THE Royal Bath & West of England Show will host the inaugural Six Nations Sheep Shearing Competition in June.

The team championships will welcome top-class shearers from England, France, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Each country has selected their top three open shearers to compete as their national team at the Six Nations on June 4.

The first international competition between shearing nations was held at the Royal Welsh Show in 1963, with three nations competing – England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland joined the competition in 1969, then the Republic of Ireland in 1980.

The Five Nations has taken place for 29 years, hosted by the relevant Royal show of each nation in rotation.

France was nominated to join the championships at the Five Nations meeting in 2009 and will be represented for the first time in the history of the competition.

Each team member will be challenged to shear seven sheep against the other five nations while spectators witness their skill, determination, strength and speed.

Competition shearing has done much to raise the overall standard of sheep shearing.

Good clean shearing without damage to sheep or wool remains the first and overriding priority. Speed is a bonus only when the quality is there.

The Royal Bath & West of England Show is now England's only Royal four-day agricultural show.

It takes place from June 2 at the permanent showground at Shepton Mallet.