The Six Nations championship has announced a shake-up to the points system for the first time in its history.

The traditional allocation of two points for a win, one point for a draw - in place since inaugural Home Nations Championship between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in 1883 - will be replaced with the modern points system used in most modern domestic leagues, including the Pro 12.

The winning team will now earn four points, or five points if they score four tries or more in the match.

The losing team will get no points but can earn up to two bonus points - one each for scoring four or more tries, or finishing behind by a margin of seven points or fewer.

Two points will be awarded for a draw, with an extra bonus point available for teams that score four tries or more.

The Six Nations shall also award an additional three points to a team that achieves a Grand Slam - winning all five of their matches in the championship.

The thrust behind a bonus point system is to encourage teams to continue attacking when when they hold a commanding lead, or if they are behind by more than a score but could salvage a losing bonus point.

If they system had been in effect in the 2016 tournament the league table would have been in the same order, but with England amassing 24 bonus opposed to their Grand Slam-winning haul of 10.

Six Nations chairman Pat Whelan said the championship had been investigating the bonus point system for some time.

He said: "We needed to ensure that whatever bonus point system we selected would work with the already proven structure of the Championships and would serve to materially improve what is already there.

"We are happy that the system that we have decided to trial is the one best suited to our Championships and we are delighted to be going ahead with this new development.

"We believe that the initiative will enhance our competitions for fans, teams, broadcasters and all of those for whom the Championship means so much."