The 10 Powers of World Rugby
The teams on this list regularly play in the most important Rugby tournaments in the world, The Rugby Championship, and The Six Nations. Read on to find out more about the powers of world rugby.
The powers of world rugby
There are ten major powers of world rugby, six in the northern hemisphere and four in the south. And they all participate in some thrilling international tournaments. Let’s take a look at them.
1. England
The England rugby team has won the Six Nations tournament in 13 of the 28 tournaments so far. They also most recently won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 and have three world cup runners-up trophies.
Their official strip is a white shirt with a rose embroidered on the chest, white shorts and navy blue socks with white trim. They mainly play their home games at Twickenham Stadium, first used in 1910.
2. Powers of world rugby: Scotland
Scotland played their first international match against England in 1871, and since 1883, they have participated in the Six Nations, which at the time consisted of just four countries. They have won it 15 times. They’ve been part of the Rugby World Cup since its inception in 1987, and their best performance was when they reached the semi-final in 1991.
Their official kit is a navy blue shirt, white shorts, and blue socks, although in recent times they’ve worn blue shorts. Their emblem is the thistle, Scotland’s national flower, and since 1925 they have played their home matches at Murrayfield, Edinburgh.
3. Wales
The Red Dragons – named after the mythical animal on the Welsh flag – played their first official game against England in 1881. Since then, they’ve participated in the Home Nations, Five Nations, and eventual Six Nations tournaments. They’ve won it a total of 27 times.
The Welsh team is one of the powers of world rugby. Their kit comprises a red shirt, white shorts, and red socks. They play at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff.
4. Ireland: powers of world rugby
The Irish are another team that plays in the Six Nations, which they’ve won twelve times. As for World Cups, their best finishes have been in the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1999. Their strip is made up of a green shirt, white shorts, and green socks. Their symbol is the clover.
5. Italy
The Italian rugby team is a promising team and is responsible for the name change of the tournament from the Five Nations to Six Nations in 2000. Italy has participated in the World Cup since 1987 and has yet to reach the knock-out stages.
The Azzurri wears a blue t-shirt with green, white, and red sleeves (the colors of the Italian flag), white shorts, and blue socks.
6. France
Les Bleus have played all editions of the World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in 1991, 1999, and 2007. They also compete in the Six Nations, which began for the second time as the Five Nations in 1947. They have won it on 25 occasions.
7. New Zealand
New Zealand has won the Rugby Championship in the southern hemisphere more than any other team, winning a total of 16 out of 24. As well as being one of the powers of world rugby, they’ve won three world cups (1987, 2011 and 2015). Their kit is completely black except for a white fern leaf, thus giving them the nickname, ‘The All Blacks’. They are known for performing a ritual dance called the Haka before each match.
8. Australia
Another strong power of world rugby, Australia has won two world cups, in 1991 and 1999. They’ve also played in every edition of the Rugby Championship (previously the Tri-Nations), which they’ve won three times: 2000, 2001, and 2011. The Wallabies play in a yellow shirt with green trim, green shorts, and green socks.
9. South Africa: powers of world rugby
The Springboks have won the World Cup on three occasions, in 1995, 2007, and 2019, and they’ve claimed the Rugby Championship title four times, in 1998, 2004, 2009, and 2019.
South Africa wears a green shirt with a yellow collar, white shorts, and green socks with yellow trim.
10. Argentina
The last team on this list is the best team in America and is known as Los Pumas (because of the animal that features on their shirts). They entered the Tri-Nations tournament in 2012 and their best finish was third place in 2015. Their best finish in the World Cup was third place in 2007.
Whenever any of these teams face each other, it promises to be a thrilling encounter. Do you remember any historic duels between these rugby powers?
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Fixture & Results. Sitio oficial del Guiness Six Nations. https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/fixtures/
- Ryan, M. Mundial de Rugby: una por una, las estrellas de cada selección. Clarin. Septiembre 2019. https://www.clarin.com/deportes/rugby/estrellas-mundial_0_wdKtbc4.html