Tri-Nations Dominance

The premier Southern Hemisphere rugby competition.

The Rugby Championship, formerly known as the Tri Nations Series (1996–2011), is an international rugby union competition contested by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. These are traditionally the four highest-ranked national teams in the Southern Hemisphere.

Quick Facts

Competition start year: 1996
Primary rivals: Australia (Wallabies), South Africa (Springboks)

Lore & Background

The inaugural Tri Nations Series tournament was in 1996, and was won by New Zealand. South Africa won their first title in 1998, and Australia their first in 2000. Following the last Tri Nations Series tournament in 2011, New Zealand had won ten championships, with South Africa and Australia on three titles each. The first Rugby Championship was won by New Zealand, who won all six of their matches.

Reader's Guide

The competition is administered by SANZAAR, a consortium consisting of four national governing bodies: the South African Rugby Union (SARU), New Zealand Rugby (NZR), Rugby Australia (RA) and the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR).

Did You Know?

In 2007, the Tri Nations was shortened to two games against either team, because it clashed with the Rugby World Cup in France.
On 5 December 2020, a traditional version of the Australian National Anthem was sung for the first time in the Eora indigenous language, before the match between Argentina and Australia.