | 8 | John Beattie |
| OF | 7 | David Leslie |
| BF | 6 | Jim Calder |
| RL | 5 | Alan Tomes |
| LL | 4 | Bill Cuthbertson |
| TP | 3 | Iain Milne |
| HK | 2 | Colin Deans |
| LP | 1 | Jim Aitken |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Telfer ||
* 1983-02-05
| Wales | 13–13 | England |
| Tries: Squire Pen.: Wyatt (2) Drops: Dacey | | Tries: Carleton Pen:: Hare (2) Drops: Cusworth |
* National Stadium, Cardiff Referee: J. R. West (Ireland)
| FB | 15 | Mark Wyatt |
| RW | 14 | Elgan Rees |
| OC | 13 | David Richards |
| IC | 12 | Mark Ring |
| LW | 11 | Clive Rees |
| FH | 10 | Malcolm Dacey |
| SH | 9 | Terry Holmes |
| N8 | 8 | Eddie Butler (c) |
| OF | 7 | David Pickering |
| BF | 6 | Jeff Squire |
| RL | 5 | Richard Moriarty |
| LL | 4 | Bob Norster |
| TP | 3 | Graham Price |
| HK | 2 | Billy James |
| LP | 1 | Clive Williams |
| Coach: ||
| John Bevan ||
| FB | 15 | Dusty Hare |
| RW | 14 | John Carleton |
| OC | 13 | Huw Davies |
| IC | 12 | Paul Dodge |
| LW | 11 | Tony Swift |
| FH | 10 | Les Cusworth |
| SH | 9 | Steve Smith (c) |
| N8 | 8 | John Scott |
| OF | 7 | Peter Winterbottom |
| BF | 6 | Nick Jeavons |
| RL | 5 | Steve Bainbridge |
| LL | 4 | Steve Boyle |
| TP | 3 | Gary Pearce |
| HK | 2 | Steve Mills |
| LP | 1 | Colin Smart |
| Coach: ||
| Dick Greenwood ||
* 1983-02-19
| Ireland | 22–16 | France |
| Tries: Finn (2) Con.: Campbell Pen.: Campbell (4) | | Tries: Blanco Estève Con.: Blanco Pen.: Blanco (2) |
* Lansdowne Road, Dublin Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Alan Hosie (Scotland)
| FB | 15 | Hugo MacNeill |
| RW | 14 | Trevor Ringland |
| OC | 13 | David Irwin |
| IC | 12 | Mike Kiernan |
| LW | 11 | Moss Finn |
| FH | 10 | Ollie Campbell |
| SH | 9 | Robbie McGrath |
| N8 | 8 | Willie Duggan |
| OF | 7 | John O'Driscoll |
| BF | 6 | Fergus Slattery |
| RL | 5 | Moss Keane |
| LL | 4 | Donal Lenihan |
| TP | 3 | Ginger McLoughlin |
| HK | 2 | Ciaran Fitzgerald (c) |
| LP | 1 | Philip Orr |
| Coach: ||
| Willie John McBride ||
| FB | 15 | Serge Blanco |
| RW | 14 | Philippe Sella |
| OC | 13 | Christian Bélascain |
| IC | 12 | Didier Codorniou |
| LW | 11 | Patrick Estève |
| FH | 10 | Christian Delage |
| SH | 9 | Pierre Berbizier |
| N8 | 8 | Jean-Luc Joinel |
| OF | 7 | Dominique Erbani |
| BF | 6 | Jean-Pierre Rives (c) |
| RL | 5 | Jean-François Imbernon |
| LL | 4 | Jean Condom |
| TP | 3 | Robert Paparemborde |
| HK | 2 | Bernard Herrero |
| LP | 1 | Pierre Dospital |
| Replacements: ||
| FH | | Bernard Viviès |
| Coach: ||
| Jacques Fouroux ||
* 1983-02-19
| Scotland | 15–19 | Wales |
| Tries: Renwick Con.: Dods Pen.: Dods (3) | | Tries: Jones C. Rees Con.: Wyatt Pen.: Wyatt (3) |
