International Rugby Competitions
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup first started in 1987, and takes place every four years. The first Rugby World Cup tournament was hosted by both Australia and New Zeeland. The Top 12 teams from the previous tournament qualify to participate, as well as 8 other qualifiers. It is organized by the International Rugby Board (IRB). The winners are awarded the William Web Ellis Cup, which is named after the boy accredited with the invention of the game. The reigning champions are the Springbucks of South Africa who won it in France in 2007. The next Rugby World Cup is to take place in New Zeeland in 2011.
Hosts and winners in the past:
1987 Australia and New Zeeland: New Zeeland 29-9 France
1991 England: Australia 12-6 England
1995 South Africa: South Africa 15-12 New Zeeland
1999 Wales: Australia 35-12 France
2003 Australia: England 20-17 Australia
2007 France: South Africa 15-6 England
Six Nations Championship
England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales participate in the Six Nations Championship. This tournament is held annually, and was found in 1883 by the Rugby Union. It was referred to as the Five Nations up until 2000 when Italy was added as a member. The winner is seen as the European champions- with Wales as the current winner of 2008- and is presented with the Champions Trophy.
The National Anthems of the participating teams are:
England: God Save the Queen
France: La Marseillaise
Ireland: Ireland's Call, and Amhrán na bhFiann when playing home matches
Italy: Il Canto degli Italiani
Scotland: Flower of Scotland
Wales: Hen Wlad fy Nhadau
Six Nations Trophies:
Calcutta Cup - England and Scotland, since 1879
Centenary Quaich - Ireland and Scotland, since 1989
Le Crunch - England and France (traditional name), since 1906
Millennium Trophy - England and Ireland, since 1988
Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy - France and Italy, since 2007
Tri-Nations
The Tri-Nations was first played in 1996, and is played annually. It is held between South Africa (Springboks), Australia (Wallabies) and New Zeeland (All Blacks). The continuing battles between these Southern-Hemisphere teams go back since 1903 when Australia and New Zeeland played against each other for the first time, and 1921 when the Springboks first toured Australasia. During the 1995 World Cup, negotiations took place between the three nations' rugby unions to form SANZAR. Now today, this tournament is equal to the Six Nations, and is still growing.
New Zeeland has won 8 Tri-Nations, South Africa has won two and Australia has won two.
Tri Nations Trophies:
Bledisloe Cup - Australia and New Zealand, since 1931
Mandela Challenge Plate - Australia and South Africa, since 2000
Freedom Cup - New Zealand and South Africa, since 2004
Super 14
The Super 14 is largest rugby union football club championship in the Southern Hemisphere. The participating countries (Australia, New Zeeland and South Africa) enter their provincial teams to compete against each other. One game played home, the other on the opposing team's field.
South Africa's teams: Free State/Cheetahs, Western Cape/Stormers, Kwazulu Natal/Sharks, Gauteng/Lions, and Northern Gauteng/Bulls.
Australia's teams: Queensland/Reds, New South Wales/Waratahs, ACT/Brumbies, and Western Australia/Force
New Zeeland's teams: Auckland/Blues, Waikato/Chiefs, Wellington/Hurricanes, Canterbury/Crusaders, and Otago/Highlanders
In this titanic battle, held by SANZAR, only one South African team has won the Super14- the Northern Bulls.
|
