Tweeting the Six Nations

As we approach the halfway point of the 2014 Six Nations, fan debate has already reached fever pitch on Twitter.

The participating teams have made Twitter the place to go for fans who want to get closer to the players than ever before. 

@EnglandRugby have given their followers the chance to have their messages of inspiration displayed at rugby headquarters in Twickenham. The 40 best Tweets submitted by users with the #carrythemhome hashtag have been published in a spectacular mosaic in the player’s tunnel:

 And one overall winner earned the chance to deliver his message in person to the entire squad:

Messages of support will continue to pour in during the game against Ireland (@irfurugby) today, prompted by a giant call to action at Twickenham:

Meanwhile, @WelshRugbyUnion are continuing with #FinalWord, the competition which turns one fan’s Tweet into an iconic banner at the end of the Millennium Stadium tunnel: 

And the focus for @irfurugby has been on their talismanic leader @BrianODriscoll, who wins his 131st cap:

Round three of the RBS Six Nations Championships kicks off this weekend: 

@WelshRugbyUnion v @FFR_officiel (France)
@Federugby (Italy) v @Scotlandteam
@EnglandRugby v @irfurugby (Ireland)

If you want to join the conversation on Twiter, popular hashtags include:

#6nations
#carrythemhome
#behindthegreen
#backingblue
#soutienslexv
#Italrugby

And also #bbcrugby, which @BBCSport have been using Twitter to drive real-time votes during the Six Nations tournament: