How many matches are there in the rugby championship?

he Rugby Championship (TRC) is one of the pre-eminent international rugby union competitions in world rugby. It is contested annually by ArgentinaAustraliaNew Zealand, and South Africa. It is owned and managed by SANZAAR.

SANZAAR is an incorporated Joint Venture between the four participating national unions and its head office is located in Sydney, Australia.   

Prior to the 2012 tournament, when Argentina entered The Rugby Championship, it was known as the Tri Nations. The inaugural Tri Nations tournament was in 1996, and was won by New Zealand. South Africa won its first title in 1998, and Australia its first in 2000.

The new expanded TRC (2012-2021) comprised a round robin format in which all the teams (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) played each other home and away. The first Championship (2012) was won by New Zealand, who won all six of their matches. Australia won the 2015 TRC which was shortened due to the Rugby World Cup being played later in the year. Indeed in a Rugby World Cup year the format comprises an abbreviated tournament with the teams playing each other once home or away.

New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have frequently been ranked among the top rugby nations in the world with New Zealand and South Africa winning the tournament three times each, with Australia winning it twice. 

Argentina has been ranked as high as third in the official World Rankings and has twice reached the Rugby World Cup semi-finals.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 the Springboks were unable to participate in The Rugby Championship that was set to be hosted in Australia. In its place SANZAAR  delivered a Tri-Nations tournament between Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

TRC 2022-2025

SANZAAR confirmed in June 2022 that the 12-match schedule for The Rugby Championship (TRC) would comprise an innovative ‘mini-tour’ format that is a departure from the previous home and away structure that had been in place since 2012 when Argentina joined Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to create The Rugby Championship.

Each team will still play six matches comprising three home matches and three away matches, and will play each team twice. However, each team will host a two-match tour, will play an away two-match tour and a one-match home and away series against the third team. For example, in 2022 New Zealand will host Argentina for two consecutive matches, will play two consecutive matches in South Africa and will play Australia once at home and once away. This format will see the two-match ‘mini tour’ home and away hosting rotate over a two-year period. Australia and New Zealand will always play a split home and away series, as will South Africa and Argentina.

The mini-tour concept is locked in until the end of 2025 and SANZAAR and the national unions believe this new format will excite fans by bringing back rugby’s traditional touring values and make for an even more exciting Championship. The format will also reduce the travel component of TRC, therefore, alleviating player welfare concerns and the amount of travel teams have to undertake. 
 

Competition Rules

Points will be awarded in all TRC matches on the following basis:

Win4 points
Draw2 points
Loss0 points for loss of more than 7 points
Bonus1 point for 3 tries or more than opponent
Bonus1 point for loss within 7 points or less

Position on the competition table shall be determined by competition points as set out above:

  1. In the event of two or more teams being equal on competition points for any position on the competition table such position shall be determined by the team with the most wins in the series.
  2. In the event of (a) above not providing a decision, the position on the competition table will be determined by the team with the most wins against the other team/s tied on the same points.
  3. In the event of (b) above not providing a decision, the position on the competition table will be determined on the margin of points scored for and against in the series. The team with the highest margin of points scored for and against being considered as the winner.
  4. In the event of (c) above not providing a decision, the position on the competition table will be determined on the margin of points scored for and against by those competing teams. The team with the highest margin of points scored for and against being considered as the winner.
  5. In the event of (d) above not providing a decision, the position on the competition table will be determined on the basis of the team scoring most tries in the series.
  6. In the event of (e) above not providing a decision, the Series shall be shared between the two teams.
     

Past Winners 

TRI-NATIONS

Year                Winner

1996               New Zealand
1997               New Zealand
1998               South Africa
1999               New Zealand
2000               Australia
2001               Australia
2002               New Zealand
2003               New Zealand
2004               South Africa
2005               New Zealand
2006               New Zealand
2007               New Zealand
2008               New Zealand
2009               South Africa
2010               New Zealand
2011               Australia

THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

2012               New Zealand
2013               New Zealand
2014               New Zealand
2015               Australia*
2016               New Zealand
2017               New Zealand
2018               New Zealand
2019               South Africa*
2020              New Zealand**
2021              New Zealand
2022              New Zealand

(* Rugby World Cup Year – shortened format; ** Tri Nations tournament as South Africa did not compete due to pandeming