Six Nations’ Biggest Handling Errors: Which Players Struggle to Keep Possession?

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• Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn has emerged as the most reliable player, maintaining a perfect record with no turnovers lost.
• Sam Underhill of England has been identified as the most likely to concede possession, based on turnovers per minute.
• The study measured how frequently players lost the ball per minute throughout the Six Nations tournament.

A report by Nieuwe Casinos has highlighted which players in the Six Nations rugby tournament are the best and worst at keeping possession.

The analysis ranked players based on turnovers lost per minute. In elite rugby, holding onto the ball is vital, as losing possession can shift momentum in a match.

Top 5 Least Clumsy Players

1. Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)
   Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn topped the list by going 226 minutes without a single turnover. His clean handling was instrumental in Scotland’s game plan, and with 38 carries and 212 meters covered, he played a key role in their offense.
2. Cameron Redpath (Scotland)
   Another Scottish talent, Cameron Redpath, displayed excellent ball retention, finishing 147 minuteswithout losing possession. He made 26 carries and covered 125 meters, proving to be a reliable asset for his team.
3. Ryan Elias (Wales)
   Despite having limited game time, Ryan Elias from Wales played 85 minutes without a turnover. His 30 carries and 33 meters gained demonstrate his ability to secure possession efficiently.
4. Freddie Steward (England)
   England’s Freddie Steward stood firm under pressure, playing 160 minutes without a single turnover. With 23 carries and 149 meters gained, he remained a consistent presence in England’s attack.
5. Calvin Nash (Ireland)
   Ireland’s Calvin Nash secured his place among the best, playing 287 minutes turnover-free. His 36 carries and 196 meters gained underscored his importance in Ireland’s offensive strategies.

Summary Table of Top 5 Least Clumsy Players

Bottom 5 Most Clumsy Players

1. Sam Underhill (England)
   At the lowest rank, Sam Underhill recorded the most turnovers per minute. He lost possession once in 312 minutes, but due to making only 5 carries, his turnovers lost per carry and per minute were disproportionately high. His turnovers lost per 80 minutes stood at 26, reflecting a lack of ball control.
2. Ollie Chessum (England)
   Ollie Chessum ranks just above Underhill, with three turnoverso ver 331 minutes of play. His turnovers lost per 80 minutes is 73, and with 21 carries, his turnovers lost per carry of 0.14 suggests struggles in keeping possession.
3. Maro Itoje (England)
   Maro Itoje sits in third-worst position, with four turnovers in 400 minutes. His turnovers lost per 80 minutes is 80, and with 28 carries, his turnovers lost per carry of 0.14 reflects inconsistency in handling.
4. George Ford (England)
   George Ford conceded three turnovers in 345 minutes. His turnovers lost per 80 minutes is 70, and his 14 carries resulted in a turnovers lost per carry rate of 0.21, making him one of the least efficient players in ball retention.
5. Uini Atonio (France)
   France’s Uini Atonio rounds off the list, losing possession twice in 261 minutes. His turnovers lost per 80 minutes is 61, and with 29 carries, his turnovers lost per carry of 0.07 indicates occasional handling mistakes.

Summary Table of Bottom 5 Most Clumsy Players

Nieuwe Casinos representative Valentijn De Bruin weighed in on the findings:

“Ball retention is crucial in rugby, as players who hold onto possession effectively can drive their team’s success. Those who maintain control under pressure create more scoring chances and limit their opponents’ opportunities. Blair Kinghorn and Cameron Redpath exemplify top-tier decision-making and technical skill, proving that secure handling is invaluable.

Scottish players dominated the rankings with perfect turnover records, whereas English players ranked among those with the highest turnover rates, highlighting areas for improvement.”
ENDS

Methodology

Data was gathered on January 9, 2024, and included statistics on turnovers, playing time, carries, and meters covered during the Six Nations tournament. The data was normalized using the following calculations for a fair comparison:

• Turnovers per minute= turnovers lost ÷ minutes played
• Turnovers per 80 minutes= (turnovers lost × 80) ÷ minutes played
• Turnovers per carry= turnovers lost ÷ carries
• Turnovers per meter carried= turnovers lost ÷ meters carried

Players were ranked based on these normalized figures, with lower turnover numbers reflecting stronger ball retention and higher carry figures indicating greater involvement.

Sources

• Rugby Pass Six Nations Stats
• The Analyst Six Nations Stats Hub
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