* Murrayfield, Edinburgh Referee: R. C. Quittenton (England)
| FB | 15 | Peter Dods |
| RW | 14 | Keith Robertson |
| OC | 13 | Jim Renwick |
| IC | 12 | David Johnston |
| LW | 11 | Roger Baird |
| FH | 10 | Brian Gossman |
| SH | 9 | Roy Laidlaw (c) |
| N8 | 8 | John Beattie |
| OF | 7 | David Leslie |
| BF | 6 | Jim Calder |
| RL | 5 | Alan Tomes |
| LL | 4 | Bill Cuthbertson |
| TP | 3 | Iain Milne |
| HK | 2 | Colin Deans |
| LP | 1 | Jim Aitken |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Telfer ||
| FB | 15 | Mark Wyatt |
| RW | 14 | Elgan Rees |
| OC | 13 | David Richards |
| IC | 12 | Rob Ackerman |
| LW | 11 | Clive Rees |
| FH | 10 | Malcolm Dacey |
| SH | 9 | Terry Holmes |
| N8 | 8 | Eddie Butler (c) |
| OF | 7 | David Pickering |
| BF | 6 | Jeff Squire |
| RL | 5 | John Perkins |
| LL | 4 | Bob Norster |
| TP | 3 | Ian Eidman |
| HK | 2 | Billy James |
| LP | 1 | Staff Jones |
| Coach: ||
| John Bevan ||
* 1983-03-05
| Wales | 23–9 | Ireland |
| Tries: Holmes C. Rees Wyatt Con.: Wyatt Pen.: Wyatt (3) | | Pen.: Campbell (2) MacNeill |
* National Stadium, Cardiff Referee: J. A. F. Trigg (England)
| FB | 15 | Mark Wyatt |
| RW | 14 | Elgan Rees |
| OC | 13 | Rob Ackerman |
| IC | 12 | David Richards |
| LW | 11 | Clive Rees |
| FH | 10 | Malcolm Dacey |
| SH | 9 | Terry Holmes |
| N8 | 8 | Eddie Butler (c) |
| OF | 7 | David Pickering |
| BF | 6 | Jeff Squire |
| RL | 5 | Bob Norster |
| LL | 4 | John Perkins |
| TP | 3 | Graham Price |
| HK | 2 | Billy James |
| LP | 1 | Staff Jones |
| Coach: ||
| John Bevan ||
| FB | 15 | Hugo MacNeill |
| RW | 14 | Trevor Ringland |
| OC | 13 | David Irwin |
| IC | 12 | Mike Kiernan |
| LW | 11 | Moss Finn |
| FH | 10 | Ollie Campbell |
| SH | 9 | Robbie McGrath |
| N8 | 8 | Willie Duggan |
| OF | 7 | John O'Driscoll |
| BF | 6 | Fergus Slattery |
| RL | 5 | Moss Keane |
| LL | 4 | Donal Lenihan |
| TP | 3 | Ginger McLoughlin |
| HK | 2 | Ciaran Fitzgerald (c) |
| LP | 1 | Philip Orr |
| Coach: ||
| Willie John McBride ||
* 1983-03-05
| England | 12–22 | Scotland |
| Pen.: Hare (3) Drops: Horton | | Tries: Laidlaw Smith Con.: Dods Pen.: Dods (3) Drops: Robertson |
* Twickenham, London Referee: T. F. Doocey (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | Dusty Hare |
| RW | 14 | John Carleton |
| OC | 13 | Huw Davies |
| IC | 12 | Paul Dodge |
| LW | 11 | Tony Swift |
| FH | 10 | John Horton |
| SH | 9 | Steve Smith |
| N8 | 8 | John Scott (c) |
| OF | 7 | Peter Winterbottom |
| BF | 6 | Nick Jeavons |
| RL | 5 | Steve Bainbridge |
| LL | 4 | Steve Boyle |
| TP | 3 | Gary Pearce |
| HK | 2 | Peter Wheeler |
| LP | 1 | Colin Smart |
| Coach: ||
| Dick Greenwood ||
| FB | 15 | Peter Dods |
| RW | 14 | Jim Pollock |
