The Rugby Championship is a four-nation international rugby union tournament played by the best countries in the Southern Hemisphere. The Tri-Nations began in 1996. It was a three-team competition between Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, which ushered in the professional era of rugby union after more than a century and a half of amateurism.
SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina Rugby), previously known as SANZAR, expanded the Tri-Nations to four teams in 2012. The new iteration of the tournament was renamed ‘The Rugby Championship’ after Argentina joined. Due to Covid-19, South Africa did not participate in The Rugby Championship in 2020. SportsBoom scrolled through the history books for the best country in The Rugby Championship.
Image for Tri Nations: South Africa versus New Zealand, 2006//Getty
Image for Tri Nations: South Africa versus New Zealand, 2006//Getty
Image for Tri Nations: South Africa versus New Zealand, 2006//Getty
A History of The Rugby Championship
New Zealand has won the most Rugby Championship titles. The All Blacks have won twenty Southern Hemisphere championships, ten Tri-Nations and ten Rugby Championship titles. South Africa and Australia share four titles across both iterations of the competition. The Wallabies have won two Tri-Nations and two Rugby Championships. The Springboks won three Tri-Nations and one Rugby Championship.
The All Blacks won the first Tri-Nations in 1996, and the Aussies claimed the last tournament in 2011. The Kiwis took the first Rugby Championship title the following season. They are the current defending champions, winning the last four tournaments and seven of the previous eight. New Zealand is historically the best team in the Southern Hemisphere.
Most Rugby Championship Titles
| Rank | Country | Tri-Nations / The Rugby Championship | Wooden Spoon |
| 1 | New Zealand | 20 | 2 |
| =2 | South Africa | 4 | 11 |
| =2 | Australia | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | Argentina | 0 | 9 |
Most Rugby Championship Titles
| Rank | Country | Tri-Nations / The Rugby Championship | Wooden Spoon |
| 1 | New Zealand | 20 | 2 |
| =2 | South Africa | 4 | 11 |
| =2 | Australia | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | Argentina | 0 | 9 |
| Rank | Country | Tri-Nations / The Rugby Championship | Wooden Spoon |
| 1 | New Zealand | 20 | 2 |
| =2 | South Africa | 4 | 11 |
| =2 | Australia | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | Argentina | 0 | 9 |
The Springboks have, however, won four Rugby World Cups, including the last two tournaments. South Africa thrashed England 32-12 in Yokohama, Japan in 2019. Four years later, in 2019, the Boks claimed an unprecedented fourth World Cup when they edged the All Blacks 12-11 at the Stade de France in Paris.
Since 2012, New Zealand has won ten of the twelve tournaments. Australia (2015) and South Africa (2019) have one title. Argentina’s best finish was second in 2020; however, the Springboks did not participate. Los Pumas’ best four-team finish is third (2015 & 2023). The South Americans have claimed the ‘Wooden Spoon’ nine times in twelve years, the most of any nation.
Image for Argentina versus New Zealand//Getty
Image for Argentina versus New Zealand//Getty
Image for Argentina versus New Zealand//Getty
The Rugby Championship Includes Related Competitions Between Each Country
The 2024 tournament takes place from August 10 to September 28. The twelve-Test tournament sees every team play three home-and-away matches. Each nation plays six Test matches, except during World Cup years, where they play each other once. They play each other country twice at home and away. South Africa, Australia, and All four countries play one home and away series versus one nation. Argentina and South Africa play in South America and Africa, and New Zealand and Australia cross the Tasman twice.
The Wallabies host the Springboks in back-to-back Test matches to kick-start the 2024 competition. The All Blacks host Los Pumas in two matches in the Land of the Long White Cloud. The Kiwis then travel to the Republic to take on the world champions in two Tests. The Aussies travel to South America for two games against the Pumas.
