The Rugby Championship
Formerly known as the Tri-Nations, this is the annual tournament played between Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and (beginning in 2012) Argentina.
As the TN, it was the first new national team tournament to be created after the advent of professionalism in 1995.
From 1996 until 2005 the teams played each twice each season (home and away). This system was also used in 2007 - World Cup year.
In 2006 and from 2008 onwards the sides have played each other three times.
In 2012 the event was renamed as The Rugby Championship and the system reverted to home and away round robin with Argentina's inclusion. This is apart from in World Cup years (2015, 2019 etc) when the teams only play each other once.
In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, South Africa were unable to play in the tournament, which was staged solely in Australia to reduce the amount of international travel during the health crisis.
As the TN, it was the first new national team tournament to be created after the advent of professionalism in 1995.
From 1996 until 2005 the teams played each twice each season (home and away). This system was also used in 2007 - World Cup year.
In 2006 and from 2008 onwards the sides have played each other three times.
In 2012 the event was renamed as The Rugby Championship and the system reverted to home and away round robin with Argentina's inclusion. This is apart from in World Cup years (2015, 2019 etc) when the teams only play each other once.
In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, South Africa were unable to play in the tournament, which was staged solely in Australia to reduce the amount of international travel during the health crisis.
YEAR | WINNERS | GRAND SLAM |
1996 | NEW ZEALAND | NEW ZEALAND |
1997 | NEW ZEALAND | NEW ZEALAND |
1998 | SOUTH AFRICA | SOUTH AFRICA |
1999 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2000 | AUSTRALIA | - |
2001 | AUSTRALIA | - |
2002 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2003 | NEW ZEALAND | NEW ZEALAND |
2004 | SOUTH AFRICA | - |
2005 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2006 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2007 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2008 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2009 | SOUTH AFRICA | - |
2010 | NEW ZEALAND | NEW ZEALAND |
2011 | AUSTRALIA | - |
2012 | NEW ZEALAND | NEW ZEALAND |
2013 | NEW ZEALAND | NEW ZEALAND |
2014 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2015 | AUSTRALIA | *AUSTRALIA |
2016 | NEW ZEALAND | NEW ZEALAND |
2017 | NEW ZEALAND | NEW ZEALAND |
2018 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2019 | SOUTH AFRICA | - |
2020 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2021 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2022 | NEW ZEALAND | - |
2023 | NEW ZEALAND | *NEW ZEALAND |
2024 | SOUTH AFRICA | - |
*Only played the other teams home or away due to World Cup
Links to other Rugby |
National Teams | Club/Provincial |