ENGLAND Rugby World Cup Winner Final Newspaper 2003 Ball Union France Old Retro

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Seller: anddownthewaterfall ✉️ (33,556) 99.8%, Location: Manchester, Take a Look at My Other Items, GB, Ships to: WORLDWIDE, Item: 364803299114 ENGLAND Rugby World Cup Winner Final Newspaper 2003 Ball Union France Old Retro. England Winners Daily Mirror Rugby World Cup 2003   Replica Dail Mirror  from Monday 24th November 2003 The after England Won the Rugby Union World Cup  It has some incredible  images plus all the news  Contains 52 Pages  - The Complete Newspaper from that day   In Excellent Condition Magnificent Keepsake Souvenir to Remember a day no one will forget Starting at a Penny....Get Bidding! :)  
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Kuala Lumpur, Toronto, Milan, Shenyang, Dallas, Fort Worth, Boston, Belo Horizonte, Khartoum, Riyadh, Singapore, Washington, Detroit, Barcelona,, Houston, Athens, Berlin, Sydney, Atlanta, Guadalajara, San Francisco, Oakland, Montreal, Monterey, Melbourne, Ankara, Recife, Phoenix/Mesa, Durban, Porto Alegre, Dalian, Jeddah, Seattle, Cape Town, San Diego, Fortaleza, Curitiba, Rome, Naples, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Tel Aviv, Birmingham, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Manchester, San Juan, Katowice, Tashkent, Fukuoka, Baku, Sumqayit, St. Louis, Baltimore, Sapporo, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Taichung, Warsaw, Denver, Cologne, Bonn, Hamburg, Dubai, Pretoria, Vancouver, Beirut, Budapest, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Campinas, Harare, Brasilia, Kuwait, Munich, Portland, Brussels, Vienna, San Jose, Damman , Copenhagen, Brisbane, Riverside, San Bernardino, Cincinnati and Accra 2023 Rugby World Cup Article Talk Read Edit View history Tools From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Current sports event This article documents a current sporting event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports, scores, or statistics may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Please feel free to improve this article (but note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed) or discuss changes on the talk page. (September 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) 2023 Rugby World Cup French: Coupe du monde de rugby 2023 We Are Rugby #WeAre2023![1] Tournament details Host nation France Dates 8 September – 28 October No. of nations 20 Tournament statistics Matches played 40 Attendance 1,840,948 (46,024 per match) Tries scored 290 (average 7.25 per match) Top scorer(s) France Thomas Ramos (61 points) Most tries France Damian Penaud (6 tries) Points scored 2,248 (average 56.2 per match) ← 20192027 → The 2023 Rugby World Cup (French: Coupe du monde de rugby 2023) is the ongoing tenth men's Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for rugby union national teams. It is taking place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023 in nine venues across the country and is the first to take place entirely in France. The opening game and final will take place at the Stade de France, north of Paris. The tournament is being held in the bicentenary year of the "invention" of the sport by William Webb Ellis.[2] Originally, the tournament was scheduled to last the usual six weeks, but in February 2021 World Rugby added a week to provide additional rest days for player welfare. This means that teams will have a minimum of five days' rest for all matches. It will be the third time France has hosted the Rugby World Cup, having previously done so in 2007 and co-hosted the 1991 Rugby World Cup with England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The defending champions are South Africa, who defeated England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.[3] Chile made their first appearance in the tournament. Portugal returned for their second appearance, 16 years after their debut in 2007, also in France. Both teams failed to qualify for the quarter-finals. Host selection See also: 2023 Rugby World Cup bids World Rugby requested that any members wishing to host the 2023 event were to submit an expression of interest by June 2015. A total of six unions responded. The Italian Rugby Federation were among the members interested, but withdrew from their bid on 28 September 2016. The Argentine Rugby Union and USA Rugby both expressed their interest in hosting the event but ultimately decided against a formal bid.[citation needed] Three bids were officially submitted to World Rugby by the June 2017 deadline. On 15 November 2017, the French Rugby Federation bid was chosen ahead of bids by the South African Rugby Union and the Irish Rugby Football Union. France had launched its bid on 9 February 2017.[4] Venues Stadia On 17 March 2017, twelve host cities were selected.[5] This list was later reduced to nine cities (excluding Paris, Montpellier, and Lens): Paris (Saint-Denis) Marseille Lyon (Décines-Charpieu) Lille (Villeneuve-d'Ascq) Stade de Franceab Stade de Marseillea OL Stadium Stade Pierre-Mauroy Capacity: 80,698 Capacity: 67,394 Capacity: 59,186 Capacity: 50,186 Bordeaux 2023 Rugby World Cup is located in FranceParisParisMarseilleMarseilleLyonLyonLilleLilleNantesNantesBordeauxBordeauxSaint-ÉtienneSaint-ÉtienneNiceNiceToulouseToulouse Stade de Bordeaux Capacity: 42,115 Saint-Étienne Nice Nantes Toulouse Stade Geoffroy-Guicharda Stade de Nice Stade de la Beaujoirea Stadium de Toulouseab Capacity: 41,965 Capacity: 35,624 Capacity: 35,322 Capacity: 33,150 a Stadium/site used in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. b Stadium/site used in the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Team base camps South Africa–Scotland at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, 10 September 2023 Team City  Argentina La Baule-Escoublac, Loire-Atlantique  Australia Saint-Étienne, Loire  Chile Perros-Guirec, Côtes-d'Armor  England Le Touquet, Pas-de-Calais  Fiji Lormont, Gironde  France Rueil-Malmaison, Hauts-de-Seine  Georgia Île de Ré - La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime  Ireland Tours, Indre-et-Loire  Italy Bourgoin-Jallieu, Isère  Japan Toulouse, Haute-Garonne  Namibia Aix-les-Bains, Savoie  New Zealand Lyon, Rhône  Portugal Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales  Romania Libourne, Gironde  Samoa Montpellier, Hérault  Scotland Nice, Alpes-Maritimes  South Africa Toulon, Var  Tonga Croissy-sur-Seine, Yvelines  Uruguay Avignon, Vaucluse  Wales Versailles, Yvelines Source: [6] Teams Qualification Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifying Qualification status:   Qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup   Failed to qualify   Withdrew or suspended Twenty teams competed. A total of 12 teams gained automatic qualification for the tournament after finishing in the top three of their pool at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which included France already automatically qualified as host. The remaining eight spaces were decided by regional competitions followed by a few cross-regional play-offs. Spain originally qualified as Europe 2, but Romania lodged an official complaint that Spain had fielded an ineligible player during the qualifying tournament. After a controversial investigation, it was concluded that the player in question had falsified his passport: Spain received a deduction of 10 points, resulting in them being effectively ejected from the competition, with Romania replacing them as Europe 2 and Portugal taking Romania's spot in the repechage tournament.[7] On 18 November 2022, Portugal won the repechage tournament to be the last country to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The 2023 Rugby World Cup witnessed historic developments in North and South American rugby. Canada´s absence marked the first time in history that the country failed to qualify for the tournament. Similarly, the United States found themselves excluded from the competition for the first time since 1995, representing a notable departure from previous editions. The absence of North American representation significantly shifted the regional dynamic due to unified North and South American qualification matches. The Americas were allocated two qualifying berths through a series of playoff matches spanning both regions. Qualified teams Region Team Qualification method Previous apps Previous best result World Rank¹ Africa South Africa Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 7 Champions (1995, 2007, 2019) 2  Namibia Africa 1 6 Pool stage (six times) 21 Asia Japan Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Quarter-finals (2019) 14 Europe France Hosts 9 Runners-up (1987, 1999, 2011) 3  England Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Champions (2003) 8  Ireland Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Quarter-finals (seven times) 1  Italy Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Pool stage (nine times) 13  Scotland Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Fourth place (1991) 5  Wales Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Third place (1987) 10  Georgia Europe 1 5 Pool stage (five times) 11  Romania Europe 2 8 Pool stage (eight times) 19  Portugal Final Qualifier 1 Pool stage (2007) 16 Oceania Australia Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Champions (1991, 1999) 9  Fiji Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 8 Quarter-finals (1987, 2007) 7  New Zealand Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Champions (1987, 2011, 2015) 4  Samoa Oceania 1 8 Quarter-finals (1991, 1995) 12  Tonga Asia/Pacific 1 8 Pool stage (eight times) 15 South America and North America Rugby Argentina Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool 9 Third place (2007) 6  Uruguay Americas 1 4 Pool stage (1999, 2003, 2015, 2019) 17  Chile Americas 2 0 Debut 22 ¹as of 4 September 2023 post warm-up matches Squads See also: 2023 Rugby World Cup squads Each team can submit a squad of 33 players for the tournament, an increase from 31 that was allowed in 2019. The squads are submitted to World Rugby by 1 September. If a team needs to call-up a new player, a player must first have been withdrawn from the active 33-player squad which is usually as a consequence of a long-term injury. On 1 May, Wales were the first team to name their extended training squad for the tournament. Draw The pool draw took place on 14 December 2020 in Paris.[8] The draw returned to its traditional place of the year following the previous World Cup, after the end-of-year internationals. The seeding system from previous Rugby World Cups was retained with the 12 automatic qualifiers from 2019 being allocated to their respective bands based on their World Rugby Rankings on 1 January 2020: Band 1: The four highest-ranked teams Band 2: The next four highest-ranked teams Band 3: The final four directly qualified teams The remaining two bands were made up of the eight qualifying teams, with allocation to each band being based on the previous Rugby World Cup playing strength: Band 4: – Oceania 1, Europe 1, Americas 1, Asia/Pacific 1 Band 5: – Africa 1, Europe 2, Americas 2, Final Qualifier Winner This meant the 20 teams, qualified and qualifiers, were seeded thus (world ranking as of 1 January 2020): Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4 Band 5  South Africa (1)  New Zealand (2)  England (3)  Wales (4)  Ireland (5)  Australia (6)  France (7)  Japan (8)  Scotland (9)  Argentina (10)  Fiji (11)  Italy (12)  Samoa (Oceania 1)  Georgia (Europe 1)  Uruguay (Americas 1)  Tonga (Asia/Pacific 1)  Namibia (Africa 1)  Romania (Europe 2)  Chile (Americas 2)  Portugal (Final Qualifier Winner) Having the draw so early (almost three years before the competition) has been criticised. Changes in the World Rugby Rankings have taken place since, meaning that Pool B contained three of the top five teams (Ireland (1), South Africa (2) and Scotland (5)), while Pool A contained France (3) and New Zealand (4). Meanwhile, Pool C's highest-ranked team at the start of the tournament was Fiji (7).[9][10] World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin pledged that draws for future World Cups would be better balanced.[11] Preparation See also: 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches Match officials World Rugby named the following 12 referees, seven assistant referees and for the first time an expanded television match officials team of seven to handle the 48 matches:[12] Amongst the squad, Wayne Barnes will officiate at a record fifth Rugby World Cup, while Nika Amashukeli will become the first Georgian referee in the World Cup and first Tier 2 representative to referee a game since the game turned professional. Matthew Carley, Karl Dickson and Andrew Brace will make their first appearance in a World Cup as a referee and Joy Neville becomes the first female named on match official panel for a men’s Rugby World Cup. Referees Georgia (country) Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) England Wayne Barnes (England) Australia Nic Berry (Australia) Ireland Andrew Brace (Ireland) England Matthew Carley (England) England Karl Dickson (England) Australia Angus Gardner (Australia) New Zealand Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) England Luke Pearce (England) South Africa Jaco Peyper (South Africa) France Mathieu Raynal (France) New Zealand Paul Williams (New Zealand) Assistant referees Ireland Chris Busby (Ireland) France Pierre Brousset (France) New Zealand James Doleman (New Zealand) Wales Craig Evans (Wales) Italy Andrea Piardi (Italy) England Christophe Ridley (England) Australia Jordan Way (Australia) Television match officials / Foul play review officer Australia Brett Cronan (Australia) England Tom Foley (England) South Africa Marius Jonker (South Africa) Ireland Brian MacNeice (Ireland) Ireland Joy Neville (Ireland) New Zealand Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand) Wales Ben Whitehouse (Wales) Opening ceremony The opening ceremony, directed and written by Jean Dujardin, Olivier Ferracci and Nora Matthey, took place on 8 September 2023 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, before the opening match between France and New Zealand.[13][14] Pool stage Competing countries were divided into four pools of five teams (pools A to D). Teams in each pool play one another in a round-robin, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stage. Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D  New Zealand  France  Italy  Uruguay  Namibia  South Africa  Ireland  Scotland  Tonga  Romania  Wales  Australia  Fiji  Georgia  Portugal  England  Japan  Argentina  Samoa  Chile Points allocation in pool stage Four points are awarded for a win. Two points are awarded for a draw. A try bonus point is awarded to teams that score four or more tries in a match. A losing bonus point is awarded to teams that lose a match by seven or fewer points.[15] Tie-breaking criteria for pool play Key to colours in pool tables Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup Eliminated but qualified for 2027 Rugby World Cup Pool A Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool A Pos Teamvte Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA B Pts 1 France (H) 4 4 0 0 210 32 +178 27 5 2 18 2 New Zealand 4 3 0 1 253 47 +206 38 4 3 15 3 Italy 4 2 0 2 114 181 −67 15 25 2 10 4 Uruguay 4 1 0 3 65 164 −99 9 21 1 5 5 Namibia 4 0 0 4 37 255 −218 3 37 0 0 Source: World Rugby Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers (H) Host 8 September 2023 France 27–13 New Zealand Stade de France, Saint-Denis 9 September 2023 Italy 52–8 Namibia Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne 14 September 2023 France 27–12 Uruguay Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq 15 September 2023 New Zealand 71–3 Namibia Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse 20 September 2023 Italy 38–17 Uruguay Stade de Nice, Nice 21 September 2023 France 96–0 Namibia Stade de Marseille, Marseille 27 September 2023 Uruguay 36–26 Namibia Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu 29 September 2023 New Zealand 96–17 Italy Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu 5 October 2023 New Zealand 73–0 Uruguay Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu 6 October 2023 France 60–7 Italy Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu Pool B Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B Pos Teamvte Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA B Pts 1 Ireland 4 4 0 0 190 46 +144 27 5 3 19 2 South Africa 4 3 0 1 151 34 +117 22 4 3 15 3 Scotland 4 2 0 2 146 71 +75 21 10 2 10 4 Tonga 4 1 0 3 96 177 −81 13 25 1 5 5 Romania 4 0 0 4 32 287 −255 4 43 0 0 Source: World Rugby Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers 9 September 2023 Ireland 82–8 Romania Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 10 September 2023 South Africa 18–3 Scotland Stade de Marseille, Marseille 16 September 2023 Ireland 59–16 Tonga Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 17 September 2023 South Africa 76–0 Romania Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 23 September 2023 South Africa 8–13 Ireland Stade de France, Saint-Denis 24 September 2023 Scotland 45–17 Tonga Stade de Nice, Nice 30 September 2023 Scotland 84–0 Romania Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq 1 October 2023 South Africa 49–18 Tonga Stade de Marseille, Marseille 7 October 2023 Ireland 36–14 Scotland Stade de France, Saint-Denis 8 October 2023 Tonga 45–24 Romania Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq Pool C Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C Pos Teamvte Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA B Pts 1 Wales 4 4 0 0 143 59 +84 17 8 3 19 2 Fiji 4 2 0 2 88 83 +5 9 9 3 11[a] 3 Australia 4 2 0 2 90 91 −1 11 8 3 11[a] 4 Portugal 4 1 1 2 64 103 −39 8 13 0 6 5 Georgia 4 0 1 3 64 113 −49 7 14 1 3 Source: World Rugby Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers Notes:  Head-to-head: Australia 15–22 Fiji 9 September 2023 Australia 35–15 Georgia Stade de France, Saint-Denis 10 September 2023 Wales 32–26 Fiji Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 16 September 2023 Wales 28–8 Portugal Stade de Nice, Nice 17 September 2023 Australia 15–22 Fiji Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne 23 September 2023 Georgia 18–18 Portugal Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse 24 September 2023 Wales 40–6 Australia Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu 30 September 2023 Fiji 17–12 Georgia Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 1 October 2023 Australia 34–14 Portugal Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne 7 October 2023 Wales 43–19 Georgia Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 8 October 2023 Fiji 23–24 Portugal Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Pool D Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool D Pos Teamvte Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA B Pts 1 England 4 4 0 0 150 39 +111 17 3 2 18 2 Argentina 4 3 0 1 127 69 +58 15 5 2 14 3 Japan 4 2 0 2 109 107 +2 12 14 1 9 4 Samoa 4 1 0 3 92 75 +17 11 7 3 7 5 Chile 4 0 0 4 27 215 −188 4 30 0 0 Source: World Rugby Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers 9 September 2023 England 27–10 Argentina Stade de Marseille, Marseille 10 September 2023 Japan 42–12 Chile Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse 16 September 2023 Samoa 43–10 Chile Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 17 September 2023 England 34–12 Japan Stade de Nice, Nice 22 September 2023 Argentina 19–10 Samoa Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne 23 September 2023 England 71–0 Chile Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq 28 September 2023 Japan 28–22 Samoa Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse 30 September 2023 Argentina 59–5 Chile Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 7 October 2023 England 18–17 Samoa Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq 8 October 2023 Japan 27–39 Argentina Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Knockout stage Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup knockout stage The knockout stage will consist of three single-elimination rounds culminating in a final and a third-place playoff. In the case of a tie in regulation time, two 10-minute periods of extra time will be played to determine a winner. If the scores are tied at the end of extra time, an additional 10-minute "sudden death" period will be played, with the first team to score any points being the winner. If the score still remains tied, a kicking competition will ensue. Bracket   Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final         14 October – Marseille      Wales   20 October – Saint-Denis    Argentina   Winner of QF1   14 October – Saint-Denis   Winner of QF2    Ireland   28 October – Saint-Denis    New Zealand   Winner of SF1   15 October – Marseille   Winner of SF2    England   21 October – Saint-Denis    Fiji   Winner of QF3   15 October – Saint-Denis   Winner of QF4 Bronze final    France   27 October – Saint-Denis    South Africa   Loser of SF1     Loser of SF2   Quarter-finals 14 October 2023 17:00 CEST (UTC+2) Wales QF1 Argentina Stade de Marseille, Marseille Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)[17] 14 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) Ireland QF2 New Zealand Stade de France, Saint-Denis Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)[17] 15 October 2023 17:00 CEST (UTC+2) England QF3 Fiji Stade de Marseille, Marseille Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) 15 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) France QF4 South Africa Stade de France, Saint-Denis Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)[17] Semi-finals 20 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) Winner of QF1 SF1 Winner of QF2 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 21 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) Winner of QF3 SF2 Winner of QF4 Stade de France, Saint-Denis Bronze final 27 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) Loser of SF1 v Loser of SF2 Stade de France, Saint-Denis Final Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup final 28 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2) Winner of SF1 v Winner of SF2 Stade de France, Saint-Denis Statistics Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup statistics Broadcasting rights Territory Rights holder Ref.  