Looking for information about international rugby tournaments? Whether you’re a rugby enthusiast or consider yourself a superfan, we’ve put together this list of FAQs to answer all of your queries. From historic victories to the latest record-breaking achievements, we’ve made it easy for you to upgrade your rugby knowledge.
Do you know when the first ever international matches were held? Want to find out more about Rugby World Rankings? Or explore the history of international squads? Our rugby gurus have sifted through the most popular international rugby FAQs to provide the information you really care about.
Learn about record wins, the top point and try scorers, winning margins and more. From the Six Nations Championship to The Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup, no matter which tournament or nation you’re interested in, you’ll find the answers you’ve been searching for in our international FAQs. Simply scroll down to get started.
The first international rugby union game was held on 27 March 1871. The match was between England and Scotland and it was held at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, in front of 4,000 spectators. Scotland won the first international match as they scored two tries to England’s one.
There are more than 120 teams that play international rugby union, including 108 member unions and 21 associate unions. These teams come from Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Australia.
Top-ranked teams include England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.
England is home to the highest number of people who play rugby union. According to World Rugby data from 2019, 2.11 million people play rugby in England. This is followed by the USA (1.48 million), South Africa (692,000), France (533,000) and Australia (477,000).
The international teams that play in the Six Nations Championship are England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.
The tournament first began as the Home Nations, and this tournament was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It became the Five Nations with the addition of France (1910) and the Six Nations with the addition of Italy (2000).
The international teams that play in The Rugby Championship are Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The competition was previously known as the Tri Nations. It took its current name when Argentina joined the tournament in 2012.
There are four international teams that have won the Rugby World Cup: New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England. New Zealand first won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, Australia in 1991, South Africa in 1995 and England in 2003.
The international teams that have held the position of world number one are England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales.
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