| OC | 13 | Jim Renwick |
| IC | 12 | Keith Robertson |
| LW | 11 | Roger Baird |
| FH | 10 | John Rutherford |
| SH | 9 | Roy Laidlaw |
| N8 | 8 | John Beattie |
| OF | 7 | David Leslie |
| BF | 6 | Jim Calder |
| RL | 5 | Iain Paxton |
| LL | 4 | Tom Smith |
| TP | 3 | Iain Milne |
| HK | 2 | Colin Deans |
| LP | 1 | Jim Aitken (c) |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Telfer ||
* 1983-03-19
| Ireland | 25–15 | England |
| Tries: Campbell Slattery Con.: Campbell Pen.: Campbell (5) | | Pen.: Hare (5) |
* Lansdowne Road, Dublin Referee: J. B. Anderson (Scotland)
| FB | 15 | Hugo MacNeill |
| RW | 14 | Trevor Ringland |
| OC | 13 | David Irwin |
| IC | 12 | Mike Kiernan |
| LW | 11 | Moss Finn |
| FH | 10 | Ollie Campbell |
| SH | 9 | Robbie McGrath |
| N8 | 8 | Willie Duggan |
| OF | 7 | John O'Driscoll |
| BF | 6 | Fergus Slattery |
| RL | 5 | Moss Keane |
| LL | 4 | Donal Lenihan |
| TP | 3 | Ginger McLoughlin |
| HK | 2 | Ciaran Fitzgerald (c) |
| LP | 1 | Philip Orr |
| Replacements: ||
| FH | | Tony Ward |
| Coach: ||
| Willie John McBride ||
| FB | 15 | Dusty Hare |
| RW | 14 | John Carleton |
| OC | 13 | Clive Woodward |
| IC | 12 | Paul Dodge |
| LW | 11 | David Trick |
| FH | 10 | John Horton |
| SH | 9 | Nick Youngs |
| N8 | 8 | John Scott (c) |
| OF | 7 | Peter Winterbottom |
| BF | 6 | Nick Jeavons |
| RL | 5 | Steve Bainbridge |
| LL | 4 | Steve Boyle |
| TP | 3 | Gary Pearce |
| HK | 2 | Peter Wheeler |
| LP | 1 | Colin Smart |
| Coach: ||
| Dick Greenwood ||
* 1983-03-19
| France | 16–9 | Wales |
| Tries: Estève Pen.: Blanco (3) Drops: Camberabero | | Tries: Squire Con.: Wyatt Pen.: Evans |
* Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 45,242 Referee: T. F. Doocey (New Zealand)
| FB | 15 | Serge Blanco |
| RW | 14 | Philippe Sella |
| OC | 13 | Didier Codorniou |
| IC | 12 | Christian Bélascain |
| LW | 11 | Patrick Estève |
| FH | 10 | Didier Camberabero |
| SH | 9 | Gérald Martinez |
| N8 | 8 | Jean-Luc Joinel |
| OF | 7 | Dominique Erbani |
| BF | 6 | Jean-Pierre Rives (c) |
| RL | 5 | Jean-François Imbernon |
| LL | 4 | Jean Condom |
| TP | 3 | Robert Paparemborde |
| HK | 2 | Philippe Dintrans |
| LP | 1 | Pierre Dospital |
| Coach: ||
| Jacques Fouroux ||
| FB | 15 | Mark Wyatt |
| RW | 14 | Elgan Rees |
| OC | 13 | Rob Ackerman |
| IC | 12 | Gwyn Evans |
| LW | 11 | Clive Rees |
| FH | 10 | Malcolm Dacey |
| SH | 9 | Terry Holmes |
| N8 | 8 | Eddie Butler (c) |
| OF | 7 | David Pickering |
| BF | 6 | Jeff Squire |
| RL | 5 | Bob Norster |
| LL | 4 | John Perkins |
| TP | 3 | Graham Price |
| HK | 2 | Billy James |
| LP | 1 | Staff Jones |
| Replacements: ||
| FB | | Richard Donovan |
| Coach: ||
| John Bevan ||