Argentina Star+, ESPN, TVP[a] [18]  Australia Stan Sport[b] [19] Nine Network[c]  Austria ProSieben [20]  Belgium Play Sports [20]  Bosnia and Herzegovina Sport Klub [20]  Brazil ESPN [21]  Bulgaria BNT [22]  Canada TSN [23]   Caribbean ESPN [24]  Chile Mega[d] [25]  Cook Islands Cook Islands Television [26]  Croatia Sport Klub [20]  Czech Republic Czech Television [20]  Denmark Viaplay [20]  Estonia Go3 Sport [20]  Fiji Fiji Television [27]  Finland Viaplay [20]  France TF1[e] [28] France Télévisions[f] M6[g]  Georgia GPB [29]  Germany ProSieben MAXX[h] [30] ran.de and Joyn[b]  Iceland Viaplay [20]  India FanCode [31]   Indian subcontinent Sony Sports Network [32]  Ireland RTÉ[i] [33] Virgin Media[j]  Israel Sport1 [20]  Italy and  San Marino RAI[k] [34] Sky Sport[b] [35]  Japan J Sports[b] [36] Nippon TV[l] [37] NHK[m] [38]   Latin America ESPN[n] [39] Star+[b]  Latvia Go3 Sport [20]  Liechtenstein SRG SSR [20]  Lithuania Go3 Sport [20]  Malta PBS [40]   Middle East and North Africa Starz [41]  Montenegro Sport Klub [20]  Namibia NBC [42]  Netherlands Ziggo Sport [43]  New Zealand Sky[b] [44] Sky Open[o] [45] Stuff[p] [46]  North Macedonia Sport Klub [20]  Norway Viaplay [20]  Papua New Guinea EM TV [26]  Poland Polsat Sport [47]  Portugal RTP[q] [48] Sport TV [20]  Romania Digi Sport[b] [49] Orange Sport[b] [50]  Samoa SBC [26]  Serbia Sport Klub [20]  Slovenia Sport Klub [20]  Solomon Islands TTV [26]  South Africa DStv [51]  South Korea Coupang Play [52]   Southeast Asia beIN Sports [53]  Spain and  Andorra Movistar Plus+ [54]  Sri Lanka MTV [55]   Sub-Saharan Africa SuperSport [56] New World TV [57]  Sweden Viaplay [20]   Switzerland SRG SSR [20]  Tonga TBC [26]  Turkey S Sport Plus [20]  United Kingdom ITV/STV [58] S4C [20]  United States NBC Sports [59]  Uruguay Canal 10[n] [60] Teledoce[n]  Vanuatu VBTC [26] Notes  All Argentina matches plus opening match, both semi-finals and the final  All matches  All Australia matches plus final  All Chile matches plus opening match, both semi-finals and the final  20 matches including all France games except France v Namibia  10 matches including France v Namibia  18 matches  35 matches  25 matches including Ireland v Tonga, Ireland v South Africa, Ireland's expected quarter-final and the final  24 matches including Ireland v Romania, Ireland v Scotland, Ireland's expected quarter-final and the final  All Italy matches and most important games  19 matches including 3 Japan pool matches  15 matches including 2 Japan pool matches  Select matches plus opening match, both semi-finals and the final  6 matches: one All Blacks pool match, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and both finals  12 matches including France v New Zealand, one semi-final and the final  All Portugal matches Marketing Sponsorship Worldwide partners[61] Official sponsors[62] Official suppliers[62] Official supporters[62] Asahi Capgemini Defender Emirates Mastercard Société Générale GL events GMF Loxam Orange Proman SNCF TotalEnergies Vivendi Andros BKT Canon Eden Park EF Education First Geodis Gilbert HP InVivo Lipovitan D Macron Meta Mitsubishi Electric Tudor Accor Live Limitless Aramis Rugby Casino France Pare-Brise Koesio PPA Business School RATP Group Sage Volvic See also Sports portal History of the Rugby World Cup References  "The 2023 Rugby World Cup Slogan is Unveiled". us.media.france.fr. Retrieved 16 November 2020.  "Webb Ellis, William". Rugby Football History. Retrieved 28 September 2015.  "Springboks beat England to win World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2023.  "_France launch 2023 World Cup bid". The Straits Times. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.  "#France2023 : Douze villes hôtes retenues". Sport24 (in French). 17 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.  "Rugby World Cup 2023 team base camps revealed". Rugby World Cup. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.  "Independent Judicial Committee Decision: Rugby World Cup 2023 European Qualifying". Rugby World Cup. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.  "Stage set for Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw - Rugby World Cup 2023". Rugby World Cup. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.  "World Rugby's clunkiness creates ridiculously lopsided Rugby World Cup draw". The Irish Times.  Godwin, Hugh (3 March 2023). "Lopsided Rugby World Cup draw has benefited England - and prompts changes for 2027". inews.co.uk.  "Rugby chief vows to end lopsided World Cup draws". rugby365.com.  "Everyone's team – World Rugby announces Emirates match official team selected for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France". World Rugby. Retrieved 10 May 2023.  "Star-studded cast to deliver Rugby World Cup 2023 Opening Ceremony". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.  "The eyes of the world turned to Paris as Rugby World Cup 2023 kicked off rugby's 200th birthday party in spectacular style". Rugbyworldcup.com. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.  James Harrington (30 August 2023). "Rugby World Cup bonus points explained". www.rugbyworld.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.  "Rugby World Cup France 2023 Tournament Rules" (PDF).  "Emirates Match Official appointments confirmed for RWC". world.rugby. World Rugby. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.  "Por la TDA: la TV Pública transmitirá las 5 competencias internacionales de nuestros seleccionados". 17 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.  Worthington, Sam (23 August 2022). "Stan Sport and Nine win broadcast rights for men's and women's Rugby World Cups". Nine. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  "How to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in your territory?". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 14 August 2023.  "Um dos maiores torneios do esporte mundial, Copa do Mundo de Rugby é destaque exclusivo da ESPN". ESPN. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.  "Световната купа по ръгби по БНТ 3". BNT. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.  "Men's Rugby World Cup on TSN". TSN. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.  "How to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in your territory?". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 14 August 2023.  "MegaDeportes transmitirá a Brasil en Eliminatorias 2026 y a los Cóndores chilenos en Mundial de Rugby" (in Spanish). Meganoticias. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.  "How to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in your territory?". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 14 August 2023.  "Fiji Television Secures Exclusive Rights for 2023 Rugby World Cup". Fiji Television. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.  "Le Groupe TF1 sous-licencie 28 matchs de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 aux groupes France TV et M6". TF1 Group (in French). 11 January 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  "რაგბის მსოფლიო თასი ექსკლუზიურად საქართველოს პირველ არხზე #1TVSPORT". GPB. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.  "ProSieben MAXX zeigt Rugby World Cup 2023 live". www.ran.de. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.  "FanCode obtains digital media rights to Rugby World Cup 2023". 5 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.  "Sony Sports Network obtains media rights to Rugby World Cup 2023". 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.  "RTÉ and Virgin Media secure Rugby World Cup 2023 rights". Rugby World Cup. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  Cunningham, Euan (22 September 2022). "Rai secures New Zealand 2022 and France 2023 Rugby World Cup rights". Sportcal. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  "Rugby World Cup 2023: la Rai e Sky trasmetteranno tutte le partite del Mondiale". On Rugby (in Italian). 21 September 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  "ラグビーワールドカップ2023フランス大会 J SPORTSで全48試合 生中継・LIVE配信決定! あの熱狂を再び!過去の名勝負も放送・配信 | J SPORTS | 株式会社ジェイ・スポーツ". www.jsports.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 June 2023.  "「ラグビーワールドカップ2023 フランス大会」日本テレビ系で生中継する19試合を発表!". 日本テレビ (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 June 2023.  "ラグビーW杯国内放映決まる 日本1次Lは初戦NHK、3試合日テレ:朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 20 February 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.  "El Mundial de Rugby de Francia lo vas a poder ver en vivo en Star+". ESPN.com.ar. 14 July 2023.  "Il-logħbiet kollha tat-Tazza tad-Dinja 2023 diretti u esklussivi fuq l-istazzjonijiet ta' TVM". PBS. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.  "StarzPlay secures exclusive MENA broadcast rights for Rugby World Cup 2023". 25 August 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.  "The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation has secured the rights to broadcast the opening match, ALL Namibia World Cup games, the semi-final and the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup!". NBC. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.  "Ziggo Sport acquires rights to Rugby World Cup". VodafoneZiggo. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  "Sky announces free-to-air coverage of Rugby World Cup 2023 on Prime". StopPress. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  "Watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup live on Sky". Sky. Retrieved 31 August 2023.  "Stuff, Sky team up again to bring fans live coverage of Rugby World Cup 2023". Stuff. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.  "PUCHAR ŚWIATA NA ANTENIE POLSATU". 6 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.  "Mundial de râguebi: jogos de Portugal transmitidos na RTP2". 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.  "Cupa Mondială de Rugby, transmisă pe canalele Digi Sport!". Digi Sport. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.  "Cupa Mondială de Rugby se vede integral pe Orange Sport". Orange Sport. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.  "MEDIA STATEMENT | SABC AND MULTICHOICE HAVE IN PRINCIPLE REACHED AN AGREEMENT REGARDING THE BROADCASTING RIGHTS FOR THE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023". SABC. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.  "2023 WR 럭비 월드컵 조별예선 쿠팡플레이 독점 생중계". Coupang Play. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.  "BeIN Sports expands its coverage for upcoming Rugby World Cup". 27 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.  "La Copa del Mundo, The Rugby Championship y un España-Argentina se avecinan, en exclusiva, en Movistar Plus+". 1 July 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.  "MTV Channel secures Cricket & Rugby World Cups". News First. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.  Illidge, Myles (16 February 2023). "DStv wants to broadcast the 2023 Rugby World Cup in 4K". MyBroadband. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  "How to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in your territory?". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 15 September 2023.  Schofield, Daniel (26 May 2023). "Rugby World Cup 2023: Match schedule, how to watch, latest news and odds". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  Dachman, Jason (23 May 2017). "NBC Sports Group Inks Deal for U.S. Rugby World Cup Rights Through 2023". Sports Video. Retrieved 27 May 2023.  "Dónde ver el Mundial de rugby con Los Teros: opciones en TV abierta, cable y streaming". El Observador. 8 September 2023.  "Worldwide partners". Rugby World Cup. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.  "Rugby World Cup 2023". Rugby World Cup. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2023 Rugby World Cup. Official website Edit this at Wikidata vte 2023 Rugby World Cup Stages Pool APool BPool CPool DKnockout stageFinal Qualification AfricaAmericasAsia (2022 ARC)Europe (2021 REC, 2022 REC)OceaniaRegional play-off and Final Qualification Tournament General SquadsStatisticsWarm-up matches vte Venues for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux (Bordeaux)Stade de France (Saint-Denis)Stade de Nice (Nice)Parc Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon)Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes)Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne)Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Lille)Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)Stadium Municipal (Toulouse) vte Rugby World Cup Tournaments Australia / New Zealand 1987England / France / Ireland / Scotland / Wales 1991South Africa 1995Wales 1999Australia 2003France 2007New Zealand 2011England 2015Japan 2019France 2023Australia 2027United States 2031 Qualifying 198719911995199920032007201120152019202320272031 Finals 198719911995199920032007201120152019202320272031 Squads 198719911995199920032007201120152019202320272031 Statistics 198719911995199920032007201120152019202320272031 Overview FinalHistoryHostsQualificationTheme songTrophy Overall records All-time tableHat-tricksMultiple winnersRecords and statisticsRed cardsTeam appearancesTry scorers Notes: There was no qualification for the 1987 World Cup as places were given by invitation only. vte World championships in 2023 Summer sports & indoor sports ArcheryAssociation football (women)Aquatics artistic swimmingdivingopen water swimmingpara-swimmingswimmingwater poloAthletics cross countryindoormastersoutdoorpara-athleticsroad runningBadminton individualmixed teampara-badmintonBaseball (men)Basketball men3x3Beach soccer (men)Beach volleyballBowls outdoorindoor WBTindoor WB/IIBCBoxing menwomenBreakingCanoeing slalomsprintmarathonClimbingCricket TestODIwomen T20Cycling Para-cycling trackroadtrackFencingField hockey (men)Gymnastics artisticrhythmicHandball menwomenIndoor hockey menwomenJudoKarateKorfballLacrosse (men)Modern pentathlonNetballNine-pin bowlingOrienteeringReal tennisRowingRugby union (men)SailingShootingSoccaSquash menwomenSurfingTable tennisTaekwondoWeightliftingWrestlingWushu Winter sports Alpine skiingBandy menwomenBiathlonBobsleigh / SkeletonCurling menwomenmixed doublesFigure skatingFreestyle skiingIce hockey menwomenLugeNordic skiingPara Ice Hockey menwomenSki MountaineeringSnowboardingSpeed skating single distancesshort track Cue & mind sports Chess openwomenDarts PDCWDFSnooker openwomen Motor sports Air Sports F3PEndurance auto racingEndurance moto racing SuperstockEnduroFormula EFormula OneMotocross menwomenteamMotoGP Moto2Moto3MotoERallyRallycrossRally raid FIA BajasFIM BajasSidecarcrossSpeedway individualteamlongtrackSuperbike SupersportSupersport 300Supercross Categories: 2023 Rugby World CupRugby World Cup tournaments2023 in rugby union2023–24 in French rugby unionCurrent sports eventsInternational rugby union competitions hosted by FranceSeptember 2023 sports events in FranceOctober 2023 sports events in France Rugby union     Article     Talk     Read     Edit     View history Tools This is a good article. Click here for more information. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Not to be confused with Rugby league. Rugby union South African Victor Matfield takes a line-out against New Zealand in 2006. Highest governing body World Rugby Nicknames     Rugby     Rugger     Union[1] First played 19th century, England, United Kingdom Registered players 8,400,000[2][nb 1] Characteristics Contact Full Team members 15 (with up to 8 substitutes) Mixed-sex Separate competitions Type     Team sport     Outdoor     Full contact Equipment     Rugby ball     Scrum cap (optional)     Rugby boots     Mouthguard     Kicking tee (optional) (often used by kickers)     Shoulder pads (optional)     Second skin (optional) Venue Rugby field Presence Country or region Worldwide (most popular in certain European and Commonwealth countries) Olympic Part of the Summer Olympic programme in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924 Rugby sevens included in 2016 and 2020 Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union or more often just rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. Rugby is simply based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field called a pitch. The field has H-shaped goalposts at both ends. Rugby union is a popular sport around the world, played by people regardless of gender, age or size. In 2023, there were more than 10 million people playing worldwide, of whom 8.4 million were registered players. World Rugby, previously called the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) and the International Rugby Board (IRB), has been the governing body for rugby union since 1886, and currently has 116 countries as full members and 18 associate members. In 1845, the first laws were written by students attending Rugby School; other significant events in the early development of rugby include the decision by Blackheath F.C. to leave The Football Association in 1863 and, in 1895, the split between rugby union and rugby league. Historically rugby union was an amateur sport, but in 1995 formal restrictions on payments to players were removed, making the game openly professional at the highest level for the first time.[3] Rugby union spread from the Home Nations of Great Britain and Ireland, with other early exponents of the sport including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and France. The sport is followed primarily in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Georgia, Oceania, Southern Africa, Argentina, and to a lesser extent Italy, Uruguay, the United States,[4][5][6] Canada, and Japan, its growth occurring during the expansion of the British Empire and through French proponents (Rugby Europe) in Europe. Countries that have adopted rugby union as their de facto national sport include Fiji, Georgia, Madagascar,[7] New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, and Wales. International matches have taken place since 1871 when the first game was played between Scotland and England at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh. The Rugby World Cup, first held in 1987, is held every four years. The Six Nations Championship in Europe and The Rugby Championship in the Southern Hemisphere are other important international competitions that are held annually. National club and provincial competitions include the Premiership in England, the Top 14 in France, the Bunnings NPC in New Zealand, the League One in Japan and the Currie Cup in South Africa. Other transnational club competitions include the United Rugby Championship of club teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales, European Rugby Champions Cup in Europe, and Super Rugby Pacific in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. History Main article: History of rugby union Primitive forms of football included harpastum, played by the Roman where two opposing teams competed to throw a large ball into an opposition net, fighting for possession of the ball. Medieval Irishmen played cad, carrying an inflated bladder and using arched trees as goals. The Welsh played an inter-parish game using a wooden ball called cnapan. Frenchmen played soule and Georgians played lelo. "Football" as a game was well established by 1803 at Rugby school and by the 1830s, "running in" with the ball in hand was allowed but subject to hacking and "collaring".[8] Wikisource has original text related to this article: Laws of Football as played at Rugby School A wide shot of an old English school with a central tower, with a sports pitch in the foreground. Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire, with a rugby football pitch in the foreground Former Rugby School student Albert Pell is credited with having formed the first "football" team while a student at Cambridge University.[9] Major private schools each used different rules during this early period, with former pupils from Rugby and Eton attempting to carry their preferred rules through to their universities.[10] A significant event in the early development of rugby football was the production of a written set of rules at Rugby School in 1845,[11][12] followed by the Cambridge Rules that were drawn up in 1848.[13] Formed in 1863, the national governing body The Football Association (FA) began codifying a set of universal football rules. These new rules specifically banned players from running with the ball in hand and also disallowed hacking (kicking players in the shins), both of which were legal and common tactics under the Rugby School's rules of the sport. In protest at the imposition of the new rules, the Blackheath Club left the FA[14][15] followed by several other clubs that also favoured the "Rugby Rules". Although these clubs decided to ban hacking soon afterwards, the split was permanent, and the FA's codified rules became known as "association football" whilst the clubs that had favoured the Rugby Rules formed the Rugby Football Union in 1871,[14] and their code became known as "rugby football". In 1895, there was a major schism within rugby football in England in which numerous clubs from Northern England resigned from the RFU over the issue of reimbursing players for time lost from their workplaces. The split highlighted the social and class divisions in the sport in England. Although the rules of the game were not a factor in the split, the breakaway teams subsequently adopted some rule changes and this became the separate code of "rugby league". The RFU's code thereafter took on the name "rugby union" to differentiate it from rugby league,[16] but both versions of the sport are known simply as "rugby" throughout most of the world.[17] First internationals The first rugby football international was played on 27 March 1871 between Scotland and England in Edinburgh. Scotland won the game by one goal and one try to one goal.[14][18] By 1881 both Ireland and Wales had representative teams and in 1883 the first international competition, the Home Nations Championship had begun. 1883 is also the year of the first rugby sevens tournament, the Melrose Sevens,[19] which is still held annually. Two important overseas tours took place in 1888: a British Isles team visited Australia and New Zealand—although a private venture, it laid the foundations for future British and Irish Lions tours;[20] and the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team brought the first overseas team to British spectators.[21] A black and white photo of a rugby field in which three men in military uniform, one of whom is King George V, present a silver trophy to a rugby player dressed in black kit. Behind in a line are the rest of the team. James Ryan, captain of the New Zealand Army team, receiving the Kings Cup from George V During the early history of rugby union, a time before commercial air travel, teams from different continents rarely met. The first two notable tours both took place in 1888—the British Isles team touring New Zealand and Australia,[22] followed by the New Zealand team touring Europe.[23] Traditionally the most prestigious tours were the Southern Hemisphere countries of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa making a tour of a Northern Hemisphere, and the return tours made by a joint British and Irish team.[24] Tours would last for months, due to long traveling times and the number of games undertaken; the 1888 New Zealand team began their tour in Hawkes Bay in June and did not complete their schedule until August 1889, having played 107 rugby matches.[25] Touring international sides would play Test matches against international opponents, including national, club and county sides in the case of Northern Hemisphere rugby, or provincial/state sides in the case of Southern Hemisphere rugby.[22][26] Between 1905 and 1908, all three major Southern Hemisphere rugby countries sent their first touring teams to the Northern Hemisphere: New Zealand in 1905, followed by South Africa in 1906 and Australia in 1908. All three teams brought new styles of play, fitness levels and tactics,[27] and were far more successful than critics had expected.[28] The New Zealand 1905 touring team performed a haka before each match, leading Welsh Rugby Union administrator Tom Williams to suggest that Wales player Teddy Morgan lead the crowd in singing the Welsh National Anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, as a response. After Morgan began singing, the crowd joined in: the first time a national anthem was sung at the start of a sporting event.[29][nb 2] In 1905 France played England in its first international match.[27] Rugby union was included as an event in the Olympic Games four times during the early 20th century. No international rugby games and union-sponsored club matches were played during the First World War, but competitions continued through service teams such as the New Zealand Army team.[31] During the Second World War no international matches were played by most countries, though Italy, Germany and Romania played a limited number of games,[32][33][34] and Cambridge and Oxford continued their annual University Match.[35] The first officially sanctioned international rugby sevens tournament took place in 1973 at Murrayfield, one of Scotland's biggest stadiums, as part of the Scottish Rugby Union centenary celebrations.[36] World Cup and professionalism In 1987 the first Rugby World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand, and the inaugural winners were New Zealand. The first World Cup Sevens tournament was held at Murrayfield in 1993. Rugby Sevens was introduced into the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and was added to the Olympic Games of 2016.[37] Both men and women's Sevens took place at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.[38] Rugby union was an amateur sport until the IRB declared the game "open" in August 1995 (shortly after the completion of the 1995 World Cup), removing restrictions on payments to players.[39][40] However, the pre-1995 period of rugby union was marked by frequent accusations of "shamateurism",[41] including an investigation in Britain by a House of Commons Select committee in early 1995.[42][43] Following the introduction of professionalism trans-national club competitions were started, with the Heineken Cup in the Northern Hemisphere and Super Rugby in the Southern Hemisphere.[44][45] The Tri Nations, an annual international tournament involving Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, kicked off in 1996.[45] In 2012, this competition was extended to include Argentina, a country whose impressive performances in international games (especially finishing in third place in the 2007 Rugby World Cup) was deemed to merit inclusion in the competition. As a result of the expansion to four teams, the tournament was renamed The Rugby Championship.[46] Teams and positions Main article: Rugby union positions A standard rugby union team formation illustrating each of the positions and their respective numbers Each team starts the match with 15 players on the field and typically seven or eight substitutes but this varies at amateur level.[47] The 15 players on the field are divided into eight forwards (two more than in rugby league) and seven backs.[48] There are typically significantly more forwards on the bench than backs with, for example, South Africa having a 7-1 split in favour of forwards in their August 2023 match against New Zealand in Twickenham. A 6-2 or 5-3 split is more common. Forwards The main responsibilities of the forward players are to gain and retain possession of the ball. Forwards play a vital role in tackling and rucking opposing players.[49] Players in these positions are generally bigger and stronger and take part in the scrum and line-out.[49] The forwards are often collectively referred to as the 'pack', especially when in the scrum formation.[50] Front row The front row consists of three players: two props (the loosehead prop and the tighthead prop) and the hooker. The role of the two props is to support the hooker during scrums, to provide support for the jumpers during line-outs and to provide strength and power in rucks and mauls. The third position in the front row is the hooker. The hooker is a key position in attacking and defensive play and is responsible for winning the ball in the scrum. Hookers normally throw the ball in at line-outs.[48][51] Second row The second row consists of two locks or lock forwards. Locks are usually the tallest players in the team, and specialise as line-out jumpers.[48] The main role of the lock in line-outs is to make a standing jump, often supported by the other forwards, to either collect the thrown ball or ensure the ball comes down on their side. Locks also have an important role in the scrum, binding directly behind the three front row players and providing forward drive.[48] Facing right a group of seven men, in blue and white hooped jerseys, bind together and crouch to form a scrum. The eighth player stands behind them observing the off-picture opposition. Sébastien Chabal (far left) in number eight position before entering the scrum Back row The back row, not to be confused with 'Backs', is the third and final row of the forward positions, who are often referred to as the loose forwards.[50] The three positions in the back row are the two flankers and the number 8. The two flanker positions called the blindside flanker and openside flanker, are the final row in the scrum. They are usually the most mobile forwards in the game. Their main role is to win possession through 'turn overs'.[48] The number 8 packs down between the two locks at the back of the scrum. The role of the number 8 in the scrum is to control the ball after it has been heeled back from the front of the pack, and the position provides a link between the forwards and backs during attacking phases.[52] Backs The role of the backs is to create and convert point-scoring opportunities. They are generally smaller, faster and more agile than the forwards.[49] Another distinction between the backs and the forwards is that the backs are expected to have superior kicking and ball-handling skills, especially the fly-half, scrum-half, and full-back.[49] Half-backs The half-backs consist of two positions, the scrum-half and the fly-half, also known in the Southern Hemisphere as half-back and first five-eighth respectively. The fly-half is crucial to a team's game plan, orchestrating the team's performance.[52] They are usually the first to receive the ball from the scrum-half following a breakdown, lineout, or scrum, and need to be decisive with what actions to take and be effective at communicating with the outside backs.[52] Many fly-halves are also their team's goal kickers. The scrum-half is the link between the forwards and the backs.[52] They receive the ball from the lineout and remove the ball from the back of the scrum, usually passing it to the fly-half.[53] They also feed the scrum and sometimes have to act as a fourth loose forward.[54] Three-quarters There are four three quarter positions: two centres (inside and outside) and two wings (left and right), the inside centre is commonly referred to as the second five-eighth in the Southern Hemisphere. The centres will attempt to tackle attacking players; whilst in attack, they should employ speed and strength to breach opposition defences.[52] The wings are generally positioned on the outside of the backline. Their primary function is to finish off moves and score tries.[55] Wings are usually the fastest players in the team and are elusive runners who use their speed to avoid tackles.[56] Full-back The full-back is normally positioned several metres behind the back line. They often field opposition kicks and are usually the last line of defence should an opponent break through the back line.[52] Two of the most important attributes of a good full-back are dependable catching skills and a good kicking game.[57] Laws and gameplay Main articles: Rugby union laws and Rugby union gameplay Diagram of a rugby union playing field showing the various marked lines and distances Scoring See also: History of rugby union § Scoring Rugby union is played between two teams – the one that scores more points wins the game. Points can be scored in several ways: a try, scored by grounding the ball in the in-goal area (between the goal line and the dead-ball line), is worth 5 points and a subsequent conversion kick scores 2 points; a successful penalty kick or a drop goal each score 3 points.[58] The values of each of these scoring methods have been changed over the years.[59] Playing field According to World Rugby's Laws of the Game,[60] a typical rugby ground, formally known as the "playing enclosure", is formed by two major zones:     The "playing area", which includes the "field of play" and the two "in-goals", and     The "perimeter area", a clear space, free of obstructions such as fences and other objects which could pose a danger to players and officials (but not including marker flags, which are typically of soft construction). The referee (and their assistants) generally have full authority and responsibility for all players and other officials inside the playing enclosure. Fences or ropes (particularly at amateur clubs) are generally used to mark the extent of this area, although in modern stadia this may include the entire arena floor or other designated space. The Laws, above all, require that the playing enclosure's surface be safe, whilst also permitting grass, sand, clay, snow or conforming artificial turf to be used; the surface would generally be uniform across both the playing area and perimeter area, although depending on how large the perimeter is, other surfaces such as dirt, artificial turf, etc. may be used outside of a "sliding" perimeter from the bounds of the playing area. Playing area For the most part, the "playing area" is where the majority of play occurs. The ball is generally considered live whilst in this area, so long as players do not infringe, with special rules applied to specific zones of the playing area. The playing area consists of:     The 'field of play", bounded by (but not including) the sidelines and goal-lines, and     One "in-goal" area at each end of the field, each bounded by, but not including, the extensions two parallel sidelines (known in this context as the "touch in-goal" lines) and the dead-ball line, and its other bound being the goal line (or "try line") which is included as part of the "in-goal" area. Field of play A typical "field of play" is generally 100 metres long by 68–70 metres wide for senior rugby, depending on the specific requirements of each ground. The Laws require the field of play to be between 94 and 100 metres (103 and 109 yards) long, with a width of between 68 and 70 metres (74 and 77 yards). As other football codes, such as association football and rugby league, have specified a preferred or standard 68 metre width, this is often used unless a ground has been specifically designed to accommodate a 70-metre rugby field. 100 metres is the typical length, with a line (see below) often marked at halfway with "50" on it, representing 50 metres from each goal line. The variations have been allowed in the Laws, possibly to accommodate older grounds (perhaps even pre-metrification when yards and feet were specified) and developing nations. Other lines and markings The field of play is divided by a solid "halfway" line, drawn perpendicular to the sidelines at their midpoint. A 0.5m line is marked perpendicular to the halfway lines at its midpoint, designating the spot where the kickoffs shall be taken. The areas between each goal line and the halfway line are known as "halves" as in other football codes. A pair of solid lines are also drawn perpendicular to the sidelines, 22 metres (formerly 25 yards) from each end of the field of play and called the 22-metre lines, or "22"s. An area at each end, also known as the "22", is bounded by, but does not include, the sidelines, goal line and 22-metre line. In this area, a defensive player who cleanly catches a ball kicked by the other team, without the ball having already touched the ground after the kick, is entitled to claim a free kick, or "mark". Additional broken or dashed lines (of 5 metre dash lengths, according to the Laws[61]) are drawn in each half or on each side of, the field, each with specific purposes under the Laws:     "10-metre" lines: Dashed lines 10 metres either side of, and parallel to, the halfway line, designating the minimum distance a receiving team must retreat when receiving a kick-off, and the minimum distance a kick-off must travel to be legal. Equivalent to the 40-metre lines in rugby league but generally marked differently.     "5-metre" lines: Dashed lines 5 metres into the field of play, parallel to each goal line. Scrums can be packed no nearer to each goal line than this line, and referees will often penalise scrum and ruck infringements in this area more harshly as defending sides will often try to stifle the attacking side's breakdown play.     "Tram tracks/tramlines": Unnamed in the Laws and sometimes also referred to, confusingly, as the "5-metre" and "15-metre" lines, these two pairs of dashed lines are drawn parallel to each sideline, 5 metres and 15 metres, respectively, into the field of play from the nearer sideline, terminating at each of their respective ends' 5-metre line (parallel and adjacent to the goal line). The area between these lines are where players must stand when contesting a lineout throw.     Additionally, the area between the two perpendicular sets of "5-metre" lines (i.e. 5 metres from each sideline and 5 metres from each goal line) is designated the "scrum zone". Where an offence occurs outside this area and the non-infringing side wishes to pack a scrum, the mark of the scrum will be moved into the zone by the referee. Generally, points where the dashed lines intersect other lines will be marked with a "T" or cross shape, although the extensions of dashed lines are generally not drawn within 5 metres of the goal lines or sidelines, to allow a clear demarcation of the field of play's boundaries. The Laws require the playing area to be rectangular in shape, however variations may be permitted with the approval of relevant unions. A notable example is Chatswood Oval in Sydney, Australia, an elliptically shaped cricket ground which is the home of Gordon rugby club, that has curved dead-ball lines to maximise the available in-goal space. Where multiple sports share a field (e.g. a rugby league and a rugby union club sharing one field), lines may be overlaid on top of each other, sometimes in different colours. However, particularly for television, rugby union line markings are generally painted white. Some exceptions include the Wallabies (Australia's national team) who often have yellow markings. Local clubs may use black, yellow, or other colours on grass, with other surfaces possibly requiring different marking techniques. Unlike association football, where on-field advertising is strictly forbidden in the laws,[62] World Rugby allows sponsors logos to be painted on the playing surface. This is another way in which clubs can make money in the professional era and is also often used by host nations, professional leagues and tournaments as additional revenue streams, particularly when games are broadcast. In recent years, augmented reality technology has been used to replace painting to protect the surface or save costs on painting fields, producing a similar effect for broadcast albeit sometimes with poorer results.[63] In-goal areas The in-goal areas sit behind the goal lines, equivalent to American football's "end zones". The in-goal areas must be between 6 and 22 metres (6.6 and 24.1 yards) deep and cover the full width of the field. A ball grounded in this area by an attacking player will generally result in a try being awarded, unless there has been a previous infringement or the player has gone out-of-bounds whilst in possession of the ball. Perimeter area The perimeter area is considered "out-of-bounds" for the ball and the players, normally resulting in the non-infringing team receiving possession of the ball at a restart. The perimeter area can be divided into two areas:     "Touch": The perimeter area beyond the sidelines of the playing area, but between the goal lines.     "Touch-in-goal": The perimeter areas behind each goal line outside of the playing area. Some may refer to a ball which crosses the dead-ball lines as "dead", rather than touch-in-goal. For the purposes of determining if a ball is "out-of-bounds" (i.e. has left the playing area), the perimeter area extends indefinitely away from the playing area. When a ball or player goes into touch, a lineout throw is generally awarded to the opposition at the spot on the sideline where they left the field. Exceptions include a kick out "on the full" (i.e. the ball did not land in the field-of-play before going into touch) in which case the lineout would still take place on the sideline but back in line with where the ball was kicked, or when a team takes a free kick from a penalty where they would retain the right to throw-in. The perimeter area should be clear and free of obstructions and heavy, solid objects which could pose a danger to players for at least 5 metres from the playing area, according to the Laws. Players often leave the playing area whether accidentally or due to being forced off of the field, sometimes sliding or needing to slow down from a sprint. Many venues at elite levels leave larger spaces around the field to accommodate fitter and faster (or heavier) players. Fixed cameras on tripods and advertising hoardings are often the main culprits for injuring players in the perimeter area. Flag posts Also required in the perimeter area are a set of 14 flag posts, each with a minimum height of 1.2 metres, marking the intersections of certain lines or other nominated distances. These are generally a plastic pole on a spring loaded or otherwise soft base, sometimes with a flag on top, covered in foam padding. Others may be moulded plastic or disposable cardboard. At lower levels, these flags may not be used, but are still specified in the Laws. Flags are placed as follows:     One flag post at each intersection of the touch-in-goal lines and the goal-lines (four flags total)     One flag post at each intersection of the touch-in-goal lines and the dead-ball lines (four flags total)     One flag post positioned 2 metres outside of both of the sidelines, in line with both of the 22-metre lines (four flags total)     One flag post positioned 2 metres outside of both of the sidelines, in line with the halfway line (two flags total) Goalposts Rugby goalposts are H-shaped and are situated in the middle of the goal lines at each end of the field. They consist of two vertical poles (known as "uprights"), generally made of steel or other metal but sometimes wood or a plastic, 5.6 metres (6.1 yd) apart, connected by a horizontal "crossbar" 3 metres (3.3 yd) above the ground. The minimum height for posts' uprights is 3.4 metres (3.7 yd),[64] with taller posts generally seen. The bottom parts of each upright are generally wrapped in purpose-made padding to protect players from injury when coming into contact with the posts and creating another opportunity for sponsors. Until a Law change by World Rugby in 2020, it was possible for an attacking player to score a try by grounding the ball against the base of the upright as the padding was considered an extension of the goal line.[65] Match structure At the beginning of the game, the captains and the referee toss a coin to decide which team will kick off first. Play then starts with a dropkick, with the players chasing the ball into the opposition's territory, and the other side trying to retrieve the ball and advance it. The dropkick must make contact with the ground before being kicked. If the ball does not reach the opponent's 10-metre (11-yard) line 10 meters away, the opposing team has two choices: to have the ball kicked off again, or to have a scrum at the centre of the half-way line.[66] If the player with the ball is tackled, frequently a ruck will result.[67] Games are divided into 40-minute halves, with an intermission of not more than 15 minutes in the middle.[68] The sides exchange ends of the field after the half-time break.[68] Stoppages for injury or to allow the referee to take disciplinary action do not count as part of the playing time, so that the elapsed time is usually longer than 80 minutes.[68] The referee is responsible for keeping time, even when—as in many professional tournaments—he is assisted by an official time-keeper.[68] If time expires while the ball is in play, the game continues until the ball is "dead", and only then will the referee blow the whistle to signal half-time or full-time; but if the referee awards a penalty or free-kick, the game continues.[68] In the knockout stages of rugby competitions, most notably the Rugby World Cup, two extra time periods of 10 minutes periods are played (with an interval of 5 minutes in between) if the game is tied after full-time. If scores are level after 100 minutes then the rules call for 20 minutes of sudden-death extra time to be played. If the sudden-death extra time period results in no scoring a kicking competition is used to determine the winner. However, no match in the history of the Rugby World Cup has ever gone past 100 minutes into a sudden-death extra time period.[69] Passing and kicking A player about to pass the ball Kicking conversion after a try Forward passing (throwing the ball ahead to another player) is not allowed; the ball can be passed laterally or backwards.[70] The ball tends to be moved forward in three ways—by kicking, by a player running with it or within a scrum or maul. Only the player with the ball may be tackled or rucked. A "knock-on" is committed when a player knocks the ball forward, and play is restarted with a scrum.[70] Any player may kick the ball forward in an attempt to gain territory. When a player anywhere in the playing area kicks indirectly into touch so that the ball first bounces in the field of play, the throw-in is taken where the ball went into touch.[71] If the player kicks directly into touch (i.e. without bouncing in-field first) from within one's own 22-metre (24-yard) line, the lineout is taken by the opposition where the ball went into touch, but if the ball is kicked into touch directly by a player outside the 22-metre (24-yard) line, the lineout is taken level to where the kick was taken.[71] Breakdowns A child running away from camera in green and black hooped rugby jersey is being tackled around the hips and legs by another child in opposition kit. A rugby tackle must be below the neck with the aim of impeding or grounding the player with the ball. The aim of the defending side is to stop the player with the ball, by tackling them, and either bringing them to ground (which is frequently followed by a ruck) or contesting for possession with the ball-carrier on their feet (a maul). A ruck or maul is called a breakdown and each is governed by a specific law. Tackling A player may tackle an opposing player who has the ball by holding them while bringing them to ground. Tacklers cannot tackle above the shoulder (the neck and head are out of bounds),[72] and the tackler has to attempt to wrap their arms around the player being tackled to complete the tackle. It is illegal to push, shoulder-charge, or to trip a player using feet or legs, but hands may be used (this being referred to as a tap-tackle or ankle-tap).[73][74] Tacklers may not tackle an opponent who has jumped to catch a ball until the player has landed.[72] Rucking and Mauling Mauls occur after a player with the ball has come into contact with an opponent but the handler remains on his feet; once any combination of at least three players have bound themselves a maul has been set.[50] A ruck is similar to the maul, but in this case the ball has gone to ground with at least three attacking players binding themselves on the ground in an attempt to secure the ball.[50] Set pieces Two rows of opposing players, green to the fore, white behind, each aiding a jumping player from their team by lifting him towards an off-picture ball travelling overhead Ireland and Georgia contesting a line-out in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Lineout Main article: Line-out (rugby union) When the ball leaves the side of the field, a line-out is awarded against the team which last touched the ball.[75] Forward players from each team line up a metre apart, perpendicular to the touchline and between 5 and 15 m (5.5 and 16.4 yd) from the touchline.[75] The ball is thrown from the touchline down the centre of the lines of forwards by a player (usually the hooker) from the team that did not play the ball into touch.[75] The exception to this is when the ball went out from a penalty, in which case the side who gained the penalty throws the ball in.[75] Both sides compete for the ball and players may lift their teammates.[76] A jumping player cannot be tackled until they stand and only shoulder-to-shoulder contact is allowed; deliberate infringement of this law is dangerous play, and results in a penalty kick.[77] Scrum Main article: Scrum (rugby union) Two opposing formations of eight men, in white and black to the left, red and black to the right, push against each other in a crouched position; behind them stands another player and the referee A scrum between New Zealand's Crusaders and Australia's Brumbies A scrum is a way of restarting the game safely and fairly after a minor infringement.[78] It is awarded when the ball has been knocked or passed forward, if a player takes the ball over their own try line and puts the ball down, when a player is accidentally offside or when the ball is trapped in a ruck or maul with no realistic chance of being retrieved. A team may also opt for a scrum if awarded a penalty.[78] A scrum is formed by the eight forwards from each team crouching down and binding together in three rows, before interlocking with the opposing team.[78] For each team, the front row consists of two props (loosehead and tighthead) either side of the hooker.[78] The two props are typically amongst the strongest players on the team. The second row consists of two locks and the two flankers. Behind the second row is the number 8. This formation is known as the 3–4–1 formation.[79] Once a scrum is formed the scrum-half from the team awarded the feed rolls the ball into the gap between the two front-rows known as the tunnel.[78] The two hookers then compete for possession by hooking the ball backwards with their feet, while each pack tries to push the opposing pack backwards to help gain possession.[78] The side that wins possession can either keep the ball under their feet while driving the opposition back, in order to gain ground, or transfer the ball to the back of the scrum where it can be picked up by the number 8 or by the scrum-half.[78] Officials and offences Main articles: Rugby union match officials and Laws of rugby union Touch judge with flag There are three match officials: a referee, and two assistant referees. The referees are commonly addressed as "Sir".[80] The latter, formerly known as touch judges, had the primary function of indicating when the ball had gone into "touch"; their role has been expanded and they are now expected to assist the referee in a number of areas, such as watching for foul play and checking offside lines.[80] In addition, for matches in high level competitions, there is often a television match official (TMO; popularly called the "video referee"), to assist with certain decisions, linked up to the referee by radio.[81] The referees have a system of hand signals to indicate their decision.[82] Common offences include tackling above the shoulders, collapsing a scrum, ruck or maul, not releasing the ball when on the ground, or being offside.[83] The non-offending team has a number of options when awarded a penalty: a "tap" kick, when the ball is kicked a very short distance from hand, allowing the kicker to regather the ball and run with it; a punt, when the ball is kicked a long distance from hand, for field position; a place-kick, when the kicker will attempt to score a goal; or a scrum.[83] Players may be sent off (signalled by a red card) or temporarily suspended ("sin-binned") for ten minutes (yellow card) for foul play or repeated infringements, and may not be replaced.[83] Occasionally, infringements are not caught by the referee during the match and these may be "cited" by the citing commissioner after the match and have punishments (usually suspension for a number of weeks) imposed on the infringing player.[84] Replacements and substitutions During the match, players may be replaced (for injury) or substituted (for tactical reasons).[47] A player who has been replaced may not rejoin play unless he was temporarily replaced to have bleeding controlled; a player who has been substituted may return temporarily, to replace a player who has a blood injury or has suffered a concussion, or permanently, if he is replacing a front-row forward.[47] In international matches, eight replacements are allowed; in domestic or cross-border tournaments, at the discretion of the responsible national union(s), the number of replacements may be nominated to a maximum of eight, of whom three must be sufficiently trained and experienced to provide cover for the three front row positions.[47][85] Prior to 2016, all substitutions, no matter the cause, counted against the limit during a match. In 2016, World Rugby changed the law so that substitutions made to replace a player deemed unable to continue due to foul play by the opposition would no longer count against the match limit. This change was introduced in January of that year in the Southern Hemisphere and June in the Northern Hemisphere.[86] Equipment Main article: Rugby union equipment An oval-shaped synthetic ball, white in colour with red trim, adorned with the manufacturer's name A synthetic rugby ball by Gilbert The most basic items of equipment for a game of rugby union are the ball itself, a rugby shirt (also known as a "jersey"), rugby shorts, socks, and boots. The rugby ball is oval in shape (technically a prolate spheroid), and is made up of four panels.[87] The ball was historically made of leather, but in the modern era most games use a ball made from a synthetic material. World Rugby lays out specific dimensions for the ball, 280–300 mm (11–12 in) in length, 740–770 mm (29–30 in) in circumference of length and 580–620 mm (23–24 in) in circumference of width.[87] Rugby boots have soles with studs to allow grip on the turf of the pitch. The studs may be either metal or plastic but must not have any sharp edges or ridges.[88] Protective equipment is optional and strictly regulated. The most common items are mouthguards, which are worn by almost all players, and are compulsory in some rugby-playing nations.[89] Other protective items that are permitted include headgear; thin (not more than 10 mm thick), non-rigid shoulder pads and shin guards, which are worn underneath socks.[88] Bandages or tape can be worn to support or protect injuries; some players wear tape around the head to protect the ears in scrums and rucks. Female players may also wear chest pads.[88] Although not worn for protection, some types of fingerless mitts are allowed to aid grip.[88] It is the responsibility of the match officials to check players' clothing and equipment before a game to ensure that it conforms to the laws of the game.[88] Governing bodies See also: World Rugby and Timeline of foundation of national rugby unions Member and Associated Unions   Member Union   Associated Union The international governing body of rugby union (and associated games such as sevens) is World Rugby (WR).[90] The WR headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland.[90] WR, founded in 1886, governs the sport worldwide and publishes the game's laws and rankings.[90] As of February 2014, WR (then known as the IRB, for International Rugby Board) recorded 119 unions in its membership, 101 full members and 18 associate member countries.[2] According to WR, rugby union is played by men and women in over 100 countries.[90] WR controls the Rugby World Cup,[90] the Women's Rugby World Cup,[91] Rugby World Cup Sevens,[92] HSBC Sevens Series,[93] HSBC Women's Sevens Series,[94] World Under 20 Championship,[95] World Under 20 Trophy,[96] Nations Cup[97] and the Pacific Nations Cup.[98] WR holds votes to decide where each of these events are to be held, except in the case of the Sevens World Series for men and women, for which WR contracts with several national unions to hold individual events. Six regional associations, which are members of WR, form the next level of administration; these are:     Rugby Africa, formerly Confederation of African Rugby (CAR)[99]     Asia Rugby, formerly Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU)[100]     Rugby Americas North, formerly North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA)[101]     Rugby Europe, previously Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur – Association Européenne de Rugby (FIRA-AER)[102]     Oceania Rugby, formerly Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU)[103]     Sudamérica Rugby, formerly Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby (South American Rugby Confederation, or CONSUR)[104] SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby) is a joint venture of the South African Rugby Union, New Zealand Rugby, Rugby Australia and the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) that operates Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri Nations before the entry of Argentina).[105] Although UAR initially had no representation on the former SANZAR board, it was granted input into the organisation's issues, especially with regard to The Rugby Championship,[106] and became a full SANZAAR member in 2016 (when the country entered Super Rugby). National unions oversee rugby union within individual countries and are affiliated to WR. Since 2016, the WR Council has 40 seats. A total of 11 unions—the eight foundation unions of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and France, plus Argentina, Canada and Italy—have two seats each. In addition, the six regional associations have two seats each. Four more unions—Georgia, Japan, Romania and the USA—have one seat each. Finally, the chairman and vice chairman, who usually come from one of the eight foundation unions (although the current vice chairman, Agustín Pichot, is with the non-foundation Argentine union) have one vote each.[107][90] Global reach See also: List of rugby union playing countries A group of thirteen supporters pose together, nine standing in back row, four seated at front, some wearing rugby jerseys and others sporting traditional Japanese costumes and Japanese flags. Japanese and Welsh rugby fans in Cardiff, Wales, September 2007 The earliest countries to adopt rugby union were England, the country of inception, and the other three Home Nations, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The spread of rugby union as a global sport has its roots in the exporting of the game by British expatriates, military personnel, and overseas university students. The first rugby club in France was formed by British residents in Le Havre in 1872, while the next year Argentina recorded its first game: 'Banks' v 'City' in Buenos Aires.[108] In turn, French and Argentinian travellers, particularly students, spread the Game beyond the British Empire, forming roots in particular in Italy, Romania, Uruguay and Chile. Eight countries have adopted rugby union as their de facto national sport; they are Fiji,[109] Georgia, Madagascar,[110][111][112] New Zealand,[113] Samoa,[114] Tonga,[115] Wales and South Africa.[116] Oceania A rugby club was formed in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1864; while the sport was said to have been introduced to New Zealand by Charles Monro in 1870, who played rugby while a student at Christ's College, Finchley.[14] Several island nations have embraced the sport of rugby. Rugby was first played in Fiji c. 1884 by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba on Viti Levu island.[117][118] Fiji then sent their first overseas team to Samoa in 1924, who in turn set up their own union in 1924.[119] Along with Tonga, other countries to have national rugby teams in Oceania include the Cook Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.[120] North America and Caribbean See also: Rugby Americas North In North America a club formed in Montreal in 1868, Canada's first club. The city of Montreal also played its part in the introduction of the sport in the United States, when students of McGill University played against a team from Harvard University in 1874.[14][108] The two variants of gridiron football — Canadian football and, to a lesser extent, American football — were once considered forms of rugby football, but the introduction of the legal forward pass severed the conceptual link between the old world rugby codes and new world gridiron codes, and they are seldom now referred to as forms of rugby football. One lasting element of the link, the governing body of Canadian football, Football Canada, was known as the Canadian Rugby Union (CRU) as late as 1967, more than fifty years after the sport parted ways with the established rules of rugby union. The Grey Cup, the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of the professional Canadian Football League (CFL), was originally awarded to the champion of the CRU. The two strongest leagues in the CRU, the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union in Eastern Canada and the Western Interprovincial Football Union in Western Canada, evolved into the present day CFL. Although the exact date of arrival of rugby union in Trinidad and Tobago is unknown, their first club Northern RFC was formed in 1923, a national team was playing by 1927 and due to a cancelled tour to British Guiana in 1933, switched their venue to Barbados; introducing rugby to the island.[121][122] Other Atlantic countries to play rugby union include Jamaica[123] and Bermuda.[124] Rugby union is the fastest growing college sport and sport in general in the US.[4][5][6] Major League Rugby is the top professional rugby union competition in the US and Canada. One American professional team, American Raptors, formerly the MLR Glendale and Colorado Raptors, plays in the broadly South American Super Rugby Americas competition. Europe Germany playing Belgium in a World Cup qualifier, April 2006 The growth of rugby union in Europe outside the 6 Nations countries in terms of playing numbers, attendances, and viewership has been sporadic. Historically, British and Irish home teams played the Southern Hemisphere teams of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as France. The rest of Europe were left to play amongst themselves. During a period when it had been isolated by the British and Irish Unions, France, lacking international competition, became the only European team from the top tier to regularly play the other European countries; mainly Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Romania, Poland, Italy and Czechoslovakia.[102][125] In 1934, instigated by the French Rugby Federation, FIRA (Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur) was formed to organise rugby union outside the authority of the IRFB.[102] The founding members were Italy, Romania, Netherlands, Portugal, Czechoslovakia, and Sweden. Three European teams have had, at different times, notable success; the most successful, Italy joined the Five Nations Championship as its sixth member, and while it remains the weakest of the Six Nations, Italy has recorded wins over all its 6N rivals with the exception of England, as well as defeating Australia. Before Italy's ascension, Romania enjoyed a period of success as their teams, backed by a supportive communist government, regularly challenged the major European nations. The fall of communism in Romania led to an era of steep decline from which Romania has yet to fully emerge, but it remains one of the most prominent of the second level European teams. Georgia, in the Caucuses, rose to prominence in the early 21st century; the traditional national game lelo bore strong similarities to rugby union, meaning the country was naturally attracted to the sport upon independence, and the Georgians are now regarded as the top European nation below the traditional Six Nations, and even on a par with Italy. Other European rugby playing nations of note include Russia, whose first officially recorded match is marked by an encounter between Dynamo Moscow and the Moscow Institute of Physical Education in 1933.[126] Rugby union in Portugal also took hold between the First and Second World Wars, with a Portuguese National XV set up in 1922 and an official championship started in 1927. Portugal reached the 2023 Rugby World Cup tournament.[127] In 1999, FIRA agreed to place itself under the auspices of the IRB, transforming itself into a strictly European organising body. Accordingly, it changed its name to FIRA–AER (Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur – Association Européenne de Rugby). It adopted its current name of Rugby Europe in 2014. South America Argentine teams Alumni and Hindú playing the Torneo de la URBA final match, 2007 Although Argentina is the best-known rugby playing nation in South America, founding the Argentine Rugby Union in 1899,[128] several other countries on the continent have a long history. Rugby had been played in Brazil since the end of the 19th century, but the game was played regularly only from 1926, when São Paulo beat Santos in an inter-city match.[129] It took Uruguay several aborted attempts to adapt to rugby, led mainly by the efforts of the Montevideo Cricket Club; these efforts succeeded in 1951 with the formation of a national league and four clubs.[130] Other South American countries that formed a rugby union include Chile (1948),[131] and Paraguay (1968).[132] Super Rugby Americas is the professional Rugby union competition in South America. Asia Main article: Rugby union in Asia Many Asian countries have a tradition of playing rugby dating from the British Empire. India began playing rugby in the early 1870s, the Calcutta Football Club forming in 1873. However, with the departure of a local British army regiment, interest in rugby diminished in the area.[133] In 1878, The Calcutta Football Club was disbanded, and rugby in India faltered.[134] Sri Lanka claims to have founded their union in 1878, and although little official information from the period is available, the team won the All-India cup in Madras in 1920.[135] The first recorded match in Malaysia was in 1892, but the first confirmation of rugby is the existence of the HMS Malaya Cup which was first presented in 1922 and is still awarded to the winners of the Malay sevens.[136] Rugby union was introduced to Japan in 1899 by two Cambridge students: Ginnosuke Tanaka and Edward Bramwell Clarke.[137][138] The Japan RFU was founded in 1926 and its place in rugby history was cemented when Japan hosted the 2019 World Cup.[139] It was the first country outside the Commonwealth, Ireland and France to host the event, and was viewed by the IRB as an opportunity for rugby union to extend its reach,[139] particularly in Asia. Other Asian playing countries of note include Singapore, South Korea, China and The Philippines, while the former British colony of Hong Kong is notable within rugby for its development of the rugby sevens game, especially the Hong Kong Sevens tournament which was founded in 1976.[140] Rugby in the Middle East and the Gulf States has its history in the 1950s, with clubs formed by British and French Services stationed in the region after the Second World War.[141] When these servicemen left, the clubs and teams were kept alive by young professionals, mostly Europeans, working in these countries. The official union of Oman was formed in 1971.[142] Bahrain founded its union a year later, while in 1975 the Dubai Sevens, the Gulf's leading rugby tournament, was created. Rugby remains a minority sport in the region with Israel and the United Arab Emirates, as of 2019, being the only member union from the Middle East to be included in the IRB World Rankings.[143] A close-up shot of the Ivory Coast players, in their country's orange jerseys, entering the field from the dressing room tunnel Ivory Coast before their 2011 World Cup qualifier vs. Zambia, 21 July 2008 Africa In 1875, rugby was introduced to South Africa by British soldiers garrisoned in Cape Town.[108] The game spread quickly across the country, displacing Winchester College football as the sport of choice in South Africa and spreading to nearby Zimbabwe. South African settlers also brought the game with them to Namibia and competed against British administrators in British East Africa. During the late 19th and early 20th century, the sport in Africa was spread by settlers and colonials who often adopted a "whites-only" policy to playing the game. This resulted in rugby being viewed as a bourgeois sport by the indigenous people with limited appeal.[144] Despite this enclaves of black participation developed notably in the Eastern Cape and in Harare. The earliest countries to see the playing of competitive rugby include South Africa, and neighbouring Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe), which formed the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union in 1895 and became a regular stop for touring British and New Zealand sides.[145] In more recent times the sport has been embraced by several African nations. In the early 21st century Madagascar has experienced crowds of 40,000 at national matches,[146] while Namibia, whose history of rugby can be dated from 1915, have qualified for the final stages of the World Cup seven times since 1999.[147] Other African nations to be represented in the World Rugby Rankings as Member Unions include Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.[143] South Africa and Kenya are among the 15 "core teams" that participate in every event of the men's World Rugby Sevens Series.[148] Women's rugby union Main article: Women's rugby union A female player in yellow and green kit and wearing a white scrum cap, jumps to collect a ball while supported by teammates. US women's rugby: NC Hustlers vs. Midwest II Records of women's rugby football date from the late 19th century, with the first documented source being Emily Valentine's writings, in which she states that she set up a rugby team in Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, Ireland in 1887.[149] Although there are reports of early women's matches in New Zealand and France, one of the first notable games to prove primary evidence was the 1917 war-time encounter between Cardiff Ladies and Newport Ladies; a photo of which shows the Cardiff team before the match at the Cardiff Arms Park.[150] Since the 1980s, the game has grown in popularity among female athletes, and by 2010, according to World Rugby, women's rugby was being played in over 100 countries.[151] The English-based Women's Rugby Football Union (WRFU), responsible for women's rugby in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, was founded in 1983, and is the oldest formally organised national governing body for women's rugby. This was replaced in 1994 by the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) in England with each of the other Home Nations governing their own countries.[152] The premier international competition in rugby union for women is the Women's Rugby World Cup, first held in 1991; from 1994 through 2014, it was held every four years.[152] After the 2014 event, the tournament was brought forward a year to 2017 to avoid clashing with other sporting cycles, in particular the Rugby World Cup Sevens competition.[153] The Women's Rugby World Cup returned to a four-year cycle after 2017, with future competitions to be held in the middle year of the men's World Cup cycle. Major international competitions Further information: List of rugby union competitions Rugby World Cup Main article: Rugby World Cup An avenue of trees leads to a large iron lattice tower, in which an oversized rugby ball hangs within the lower sections. A giant rugby ball suspended from the Eiffel Tower to commemorate France's hosting of the 2007 World Cup The most important competition in rugby union is the Rugby World Cup, a men's tournament that has taken place every four years since the inaugural event in 1987. South Africa are the reigning champions, having defeated England in the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Yokohama. New Zealand and South Africa have each won the title three times (New Zealand: 1987, 2011, 2015; South Africa: 1995, 2007, 2019), Australia have won twice (1991 and 1999), and England once (2003). England is the only team from the Northern Hemisphere to have won the Rugby World Cup.[154] The Rugby World Cup has continued to grow since its inception in 1987. The first tournament, in which 16 teams competed for the title, was broadcast to 17 countries with an accumulated total of 230 million television viewers. Ticket sales during the pool stages and finals of the same tournament was less than a million. The 2007 World Cup was contested by 94 countries with ticket sales of 3,850,000 over the pool and final stage. The accumulated television audience for the event, then broadcast to 200 countries, was a claimed 4.2 billion.[155] The 2019 Rugby World Cup took place in Japan between 20 September and 2 November. It was the ninth edition and the first time the tournament has been held in Asia.[156] Regional tournaments Griffins RFC Kotka, the rugby union team from Kotka, Finland, playing in the Rugby-7 Tournament in 2013 Major international competitions are the Six Nations Championship and The Rugby Championship, held in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere respectively.[157] The Six Nations is an annual competition involving the European teams England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.[158] Each country plays the other five once. Following the first internationals between England and Scotland, Ireland and Wales began competing in the 1880s, forming the Home International Championships.[158] France joined the tournament in the 1900s and in 1910 the term Five Nations first appeared.[158] However, the Home Nations (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) excluded France in 1931 amid a run of poor results, allegations of professionalism and concerns over on-field violence.[159] France then rejoined in 1939–1940, though World War II halted proceedings for a further eight years.[158] France has played in all the tournaments since WWII, the first of which was played in 1947.[158] In 2000, Italy became the sixth nation in the contest and Rome's Stadio Olimpico has replaced Stadio Flaminio as the venue for their home games since 2013.[160] The Rugby Championship is the Southern Hemisphere's annual international series for that region's top national teams. From its inception in 1996 through 2011, it was known as the Tri Nations, as it featured the hemisphere's traditional powers of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.[161] These teams have dominated world rankings in recent years, and many considered the Tri Nations to be the toughest competition in international rugby.[162][163] The Tri Nations was initially played on a home and away basis with the three nations playing each other twice.[164] In 2006 a new system was introduced where each nation plays the others three times, though in 2007 and 2011 the teams played each other only twice, as both were World Cup years.[161] Since Argentina's strong performances in the 2007 World Cup,[165] after the 2009 Tri Nations tournament, SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) invited the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) to join an expanded Four Nations tournament in 2012.[166] The competition has been officially rechristened as The Rugby Championship beginning with the 2012 edition. The competition reverted to the Tri Nations' original home-and-away format, but now involving four teams. In World Cup years, an abbreviated tournament is held in which each team plays the others only once. In 2020, the "Tri Nations" format was temporarily revived due to the withdrawal of South Africa owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.[167] Rugby within multi-sport events See also: Rugby union at the Summer Olympics, Rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games, and Rugby union at the Asian Games Rugby union was played at the Olympic Games in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924.[168] As per Olympic rules, the nations of Scotland, Wales and England were not allowed to play separately as they are not sovereign states. In 1900, France won the gold, beating Great Britain 27 points to 8 and defeating Germany 27 points to 17.[168] In 1908, Australia defeated Great Britain, claiming the gold medal, the score being 32 points to three.[168] In 1920, the United States, fielding a team with many players new to the sport of rugby, upset France in a shock win, eight points to zero. In 1924, the United States again defeated France 17 to 3, becoming the only team to win gold twice in the sport.[168] In 2009 the International Olympic Committee voted with a majority of 81 to 8 that rugby union be reinstated as an Olympic sport in at least the 2016 and 2020 games, but in the sevens, 4-day tournament format.[37][169] This is something the rugby world has aspired to for a long time and Bernard Lapasset, president of the International Rugby Board, said the Olympic gold medal would be considered to be "the pinnacle of our sport" (Rugby Sevens).[170] Rugby sevens has been played at the Commonwealth Games since the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur.[171] The most gold medal holders are New Zealand who have won the competition on four successive occasions until South Africa beat them in 2014.[172] Rugby union has also been an Asian Games event since the 1998 games in Bangkok, Thailand. In the 1998 and 2002 editions of the games, both the usual fifteen-a-side variety and rugby sevens were played, but from 2006 onwards, only rugby sevens was retained. In 2010, the women's rugby sevens event was introduced. The event is likely to remain a permanent fixture of the Asian Games due to elevation of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport from the 2016 Olympics onwards. The present gold medal holders in the sevens tournament, held in 2014, are Japan in the men's event and China in the women's.[citation needed] Women's international rugby Main article: Women's international rugby union Women's international rugby union began in 1982, with a match between France and the Netherlands played in Utrecht.[173] As of 2009 over six hundred women's internationals have been played by over forty different nations.[174] The first Women's Rugby World Cup was held in Wales in 1991, and was won by the United States.[152] The second tournament took place in 1994, and from that time through 2014 was held every four years. The New Zealand Women's team then won four straight World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010)[175] before England won in 2014. Following the 2014 event, World Rugby moved the next edition of the event to 2017, with a new four-year cycle from that point forward.[176] New Zealand are the current World Cup holders. As well as the Women's Rugby World Cup there are also other regular tournaments, including a Six Nations, run in parallel to the men's competition. The Women's Six Nations, first played in 1996 has been dominated by England, who have won the tournament on 14 occasions, including a run of seven consecutive wins from 2006 to 2012. However, since then, England have won only in 2017; reigning champion France have won in each even-numbered year (2014, 2016, 2018) whilst Ireland won in 2013 and 2015. Professional rugby union Rugby union has been professionalised since 1995. Professionalism has brought mixed results, with grassroots participation falling and financial struggles in the professional arena.[177] The following table shows professional and semi-professional rugby union competitions. Professional rugby competitions Competition Teams Countries Average Attendance Super Rugby 12[a] New Zealand (5), Australia (5), Fiji (1), Pacific Islands (1) 32,384 Premiership 10 England 29,065 Japan Rugby League One 12 Japan 28,952 (2020)[178] Top 14 14 France 24,055 (2019–2020) Currie Cup 8 South Africa 17,125 United Rugby Championship 16 Ireland (4), Wales (4), Scotland (2), Italy (2), South Africa (4)[b] 14,586 Bunnings NPC 14 New Zealand 12,203 Rugby Pro D2 16 France 10,222 RFU Championship 12 England 9,738 Major League Rugby 12 Canada (1), United States (11) 9,300[c] Didi 10 10 Georgia 8,700 Rugby Premier League 10 Russia 8000-12,000 CEC Bank SuperLiga 14 Romania 6,500 Super Rugby Americas 7 Argentina (2), Uruguay (1), Brazil (1), Chile (1), Paraguay (1), United States (1) 4,550 Super Rugby peaked at 18 teams in 2016 and 2017, but reverted to 15 in 2018 with the loss of two teams from South Africa and one from Australia. The two South African teams that were dropped from Super Rugby after its 2017 season joined the renamed Pro14 for the 2017–18 season.     (in 2023) Variants Main articles: Rugby sevens, Rugby tens, Touch rugby, Tag rugby, and Mini rugby Two teams of players, one in yellow the other in blue, play a form of rugby on a sunlit beach; the central yellow player runs forward, towards the right of picture, clutching the ball with one hand, close to his chest. Beach rugby match Rugby union has spawned several variants of the full-contact, 15-a-side game. The two most common differences in adapted versions are fewer players and reduced player contact. The oldest variant is rugby sevens (sometimes 7s or VIIs), a fast-paced game which originated in Melrose, Scotland in 1883. In rugby sevens, there are only seven players per side, and each half is normally seven minutes. Major tournaments include the Hong Kong Sevens and Dubai Sevens, both held in areas not normally associated with the highest levels of the 15-a-side game. A more recent variant of the sport is rugby tens (10s or Xs), a Malaysian invention with ten players per side.[179] Touch rugby, in which "tackles" are made by simply touching the ball carrier with two hands, is popular both as a training game and more formally as a mixed sex version of the sport played by both children and adults.[180][181] Several variants have been created to introduce the sport to children with a less physical contact.[182] Mini rugby is a version aimed at fostering the sport in children.[183][184] It is played with only eight players and on a smaller pitch.[183] Tag Rugby is a version in which the players wear a belt with two tags attached by velcro, the removal of either counting as a 'tackle'. Tag Rugby also varies in that kicking the ball is not allowed.[185] Similar to Tag Rugby, American Flag Rugby, (AFR), is a mixed gender, non-contact imitation of rugby union designed for American children entering grades K-9.[186] Both American Flag Rugby and Mini Rugby differ from Tag Rugby in that they introduce more advanced elements of rugby union as the participants age.[183] Ten man rugby is an extreme style of play in rugby union in which the team uses the power of its forwards to dominate possession, scrums and line-outs, and the kicking ability of its fly-half to attain position. The four three-quarter backs and the full back are not usually used in attack; if they are, this is usually restricted to the inside centre on the crash ball, and chasing kicks, especially garryowens. Ten man rugby is a very conservative style of play, and not particularly entertaining for the spectator, but can be effective if a team has a strong pack and a good 10, and perhaps less effective backs. The term "ten man rugby" is somewhat derogatory, though most teams will employ these tactics to a degree, especially in foul weather, but usually not exclusively.[187][188][189][190] Other less formal variants include beach rugby and snow rugby.[182][191] Influence on other sports See also: History of American football, Comparison of American football and rugby union, Origins of Australian rules football, Comparison of rugby league and rugby union, History of rugby league, and Rugby football When codifying Australian rules football in 1859, Tom Wills drew inspiration from an early version of rugby he learnt at Rugby School. Rugby league was formed after the Northern Union broke from the Rugby Football Union in a disagreement over payment to players. It went on to change its laws and became a football code in its own right. The two sports continue to influence each other to this day. American football[192][193] and Canadian football[194] are derived from early forms of rugby football.[194] Australian rules football was influenced by rugby football and other games originating in English public schools.[195][196][197] James Naismith took aspects of many sports including rugby to invent basketball.[198] The most obvious contribution is the jump ball's similarity to the line-out as well as the underhand shooting style that dominated the early years of the sport. Naismith played rugby at McGill University.[199] Swedish football was a code whose rules were a mix of Association and Rugby football rules.[200][201] Rugby lends its name to wheelchair rugby, a full-contact sport which contains elements of rugby such as crossing a try line with the ball to score.[202] Statistics and records See also: List of top rugby union players by international caps and List of top scoring international rugby union players According to a 2023 report by the Centre for the International Business of Sport, over ten million people play rugby union or one of its variants organised by the IRB.[203] This is a significant increase since the previous report in 2011.[204] The report also claimed that since 2011 participation has grown by 33 per cent in Africa, 28 per cent in South America and 18 per cent in Asia and North America.[204] In 2023 the IRB published a breakdown of the total number of players worldwide by national unions. It recorded a total of 10.9 million players globally, of those, 8.4 million were registered members playing for a club affiliated to their country's union.[2] The 2016 World Rugby Year in Review reported 8.5 million players, of which 3.2 million were registered union players and 1.9 million were registered club players; 22% of all players were female.[205] The most capped international player from the tier 1 nations is Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones who has played over 150 internationals. While the top scoring tier 1 international player is New Zealand's Dan Carter, who has amassed 1442 points during his career.[206] In April 2010 Lithuania which is a second tier rugby nation, broke the record of consecutive international wins for second tier rugby nations. In 2016, the All Blacks of New Zealand set the new record 18 consecutive test wins among tier 1 rugby nations, bettering their previous consecutive run of 17.[207] This record was equalled by England on 11 March 2017 with a win over Scotland at Twickenham.[208] The highest scoring international match between two recognised unions was Hong Kong's 164–13 victory over Singapore on 27 October 1994.[209] While the largest winning margin of 152 points is held by two countries, Japan (a 155–3 win over Chinese Taipei) and Argentina (152–0 over Paraguay) both in 2002.[209] The record attendance for a rugby union game was set on 15 July 2000 in which New Zealand defeated Australia 39–35 in a Bledisloe Cup game at Stadium Australia in Sydney before 109,874 fans.[210] The record attendance for a match in Europe of 104,000 (at the time a world record) was set on 1 March 1975 when Scotland defeated Wales 12–10 at Murrayfield in Edinburgh during the 1975 Five Nations Championship.[210] This crowd however is an estimate and contemporaneous newspaper accounts list a crowd of 80,000 only. The record attendance for a domestic club match is 99,124, set when Racing 92 defeated Toulon in the 2016 Top 14 final on 24 June at Camp Nou in Barcelona. The match had been moved from its normal site of Stade de France near Paris due to scheduling conflicts with France's hosting of UEFA Euro 2016.[211] In culture An oil painting of four moustached men, two wearing orange and white striped jerseys and shorts, the other two wearing blue and white striped jerseys and shorts, contesting a rugby ball within an avenue of trees. Henri Rousseau – The Football Players (1908) Thomas Hughes's 1857 novel Tom Brown's Schooldays, set at Rugby School, includes a rugby football match, also portrayed in the 1940s film of the same name. James Joyce mentions Irish team Bective Rangers in several of his works, including Ulysses (1922) and Finnegans Wake (1939), while his 1916 semi-autobiographical work A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man has an account of Ireland international James Magee.[212] Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in his 1924 Sherlock Holmes tale The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, mentions that Dr Watson played rugby for Blackheath.[213] Henri Rousseau's 1908 work Joueurs de football shows two pairs of rugby players competing.[214] Other French artists to have represented the sport in their works include Albert Gleizes' Les Joueurs de football (1912), Robert Delaunay's Football. L'Équipe de Cardiff (1916) and André Lhote's Partie de Rugby (1917).[215] The 1928 Gold Medal for Art at the Amsterdam Olympics was won by Luxembourg's Jean Jacoby for his work Rugby.[216] In film, Ealing Studios' 1949 comedy A Run for Your Money and the 1979 BBC Wales television film Grand Slam both centre on fans attending a match.[217] Films that explore the sport in more detail include independent production Old Scores (1991) and Forever Strong (2008). Invictus (2009), based on John Carlin's book Playing the Enemy, explores the events of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and Nelson Mandela's attempt to use the sport to connect South Africa's people post-apartheid.[218][219] In public art and sculpture there are many works dedicated to the sport. There is a 27 feet (8.2 m) bronze statue of a rugby line-out by pop artist Gerald Laing at Twickenham[220] and one of rugby administrator Sir Tasker Watkins at the Millennium Stadium.[221] Rugby players to have been honoured with statues include Gareth Edwards in Cardiff and Danie Craven in Stellenbosch.[222] See also     Sports portal Wikinews has news related to: Rugby     Experimental law variations     International Rugby Hall of Fame, now merged with the former IRB Hall of Fame     International rugby union eligibility rules     International rugby union player records     International rugby union team records     List of international rugby union teams     List of oldest rugby union competitions     List of rugby union terms     World Rugby Hall of Fame, a merger of the IRB and International Rugby Halls of Fame     Concussions in rugby union     List of rugby union stadiums by capacity     History of the English rugby union system     History of the England national rugby union team References Notes As of 2014 the International Rugby Board, now known as World Rugby, removed the total breakdown of world-wide player numbers by country, by age and sex to publish instead an overall figure per country. This document, titled '119 countries... 6.6 million players' adds the number of registered and unregistered players reported by each country. Some unions only report their registered players, i.e. those who play for an affiliated club or region. Other unions, such as England's Rugby Football Union, also report people taking part in outreach and educational programs, or unregistered players. In the 2012 figures reported by the RFU they reported 1,990,988 people playing rugby in England, including 1,102,971 under 13s, 731,685 teens and 156,332 seniors. Some of those recorded would have experienced rugby via educational visits to schools, playing tag or touch rugby, rather than playing regularly for a club. 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This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info With the Rugby World Cup just around the corner fans from all corners of the globe will begin debating who is likeliest to lift the William Webb-Ellis Cup this autumn. The majority of the finest players around will descend on France over the coming days in a bid to help their country become the best side in the world. So, who are the best players in the world? by TaboolaSponsored Link Enter Your Name And Find Out How Much HMRC Owe You PPI Tax Helpdesk WalesOnline rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas has compiled a list of the 30 best rugby union players in the world at this moment in time. 30. Dan Sheehan One of the most dynamic hookers you will find. Sheehan is like a pocket rocket with his explosive carrying in both the tight and in the wide channels, complementing his work at the set-piece. The 24-year-old has played a key part in both Leinster's and Ireland's success of late. 29. Owen Farrell The 31-year-old has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons recently but is a player you'd rather play with than against. Farrell is a natural leader of men, and will play a crucial role if England are to drag themselves out of the rut they find themselves in. 28. Thibaud Flament The Toulouse second-row has been a revelation for France over the past two years. A world-class lineout forward who brings an athleticism to the France front-five which complements their raw power. 27. Shannon Frizell The All Blacks have been looking for a world-class blindside for quite some time, and it looks like they have finally found their man. Frizell's player-of-the-match performance in New Zealand's Rugby Championship victory over South Africa in July was sublime. 26. Steven Kitshoff The Springboks star typifies what a modern-day prop should be all about. He's a destructive scrummager, who get over the gain-line while he is a menace at the breakdown. Your Eco Experts | Free Quotes Homeowners Are Entitled To A Free £1,500 Loft Insulation Voucher investing.com Greta Thunberg's Car Shocks The World, Proof In Pictures by TaboolaSponsored Links 25. Duhan van der Merwe The giant wing is one of the deadliest finishers in the game, and has scored an outstanding 19 tries in 31 Tests for Scotland. He is currently on fire while his pace, power and finishing ability will be difficult to contain in France this autumn. 24. Finn Russell If you were searching for evidence to point out just how good the Scotland playmaker is then look no further than the £1million a year deal he has reportedly signed with Bath. Russell is one of rugby's great entertainers who is able to conjure some magic out of nothing while the quality of his game management is often overlooked. 23. Gael Fickou The 29-year-old is Shaun Edwards' defensive lynchpin in the France back-line, and it is very rare to see the Racing 92 star take the wrong decision. He is also a potent attacking threat who tends to pull a rabbit out of the hat when France need him the most. 22. Marika Koroibete The Australia wing is a freak of nature. Whenever he gets the ball defences tend to open like the Red Sea while he has the perfect blend of athleticism, speed and power. He only needs half a chance to score a try. 21. Cheslin Kolbe Kolbe was the star of South Africa's 2019 World Cup-winning campaign, scoring a stunning try against England in the final. If he sidestepped you in a phone booth you still wouldn't lay a hand on him such is his wicked footwork and electric pace, while he also packs a punch physically. 20. Frans Malherbe The best scrummaging tighthead prop in the world by some distance. Took highly-rated All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot to the cleaners at Twickenham last weekend, and is the rock upon which South Africa's bid to retain the William Webb-Ellis Cup is built on. 19. Johnny Sexton When former Dragons coach and well-respected pundit Bernard Jackman was asked on WalesOnline's Welsh Rugby Podcast whether Ireland could win the World Cup without Sexton, his answer was an emphatic no. Even at the age of 38 Sexton remains one of the most influential players on the planet and Ireland's hopes of becoming world champions sit largely on his shoulders. 18. Jordie Barrett Barrett has been a reason for New Zealand's resurgence over the past year. Having established himself at the All Blacks' first-choice inside centre the 26-year-old provides the perfect blend of physicality, football and kicking. 17. Josh van der Flier The 30-year-old has been so influential for both Leinster and Ireland he was named world player of the year in 2022. One of the best exponents of breakdown play in the world game while his statistics in defence are always remarkable. 16. Aaron Smith Smith has dominated the New Zealand number nine jersey for the best part of a decade and is one of the smartest rugby players around. He has the best service of any scrum-half in the world, including Antoine Dupont, while he is the brains of this All Blacks side. 15. Will Jordan The All Blacks flyer is pure stardust. Jordan, who can play wing and full-back, is electric with ball in hand, and is undoubtedly one of the greatest attacking players in the world. He has top-end speed and is a terrific finisher, but the Crusaders star is also a playmaker who gets the best out of those around him. 14. Tadhg Beirne The former Scarlets star is a key component of Ireland's pack, and his class was never more apparent than when he took the All Blacks apart to help his country to an historic first Test series in New Zealand last summer. A world-class lineout forward and an explosive carrier but his point of difference is his work at the breakdown where the 31-year-old is better than most opensides. 13. Scott Barrett Probably the most improved player in New Zealand over the past couple of seasons. Barrett, who can also play in the back-row, has developed into the complete lock who can carry, win lineout ball and compete at the breakdown. His work in swimming through to stop opposition mauls has become a real strong point of his game. 12. Damian Penaud Is there a better wing in world rugby than France superstar Damien Penaud? The Clermont Auvergne speedster has the perfect blend of power, pace, and finishing prowess. 11. Lukhanyo Am The South African centre was the glue which held the Springboks midfield together when they were crowned world champions back in 2019. Unfortunately injury has ruled Am out of this autumn's World Cup but at his best he is up there with the very best centres on the planet. Pick up your brilliant 48-page guide to the Rugby World Cup 10. Tadhg Furlong Frans Malherbe may be the better scrummager but all-round Furlong is the world's best tighthead. The Leinster star is a once-in-a-generation player with his explosive carrying, relentless work in defence and outrageous skills with ball in hand marking the 30-year-old out as a special player. 9. Romain Ntamack It's an absolute tragedy we won't be seeing the ultra-talented 24-year-old at the World Cup after he ruptured his ACL. Ntamack is the complete player who has developed the best half-back partnership in the world with Antoine Dupont. His kicking game is exquisite while the Toulouse star is a marvellous attacking player. 8. Pablo Matera The 30-year-old is the heartbeat of this Argentina side, and if he were unavailable the Pumas' chances of going deep into this World Cup would plummet. Matera is a destructive blindside who can carry, tackle, win lineout ball and dominate the breakdown while he is also a natural leader. 7. Beauden Barrett Barrett has been at the top of the tree for a number of years, but remains a player who can turn a game on its head in an instant. While the 32-year-old began his career as an outside-half he has settled into the number 15 jersey over the past couple of years. Has arguably the best kicking game out of hand in the world, and is a devastating attacking threat. 6. Eben Etzebeth The world's best second-row. Etzebeth is a monster in the tight, and it's very rate any lock gets the better of the Sharks star. His work in the lineout is top class while his carrying game, both in tight quarters and in the wide channels, is a thing of beauty. It's very difficult to see how South Africa's pack can be stopped in France this autumn. 5. Malcolm Marx The Springboks hooker has it all. His brute force in the contact area is extremely difficult to live with while his work at the breakdown is phenomenal. Marx's throwing into the lineout has improved tenfold over the past couple of years while he is widely acknowledged as the best scrummaging hooker on the planet. 4. Richie Mo'unga The best outside-half in the world. Mo'unga was recently labelled the best player in Super Rugby history having led the Crusaders to seven titles. This is the man who gets New Zealand's attacking game going with his peripheral vision, clever distribution and the way he glides past defenders almost impossible to deal with at times. A class act. 3. Grégory Alldritt The 26-year-old was nothing short of phenomenal in the previous two Champions Cup finals where he led La Rochelle to historic victories over Leinster. Alldritt is a powerful carrier who very rarely comes off second best physically but he is also a hugely intelligent rugby player. The La Rochelle star is arguably as important to this France team as Antoine Dupont, and the world is about to find out just how good he is. 2. Ardie Savea The New Zealand loose-forward is a force of nature and is the All Blacks' go to man when under pressure. There are very few sides who can live with the 29-year-old in full flow. 138437485146 SIMILAR ARTICLES TO THIS partner logo POWERED BY  Revolutionary new rugby structure revealed that will completely shake up the sport in Wales Revolutionary new rugby structure revealed that will completely shake up the sport in Wales 80 COMMENTS Jonathan Davies says Wales will 'suffocate' Argentina and even James Haskell and Mike Tindall agree Jonathan Davies says Wales will 'suffocate' Argentina and even James Haskell and Mike Tindall agree 151 COMMENTS Tonight's rugby news as England star left 'visibly upset' by alleged foul-mouthed outburst from Owen Farrell Tonight's rugby news as England star left 'visibly upset' by alleged foul-mouthed outburst from Owen Farrell 75 COMMENTS The verdict on Wales team to face Argentina as Gatland makes call he's been resisting The verdict on Wales team to face Argentina as Gatland makes call he's been resisting 30 COMMENTS Wales team announcement live as Gatland holds press conference after naming side for Argentina Wales team announcement live as Gatland holds press conference after naming side for Argentina 128 COMMENTS Warren Gatland fires shot at draw critics and tells teams 'they should have done better in the last World Cup' Warren Gatland fires shot at draw critics and tells teams 'they should have done better in the last World Cup' 82 COMMENTS Wales opt for two opensides in World Cup quarter-final clash with Argentina as key star misses out entirely Wales opt for two opensides in World Cup quarter-final clash with Argentina as key star misses out entirely 84 COMMENTS Argentina's great threat, dangermen and the weaknesses Wales must expose to reach the World Cup semi finals Argentina's great threat, dangermen and the weaknesses Wales must expose to reach the World Cup semi finals 47 COMMENTS Today's rugby news as South Africa publicly accuse France players and get phone call advice from Nigel Owens Today's rugby news as South Africa publicly accuse France players and get phone call advice from Nigel Owens Wales legend predicts Rugby World Cup disaster for Ireland and France this weekend Wales legend predicts Rugby World Cup disaster for Ireland and France this weekend Tonight's rugby news as Owen Farrell allegedly involved in training ground 'scrap' with young team-mate Tonight's rugby news as Owen Farrell allegedly involved in training ground 'scrap' with young team-mate 81 COMMENTS Tonight's rugby news as Fiji hit by fresh tragedy and bombshell report claims Eddie Jones has new job Tonight's rugby news as Fiji hit by fresh tragedy and bombshell report claims Eddie Jones has new job 40 COMMENTS Today's rugby news as Owen Farrell to oust England team-mate in 24 hours and Gatland makes call Today's rugby news as Owen Farrell to oust England team-mate in 24 hours and Gatland makes call Jonathan Davies: I've never seen anything like these Rugby World Cup quarter-finals but I think history will be made Jonathan Davies: I've never seen anything like these Rugby World Cup quarter-finals but I think history will be made 53 COMMENTS 138437485146 Gwyn Jones: Wales will win, the All Blacks are out and I'd love it if England lose to Fiji Gwyn Jones: Wales will win, the All Blacks are out and I'd love it if England lose to Fiji S4C boss allegedly abused Wales rugby legend Mike Phillips and told him his Welsh isn't good enough S4C boss allegedly abused Wales rugby legend Mike Phillips and told him his Welsh isn't good enough 138437485146 Rugby World Cup news Live: Welsh TV boss leaves, All Black axed and Gatland hits back Rugby World Cup news Live: Welsh TV boss leaves, All Black axed and Gatland hits back 17 COMMENTS Awkward spy suggestion at Ireland v All Blacks press conference sees media officers step in Awkward spy suggestion at Ireland v All Blacks press conference sees media officers step in 138437485146 Today's rugby news as TV boss in alleged World Cup bar row, All Blacks axe misbehaving star and North ready to make history Today's rugby news as TV boss in alleged World Cup bar row, All Blacks axe misbehaving star and North ready to make history Warren Gatland Q&A: There’s people who won’t want to face Wales playing with confidence and momentum, at our most dangerous - 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Will go down as one of the finest back-rowers to have ever represented the All Blacks. 1. Antoine Dupont The France captain is widely regarded as the best player on the planet. Former world player of the year Dupont is the complete scrum-half and has the ability to win a game of rugby almost single-handedly. If he brings his A game France have a great chance of lifting the Williams Webb-Ellis Cup on home soil this autumn. Super Rugby Article Talk Read Edit View history Tools From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For the pan-American men’s rugby union club competition, see Super Rugby Americas. Super Rugby Current season, competition or edition: Current sports event 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season Super Rugby Pacific logo introduced for 2022 Formerly Super 12 (1996–2005) Super 14 (2006–2010) Sport Rugby Union Founded 1996; 27 years ago Inaugural season 1996 Owner(s) SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris No. of teams 12 Country Australia (5 teams) Fiji (1 team) New Zealand (5 teams) Pacific Islands (1 team) Former: South Africa (8 teams) Argentina (1 team) Japan (1 team) Most recent champion(s) Crusaders (2023, 12th title) Most titles Crusaders (12 titles) TV partner(s) Australia, Fiji and New Zealand: Fijian Broadcasting Corporation Sky Pacific Sky Sport (Prime) Stan Sport (Nine Network) International: Canal+ Digicel ESPN FloSports Premier Sports Sanzaarrugby.tv Sky Italia SuperSport TSN Wowow Sponsor(s) DHL Harvey Norman Shop N Save Supermarket Related competitions Women's Competitions Super W Super Rugby Aupiki COVID-19 Regional Competitions: Super Rugby Aotearoa Super Rugby AU Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Super Rugby Unlocked Official website super.rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hemisphere competitions dating back to the South Pacific Championship in 1986, with teams from a number of southern nations, the Super Rugby started as the Super 12 in the 1996 season with 12 teams from 3 countries: Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The Super 12 was established by SANZAR after the sport became professional in 1995. At its peak the tournament featured the top players from nations representing 16 of the 24 top-three finishes in the history of the Rugby World Cup. After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the competition to split into three, the reformed competition in 2021 and beyond will only include Oceanian clubs representing Australia, New Zealand and from the Pacific islands (specifically a Fijian team, and a New Zealand-based Pacifika side representing Samoan, Tongan and other Pacific communities). The name was changed to Super 14 with the addition of two teams for the 2006 season, and with expansion to 15 teams in the three countries for the 2011 season, the competition was rebranded as Super Rugby (with no number). In 2016 two new teams, the Jaguares from Argentina and Sunwolves from Japan, joined the competition, playing in two newly separated African groups. In 2018, the competition underwent another change in format, this time dropping two teams (the Cheetahs and Kings) from the South African conference, and one (Western Force) from the Australian conference. This left the competition with 15 teams. The Sunwolves left the competition for financial reasons before the conclusion of the 2020 season.[1][2] The 2020 Super Rugby season was subsequently cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[3] and this led to a mass-scale restructuring of the competition. Due to international travel restrictions relating to the pandemic, the competition was unable to resume in its multinational format, prompting Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby to launch domestic tournaments, Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Aotearoa respectively.[4][5] Both these tournaments will continue in 2021, to be followed by Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, a crossover tournament.[6] In September 2020, the South African Rugby Union announced the withdrawal of their four Super Rugby franchises from the competition, with plans for them to join an expanded PRO14 (which would become the United Rugby Championship).[7] The Argentine Jaguares also would take no further part in Super Rugby competitions. The long-term future of Super Rugby in 2022 and beyond was confirmed in August 2021, with a 12-team format confirmed. The competition sees the addition of a Fijian side and a team representing the Pacific Islands, and will return to a format similar to what was played pre-COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament for 2022 and 2023 will be named Super Rugby Pacific.[8][9] The competition has been dominated by New Zealand teams, who have won 18 times in 26 years. The Crusaders have won most often, with 11 titles. Organisation and format SANZAAR Main article: SANZAAR SANZAAR is the body that administers Super Rugby, and has the Australian, New Zealand, South African and Argentine rugby unions as its sole members. SANZAAR also runs the Rugby Championship tournament that is contested by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa following the conclusion of the Super Rugby tournament; the Tri-Nations preceded the Rugby Championship before Argentina joined the competition. The organisation was formed in 1996 to establish and run the Super 12, and Tri-Nations Tournament. Competition format Western Force (Blue) kicking off to the New South Wales Waratahs (White). Prior to 2011, Super Rugby was a round-robin competition where each team played with every other team once; a team had six or seven home games, and six or seven away games each. The winner received four competition points; if the game was a draw two points were awarded to each team. The Rugby union bonus points system was also used, where any team scoring four or more tries, and/or losing by seven points or less, receives an extra competition point. In 2016, the try bonus changed. A team now has to score three more tries than their opponents. The top four teams at the end of the round-robin phase then played semi-finals – the first placed team hosting the fourth placed team, and the second placed team hosting the third placed team.[10] The two winners then played the final at the home ground of the top surviving seed.[10] There were 91 regular season games in total.[11] Games were held over 14 weekends with each team receiving one bye. From 2011 – 2015 the format changed, with each country forming its own conference. Each team within a conference played each of the other teams in its conference twice, once at home and once away. Each team then played four out of the five teams from each of the other conferences once. Competition points were awarded on a similar basis as before. The format of the finals also changed; it involved six teams: the top team in each of the three conferences plus the three next teams with the highest total number of points, regardless of conference. The four lower ranking teams were paired in two sudden death games; the winners of those two games each played one of the two top ranked teams (which received a bye at the start of the finals). Those winners played for the championship.[12] For the 2016 and 2017 seasons the format changed again, with three more teams joining, one each from Argentina, Japan and South Africa. There were four conferences, with Africa getting two conferences. The finals had eight teams with each conference winner getting a home quarter final. They were joined by four wild card teams, three from the Australasian group and one from the South African group. From the 2018 season the format changed again, with two South African teams and an Australian team being dropped. There were three conferences, one containing the five New Zealand teams, a South African one including Argentina's team and an Australian one including Japan's team. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the competition had to undergo a change in structure and be split into regionalised tournaments. There are currently two national competitions, Australia's Super Rugby AU and New Zealand's Super Rugby Aotearoa, and those followed by Super Rugby Trans-Tasman in 2021, a crossover competition involving the five Australian sides playing the five New Zealand sides. Super Rugby currently only consists of Australian and New Zealand sides, with the Japanese Sunwolves departing the competition after the 2020 season, the South African sides voting to leave to join an expanded PRO14 (Later known as the United Rugby Championship), and the Argentinian Jaguares not set to compete in any Super Rugby tournament in 2021. From 2022, the tournament will revert to round robin format featuring 12 teams, with the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika joining the competition. There will be no divisions from 2022 onwards, with one main log being used instead, and top 8 teams qualifying for the playoffs. History Background Before 1996, a number of transnational competitions involving regional and provincial rugby union teams had taken shape in the southern hemisphere. The earliest of these was the South Pacific Championship, which was launched in 1986 and continued until 1990. Super 6 Champions Season Champions 1992 Queensland Super 6 After the demise of the South Pacific Championship, with no tournament played in 1991, the competition was relaunched as the Super 6 in 1992. The original Super 6 competition consisted of three provincial teams from New Zealand: Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington; along with two Australian state teams: Queensland and New South Wales; and also the Fiji national team. Super 10 Super 10 Champions 1993 – 1995 Season Champions 1993 Transvaal 1994 Queensland 1995 Queensland Main article: Super 10 Rugby In 1993, the Super Six competition was revamped and expanded into the Super 10 tournament. With South Africa being readmitted into international sport following the dismantling of apartheid, there was an opportunity to launch an expanded competition which would also feature South Africa's top provincial teams. The inaugural competition featured the following teams: Waikato, Auckland, Otago and North Harbour (New Zealand); Natal, Transvaal and Northern Transvaal (South Africa); Queensland and New South Wales (Australia) and Western Samoa (Pacific Tri-Nations winner). The Super 10 was won by Transvaal (South Africa) in 1993, and by Queensland (Australia) in 1994 and 1995. SANZAR era Super 12 (1995–2005) The official declaration of professionalism in rugby union in August 1995 led to a restructuring of the Super 10 competition. Following the success of the 1995 World Cup, the rugby boards of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa formed SANZAR (South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby) to administer an annual 12-team provincial/franchise based competition pitting regional teams from the three nations against each other. In addition it was decided to hold an annual Tri-Nations Test Series between the three countries. A significant reason for the development of the Super 12 was the threat to rugby union from rival football code rugby league: part of the business model for the Foxtel pay TV network in Australia was to attract subscribers by offering an exclusive product (such as rugby union) which could not be seen on free-to-air broadcast television. By setting up the Super 12, the Unions had a product that was in demand from viewers, enabling them to sell a 10-year contract for exclusive television rights to News Corp for US$555 million, giving them both coverage and financial support to kickstart the new competition.[13] The Super 12 logo used from 1996 to 2005. With significant sponsorship, and rugby turning a professional sport in August 1995, the Super 12 competition successfully kicked off in 1996 with five New Zealand franchises, four South African provinces and three domestic Australian teams competing. New Zealand's dominance of the competition began in the first year when the Auckland Blues won the inaugural competition defeating South African side the Sharks 45–21 in a home final. The Blues would repeat the success of 1996 beating Australian side the ACT Brumbies 23–7 in the 1997 final. The Blues then reached their third successive final in 1998 but went down to fellow countrymen the Canterbury Crusaders 13–20. This would mark the beginning of the Crusaders' three-year dominance as they went on to win the 1999 and 2000 finals over the Otago Highlanders and ACT Brumbies respectively. The 2001 season was the first in which no New Zealand franchise reached the final, being contested between the ACT Brumbies and Sharks with the Brumbies convincing winners, with a 36–6 scoreline. The Crusaders won their 4th final in 2002 winning all 11 matches and missed out on their 5th in 2003 with a four-point loss to fellow countrymen the Blues. In 2004 the Brumbies took revenge on their 2000 final loss to the Crusaders defeating them 47–38 in front of a home crowd. The Crusaders would bounce back to win the 2005 final 35–25 against the Australian side the New South Wales Waratahs who reached their first-ever final. This was the last year of the 12 team format. From the early 2000s Australia had started to push for the inclusion of a fourth Australian team, and South Africa for another team from its country. There was also speculation of including a team from the South Pacific Island nations, such as Fiji; or a combined Pacific Islanders team from Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. Argentina was also pushing for inclusion in the Super 12. In the early 2000s the provincial names from the New Zealand franchises were dropped, so, for example, the Canterbury Crusaders became The Crusaders. Also South Africa followed the New Zealand franchise model, where previously South African participation was decided by the previous year's Currie Cup placings. Super 14 (2006–2010) SANZAR announced in December 2004 that a new five-year television deal had been signed that would cover 2006 to 2010, with News Corporation winning the rights for the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and SuperSport winning rights for South Africa. The contract was worth US$323 million over five years, a 16% annual increase compared to the previous deal.[13] It covers international fixtures as well as the Super 14. SANZAR remained free to negotiate separate deals for other markets, such as France, Japan and the Americas. The Super 14 logo used from 2006 to 2010. The TriNations is the "cash cow" for the SANZAR partners as it provides nearly 60 per cent of the money from News Ltd.[needs update] The Super 14 made up about 30 per cent of the deal.[citation needed] Under the new deal, Australia and South Africa each got one extra team in the competition, and a third round of fixtures was added to the Tri Nations Series. The new Australian team in the competition was based in Perth and was named the Western Force. The addition of the new South African team led to considerable controversy, including government involvement. Finally, the five teams for 2006 were confirmed to be the country's existing four teams plus the Cheetahs, which draws its players from the Free State and Northern Cape Provinces. For the 2007 season, the Southern Spears, based in Port Elizabeth, were originally intended to replace the lowest-finishing South African team from the 2006 competition. However, the existing South African Super 14 franchises opposed the plan, which was pushed through by controversial president of the South African Rugby Union, Brian van Rooyen. After van Rooyen was ousted as president, SARU announced that the Spears would not enter the competition.[14] SARU investigated the viability of the Spears after discovering serious financial irregularities.[15] A High Court of South Africa ruling stated that the Spears had a valid contract to compete in the Super 14 and Currie Cup. However, because of the organisation's financial and administrative troubles, in November 2006 a settlement was reached. The Spears abandoned their legal case, and will continue to exist, but not compete in the Super 14.[16] SANZAR rejected a proposal to split the Super 14 into two seven-team divisions, and decided to keep the competition in its traditional single-table format. Argentina and the Pacific Islands remained shut out of the competition. The two new teams didn't perform all that well, the South African franchise the Cheetahs did the better of the two teams finishing 10th on the ladder notching up 5 season wins. The Australian franchise the Western Force only managed one victory and ended winning the wooden spoon as last placed 14th. The highlight for the Force was a 23-all draw against eventual champions the Crusaders, who defeated first-time finalists the Hurricanes 19–12. The Cats (now the Lions) playing the Sharks. During the 2007 season, 22 All Blacks missed the competition's first seven rounds as part of an All Black "conditioning programme" that was a part of the All Blacks' 2007 Rugby World Cup preparations, and every New Zealand franchise was without players for the first seven rounds.[17][18][19] At the end of the regular season, for the first time since 1998, no Australian franchise had made the semi-finals. Although the Brumbies were strong and the Western Force experienced vast improvement, it was a poor season for the Queensland Reds and Waratahs who finished last and second last respectively. Also, the competition featured the first all-South African final as the Sharks and Bulls, who finished 1–2 on the season ladder, both won their respective semi-finals. The final, held in Durban, saw the visiting Bulls win 20–19. During the time the competition was branded as the Super 14, only two teams won the tournament. The Crusaders winning the 2006 and 2008 tournaments; while the Bulls ended victorious in 2007, 2009, and 2010 respectively. Super Rugby: 15 teams (2011–2015) SANZAR unveiled in 2009 its model for an expanded season that would begin in 2011. This model was based around the original ARU proposal for three national conferences: each side were to have played the other four teams from their own country twice and the other ten teams once each; the season has to end with a six-team finals series. The Super Rugby logo used from 2011 to 2021. There were four major compromises, however, designed to accommodate certain wishes of each country, that somewhat complicated the model: Each team would only play four, instead of all five, teams in each of the other two national conferences, making sixteen regular season games for each team instead of eighteen, and allowing for a late February start, somewhat placating the ARU and NZRU who wanted a March start. There would be a three-week gap for the June test (international) matches favoured by the SARU. The season would finish in early August so as not to overlap new streamlined versions of New Zealand's and South Africa's domestic competitions. The three conference winners and the three best performers of the remaining teams would qualify for a three-week finals series, with seedings deciding the match-ups. This system is a hybrid of the conference-based qualification system favoured by the SARU and the 'top six' model favoured by the ARU and NZRU. SANZAR announced in 2009 the addition of a fifth Australian team that would play in the expanded "Super Rugby" competition in 2011. The licence was awarded to Victoria, Australia, and the team's name announced as the Melbourne Rebels. The Australian start-up franchise was given the nod ahead of South Africa's Southern Kings.[20] Brian Waldron, former CEO of the NRL club the Melbourne Storm, was confirmed as the new CEO of the Rebels on 11 January 2010, but resigned on 23 April after a salary cap breach was uncovered at the Storm.[21] SANZAAR era Expansion: 18 teams (2016–2017) In February 2012, SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters announced that the organisation was considering adding franchises in Argentina, Japan and the United States in 2016, the first year of SANZAR's next television contract. This was also the year that rugby sevens entered the Olympics, which contributed towards increased interest in the sport in many countries, including Japan and the US.[22] Australian sports broadcasting analyst Colin Smith noted that the addition of Japanese and American teams could result in a TV deal worth more than A$1 billion beyond 2020. Specifically, he stated, "You could have a deal comparable to the other major sports in Australia. Rugby is a college (university) sport in the US, if soccer can create its own league there and sell teams for $40 million, imagine what you could do in 10–12 years with rugby in that market."[22] By comparison, the largest TV deal in Australian sport, that of the Australian Football League (Australian rules), is worth A$1.26 billion from 2012 to 2016. Even that figure was dwarfed by the TV contracts of the NFL, for which contracts at the time were worth more than US$4 billion annually.[23] Peters added that the conference-based structure was ideal for expanding the competition to new territories, either by adding new conferences or by adding teams to the current conferences. He also discussed the possibility that offshore Super Rugby teams could be a home for surplus players from the SANZAR countries, keeping them in the SANZAR fold and away from European clubs.[24] Prior to Super Rugby's broadcast contracts expiring after the 2015 season, SANZAR considered several alternatives for the competition's future organisation: [25] Retention of the conference system that was in place for 2011–15. Expansion of the structure to include teams from Asia, the United States and/or Canada.[26] A split of the competition, with South Africa forming one competition with the likely addition of at least one Argentine side, and Australia and New Zealand forming another, with the possibility of including Asian teams. The last proposal, made by the SARU, was reportedly driven by internal union politics. With only five guaranteed places in Super Rugby but six active franchises, the bottom team in the South African Conference faced a promotion/relegation playoff with the sixth franchise for a place in the next season's competition. Australia and New Zealand warmed to the SARU proposal, as a trans-Tasman competition would potentially allow for more regional derbies, fewer time zone complications and less player travel.[25] However, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew indicated that a competition that did not include South African teams was a commercial non-starter because of large broadcast revenues from that country and because the NZRU considered Super Rugby matches in South Africa to be critical for national team development.[26] SANZAR announced on 4 September 2013 that South Africa would be granted a sixth franchise starting in the 2016 season, negating the need for relegation play-offs involving the sixth South African franchise.[27] SANZAR then announced on 20 November 2014 that Japan and Argentina would each be allocated a team from the 2016 season onwards.[28] In 2017, the Australian Rugby Union was rebranded to Rugby Australia.[29] Contraction: 15 teams (2018–2020) In April 2017, SANZAAR confirmed the competition would be reduced to 15 teams in 2018 with two South African and one Australian team to have their franchises withdrawn.[30] Subsequently, four South African teams took part: the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers, with the Cheetahs and Kings losing their spots. The Cheetahs and Kings joined the Pro 12, which became the Pro14 from the 2017–2018 season onwards.[31] On 11 August 2017, Australia announced that the Western Force had lost their licence.[32] On 21 March 2019, SANZAAR confirmed that 2020 will be the Sunwolves last season of competition in Super Rugby.[33] COVID-19: Separate competitions and South African departure (2020–2021) The logos for Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby AU, Super Rugby Trans-Tasman and Super Rugby Unlocked The global COVID-19 pandemic caused the 2020 Super Rugby competition to be cut short. As health concerns eased, other professional sports returned to play. The Super Rugby season was unable to resumed, however, due to border restrictions and the need for teams to be placed into quarantine upon arrival in each country. This resulted in New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia forming their own Super Rugby tournaments starting in June and July respectively, so that their teams could compete domestically.[34][35] South African Rugby subsequently launched its own domestic Super Rugby competition which started play in October 2020.[36] The three competitions formed were: Super Rugby Aotearoa (5 teams, New Zealand) [34] Super Rugby AU (5 teams, Australia) [35] Super Rugby Unlocked (7 teams, South Africa) [36] Super Rugby AU final between Queensland Reds and Brumbies in 2021. Super Rugby Aotearoa featured all five New Zealand teams from Super Rugby: the Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes.[34] Super Rugby AU included Australia's four teams, the Reds, Waratahs, Brumbies and Rebels, as well as former Super Rugby side, the Western Force.[35] The Force had continued as a franchise after their 2017 post-season exclusion from Super Rugby and were playing in Global Rapid Rugby, also suspended due to COVID-19. The Australian and New Zealand competitions each scheduled a 20-game home and away season in 2020 but Super Rugby AU played two additional knockout matches to decide the Australian title.[35] Super Rugby Unlocked featured South Africa's four Super Rugby teams (the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers) plus former franchise the Cheetahs as well as the Currie Cup sides Griquas and Pumas. These seven teams competed in a single round-robin domestic format in 2020.[36] In September 2020, SA Rugby announced the withdrawal from Super Rugby of all of their teams, with plans for the four sides to join an expanded Pro14/United Rugby Championship competition.[37] Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU continued in 2021,[38][39] Super Rugby Trans-Tasman would also take place in 2021, a crossover competition featuring the Australian sides playing the New Zealand sides.[40] Super Rugby Pacific: Fiji and the Pacific Islands join the competition (2022–) In the longer term, a new 12-team tournament from 2022 onwards had been mooted, with the current five Australian and five New Zealand sides to be joined by Moana Pasifika, and a Fijian side.[8] New Zealand Rugby has confirmed that it intends to partner with Fiji Rugby and Moana Pasifika, along with Australia going forward.[41] In April 2021, it was announced that licences had been offered to the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika ahead of joining Super Rugby in 2022.[42] The new format was confirmed in August 2021, with the tournament branded as Super Rugby Pacific, with the competition returning to a round robin format, although the divisions will be replaced by one main log instead.[43] Current franchises Main article: Super Rugby franchise areas There are twelve franchises currently in Super Rugby; five from Australia, one from Fiji, five from New Zealand, and one representing the Pacific Islands. Each franchise is representing a franchise area, with each franchise in New Zealand representing a collection of unions, compared to the Australian model of one franchise per union. This model differs from the traditional club-based model of other Australian sports; with 5 Super Rugby teams in Australia compared to the 16 Australian-based National Rugby League teams and the 18 teams of the Australian Football League. The Pacific Islands franchise, Moana Pasifika, will play mainly in New Zealand during the 2022 season. Super Rugby is located in OceaniaBrumbiesBrumbiesForceForceRebelsRebelsRedsRedsWaratahsWaratahsDruaDruaAucklandAucklandChiefsChiefsCrusadersCrusadersHighlandersHighlandersHurricanesHurricanesSuper Rugby teams in Auckland: Blues Moana PasifikaSuper Rugby teams in Auckland: Blues Moana Pasifika Super Rugby (Oceania) Location of Super Rugby franchises in Auckland for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific seasonBluesBluesMoana PasifikaMoana Pasifika Super Rugby (Auckland) Club City Stadium Capacity First season New Zealand Blues Auckland, Auckland Region Eden Park 50,000 1996 (Super 12) Australia Brumbies Canberra, Australian Capital Territory GIO Stadium 25,011 1996 (Super 12) New Zealand Chiefs Hamilton, Waikato FMG Stadium Waikato 25,800 1996 (Super 12) New Zealand Crusaders Christchurch, Canterbury Orangetheory Stadium 18,600 1996 (Super 12) Fiji Drua Suva, Fiji Churchill Park HFC Bank Stadium 11,000 15,000 2022 Australia Force Perth, Western Australia HBF Park 20,500 2006 (Super 14) New Zealand Highlanders Dunedin, Otago Forsyth Barr Stadium 30,748 1996 (Super 12) New Zealand Hurricanes Wellington, Wellington Region Sky Stadium 34,500 1996 (Super 12) New Zealand Moana Pasifika[A] South Auckland, Auckland Region Mt Smart Stadium 30,000 2022 Australia Rebels Melbourne, Victoria AAMI Park 30,050 2011 Australia Reds Brisbane, Queensland Suncorp Stadium 52,500 1996 (Super 12) Australia Waratahs Sydney, New South Wales Allianz Stadium 42,500 1996 (Super 12) Notes:  Moana Pasifika are a team created to represent the Pacific Islands. However, they are owned and run by New Zealand Rugby and will be based in Auckland for the considerable future, and therefore are listed with the New Zealand flag. Former franchises South Africa Bulls – Pretoria, Gauteng (withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2020) South Africa Cats – Johannesburg, Gauteng (renamed as the Lions in 2005) South Africa Cheetahs – Bloemfontein, Free State (withdrawn by Super Rugby and moved to Pro14 in 2017, participated in Super Rugby Unlocked in 2020) South Africa Griquas – Kimberley, Northern Cape (participated in Super Rugby Unlocked in 2020) Argentina Jaguares – Buenos Aires, Argentina (not named in a Super Rugby competition for 2021) South Africa Lions – Johannesburg, Gauteng (renamed the Cats 1998, returned to Lions name 2006; withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2012, returned to Super Rugby in 2014; withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2020) South Africa Pumas – Mbombela, Mpumalanga (participated in Super Rugby Unlocked in 2020) South Africa Sharks – Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2020) South Africa Southern Kings – Gqeberha, Eastern Cape (withdrawn by Super Rugby and moved to Pro14 in 2017) South Africa Stormers – Cape Town, Western Cape (withdrawn by the South African Rugby Union in 2020) Japan Sunwolves – Tokyo, Japan (withdrawn by the Japan Rugby Football Union in 2020) Champions Main article: List of Super Rugby champions The following sides have won Super Rugby titles since the competitions inception in 1996. Year No. of Teams Final Losing semi-finalists Winners Score Runners-up 1st losing semi-finalists 2nd losing semi-finalists 1996 12 Blues 45–21 Sharks Reds Bulls 1997 12 Blues 23–7 ACT Brumbies Hurricanes Sharks 1998 12 Crusaders 20–13 Blues Sharks Highlanders 1999 12 Crusaders 24–19 Highlanders Reds Stormers 2000 12 Crusaders 20–19 ACT Brumbies Highlanders Cats 2001 12 ACT Brumbies 36–6 Sharks Cats Reds 2002 12 Crusaders 31–13 ACT Brumbies Waratahs Highlanders 2003 12 Blues 21–17 Crusaders Hurricanes ACT Brumbies 2004 12 ACT Brumbies 47–38 Crusaders Stormers Chiefs 2005 12 Crusaders 35–25 Australia Waratahs South Africa Bulls New Zealand Hurricanes 2006 14 Crusaders 19–12 Hurricanes Waratahs Bulls 2007 14 Bulls 20–19 Sharks Crusaders Blues 2008 14 Crusaders 20–12 Waratahs Sharks Hurricanes 2009 14 Bulls 61–17 Chiefs Hurricanes Crusaders 2010 14 Bulls 25–17 Stormers Crusaders Waratahs 2011 15 Reds 18–13 Crusaders Blues Stormers 2012 15 Chiefs 37–6 Sharks Crusaders Stormers 2013 15 Chiefs 27–22 Brumbies Crusaders Bulls 2014 15 Waratahs 33–32 Crusaders Sharks Brumbies 2015 15 Highlanders 21–14 Hurricanes Waratahs Brumbies 2016 18 Hurricanes 20–3 Lions Chiefs Highlanders 2017 18 Crusaders 25–17 Lions Chiefs Hurricanes 2018 15 Crusaders 37–18 Lions Hurricanes Waratahs 2019 15 Crusaders 19–3 Jaguares Brumbies Hurricanes 2020 15 / 17[A] Season cancelled, regional competitions played after cancellation. — — 2021 10 Regional competitions played, no official champions. — — 2022 12 Crusaders 21–7 Blues Chiefs Brumbies 2023 12 Crusaders 25–20 Chiefs Blues Brumbies Match between Crusaders and Waratahs, 2011. Notes:  15 sides competed in the 2020 Super Rugby season, however following the tournaments cancellation regional competitions were played. The Jaguares and Sunwolves did not compete in these competitions, however the Cheetahs, Force, Griquas and Pumas competed, bringing the number of regional competition sides to 17 in total. Regionalised Competition winners Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regionalised tournaments were played for the remainder of the 2020 Super Rugby season and the 2021 Super Rugby season. Those competitions were: Super Rugby AU (Australia), Super Rugby Aotearoa (New Zealand), Super Rugby Unlocked (South Africa) and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman (Australia and New Zealand). Year Super Rugby AU Super Rugby Aotearoa Super Rugby Unlocked Super Rugby Trans-Tasman 2020 Brumbies Crusaders Bulls — 2021 Reds Crusaders —* Blues * South Africa withdrew from all Super Rugby competitions at the end of the 2020 Super Rugby season. Final appearances, victories by country In the sortable table below, teams are ordered first by number of appearances, then by number of wins, and finally by victorious seasons. Apps Team Wins Losses Winning percent Season(s) 16 Crusaders 12 4 .750 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 6 Brumbies 2 4 .333 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2013 5 Blues 3 2 .600 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2022 4 Chiefs 2 2 .500 2009, 2012, 2013, 2023 4 Sharks 0 4 .000 1996, 2001, 2007, 2012 3 Bulls 3 0 1.000 2007, 2009, 2010 3 Waratahs 1 2 .333 2005, 2008, 2014 3 Hurricanes 1 2 .333 2006, 2015, 2016 3 Lions 0 3 .000 2016, 2017, 2018 2 Highlanders 1 1 .500 1999, 2015 1 Reds 1 0 1.000 2011 1 Stormers 0 1 .000 2010 1 Jaguares 0 1 .000 2019 Team Apps Wins Losses Winning percent  New Zealand 30 19 11 .633  South Africa 11 3 8 .272  Australia 10 4 6 .400  Argentina 1 0 1 .000  Japan 0 0 0 .000 Semi-final appearances by team Super Rugby semi-final between Jaguares and Brumbies in 2019 in Buenos Aires. 21  Crusaders (16 wins, 5 losses) 11  Brumbies (6 wins, 5 losses) 11  Hurricanes (3 wins, 8 losses) 8  Blues (5 wins, 3 losses) 8  Chiefs (4 wins, 4 losses) 8  Sharks (4 wins, 4 losses) 8  Waratahs (3 wins, 5 losses) 7  Bulls (3 wins, 4 losses) 5  Lions (3 wins, 2 losses) (2 losses as the Cats) 5  Highlanders (1 wins, 4 losses) 4  Reds (1 win, 3 losses) 4  Stormers (1 win, 3 losses) 1  Jaguares (1 win) Conference winners by team Between 2011 and 2019, teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have played in 3 separate conferences. With teams playing each team in their own conference twice (home and away) and in the other conferences playing four of the five teams. The winner of each conference is awarded a home final and their region specific conference trophy. In 2016, the South Africa conference was split in two, with Japan's Sunwolves and Argentina's Jaguares added to South Africa 1 and 2, respectively. In 2018, the South African conferences re-integrated, with Argentina's Jaguares remaining in the South Africa conference, and Japan's Sunwolves joining the Australia conference. Conference 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Australia Reds Brumbies Waratahs Brumbies Waratahs Brumbies New Zealand Crusaders Chiefs Crusaders Hurricanes Crusaders South Africa 1 Stormers Bulls Sharks Stormers Stormers Lions Jaguares South Africa 2 Lions Salary cap Australia The five Australian teams playing in the competition are subjected to a A$5.5 million salary cap for a squad of up to 40 players per Australian team.[44][45][46] The Australian Rugby Union decided in 2011 to introduce the salary cap because of financial pressures.[47] Originally starting in 2012 as a cap of A$4.1 million, it was later raised to A$4.5 million for the 2013 and 2014 seasons to take pressure off the teams' ability to recruit and retain players.[48] The salary cap is a key component of the negotiation between the ARU and the Rugby Union Players Association over the collective bargaining agreement.[49] The fact that the Australian teams in Super Rugby face a salary cap has been attributed as a factor that makes it more difficult for Australian teams to win the title.[50] The cap regulations have some small concessions:[51] Five players on each team may be paid A$30,000 each per season by team sponsors; this amount is not included in the team cap. The maximum cap charge for a non-Australian player is A$137,000, regardless of his actual wages. Compared to other Australian 'rival' sporting leagues, such as the NRL and AFL, the salary cap is considerably lower. Two times lower than the AFL and only makes up 55% of the NRL salary cap. However the Australian Super Rugby salary cap stands greater than the A-League, the BBL and the NBL. Rugby union in South Africa Governing body South African Rugby Union National teams Men's Springboks'A'7'sAmateursU-21U-20Schoolboys Women's Women's7's Competitions International South Africa at the Rugby World CupWorld Rugby Sevens SeriesSouth Africa SevensSouth Africa Women's SevensWorld Rugby U20 ChampionshipUnited Rugby ChampionshipSuper Rugby (no longer involved) Provincial Currie CupRugby Challenge Club Gold CupVarsity Rugby Women's clubs Women's Premier Division Youth rugby Craven Week Defunct Vodacom Cup Related articles International playersRugby union and apartheidSpringbok colours vte Southern Hemisphere provincial rugby competitions South Pacific Championship seasons 198619871988198919901991 Super 6 season 1992 Super 10 seasons 199319941995 Super 12 seasons 1996199719981999200020012002200320042005 Super 14 seasons 20062007200820092010 Super Rugby seasons 20112012201320142015201620172018201920202021 Australian Provincial ChampionshipAustralian Rugby ChampionshipAustralian 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AfricaSports leagues established in 1996Professional sports leagues in AustraliaProfessional sports leagues in New ZealandProfessional sports leagues in South AfricaMulti-national professional rugby union leaguesMulti-national professional sports leagues
  • Condition: New
  • Sub-Type: Rugby Union
  • Options: Retired Players
  • Type: Sport
  • Surname Initial: E
  • Object: Newspaper
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
  • Certification: Pre-Printed

PicClick Insights - ENGLAND Rugby World Cup Winner Final Newspaper 2003 Ball Union France Old Retro PicClick Exclusive

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