Image for Quade Cooper of Australia//Getty
The final two rounds of matches see the Boks and Pumas play each other home and away. The Kiwis and Wallabies will play home and away Bledisloe Cup matches. Their trans-Tasman rivalry is only two games this year. The last time three Bledisloe Tests were contested was in 2021 when the All Blacks won 3-0. Australia has not won the series since 2002.
All four countries tussle for independent trophies between themselves. New Zealand and Australia play for the Bledisloe Cup. South Africa and New Zealand contest the Freedom Cup, the Mandela Plate between Australia and South Africa. Argentina and Australia duke it out for the Puma Trophy.
Image for Santiago Carreras of Argentina//Getty
Image for Quade Cooper of Australia//Getty
Image for Quade Cooper of Australia//Getty
Image for Santiago Carreras of Argentina//Getty
Image for Santiago Carreras of Argentina//Getty
Who has scored the most points in Rugby Championship history?
Dan Carter is the top scorer in The Rugby Championship. The New Zealand flyhalf scored 544 points.
Who scored the most tries in Rugby Championship history?
Bryan Habana is the top try scorer in The Rugby Championship. The South African wing scored 21 tries in Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship Test matches.
Who won the first Rugby Championship in 2012?
New Zealand triumphed in the first Rugby Championship.
How many Rugby World Cup titles have the Southern Hemisphere teams won?
The Southern Hemisphere countries have won eleven Rugby World Cups between them. South Africa has won four, the most in the world. New Zealand has three titles, and Australia has two.
Who was the top scorer in the 2023 Rugby Championship?
Richie Mo’unga top-scored for New Zealand. The flyhalf scored 28 points, nine more than Manie Libbok of South Africa.
Who was the top try scorer in the 2023 Rugby Championship?
Kurt-Lee Arendse scored the most tries in the tournament. The wing dotted down three times for South Africa.
Dan Carter is the top scorer in The Rugby Championship. The New Zealand flyhalf scored 544 points.
Dan Carter is the top scorer in The Rugby Championship. The New Zealand flyhalf scored 544 points.
Dan Carter is the top scorer in The Rugby Championship. The New Zealand flyhalf scored 544 points.
Who scored the most tries in Rugby Championship history?Bryan Habana is the top try scorer in The Rugby Championship. The South African wing scored 21 tries in Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship Test matches.
Bryan Habana is the top try scorer in The Rugby Championship. The South African wing scored 21 tries in Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship Test matches.
Bryan Habana is the top try scorer in The Rugby Championship. The South African wing scored 21 tries in Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship Test matches.
Who won the first Rugby Championship in 2012?New Zealand triumphed in the first Rugby Championship.
New Zealand triumphed in the first Rugby Championship.
New Zealand triumphed in the first Rugby Championship.
How many Rugby World Cup titles have the Southern Hemisphere teams won?The Southern Hemisphere countries have won eleven Rugby World Cups between them. South Africa has won four, the most in the world. New Zealand has three titles, and Australia has two.
The Southern Hemisphere countries have won eleven Rugby World Cups between them. South Africa has won four, the most in the world. New Zealand has three titles, and Australia has two.
The Southern Hemisphere countries have won eleven Rugby World Cups between them. South Africa has won four, the most in the world. New Zealand has three titles, and Australia has two.
Who was the top scorer in the 2023 Rugby Championship?Richie Mo’unga top-scored for New Zealand. The flyhalf scored 28 points, nine more than Manie Libbok of South Africa.
Richie Mo’unga top-scored for New Zealand. The flyhalf scored 28 points, nine more than Manie Libbok of South Africa.
Richie Mo’unga top-scored for New Zealand. The flyhalf scored 28 points, nine more than Manie Libbok of South Africa.
Who was the top try scorer in the 2023 Rugby Championship?Kurt-Lee Arendse scored the most tries in the tournament. The wing dotted down three times for South Africa.
Kurt-Lee Arendse scored the most tries in the tournament. The wing dotted down three times for South Africa.
Kurt-Lee Arendse scored the most tries in the tournament. The wing dotted down three times for South Africa.
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