Tri Nations

Tri Nations Series champion is the title given to the rugby union nation (either Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or, since 2012, Argentina) that finishes at the top of competition table of the annual Tri Nations Series. The Bledisloe Cup, an Australian-New Zealand trophy is also awarded within the series.

Each nation plays each other thrice on a home and away basis, though the number of games against each side was expanded from two to three in 2006. A nation receives four points for a win, two for a draw and none for a loss. A nation can obtain a bonus point by either scoring four tries in a match or by losing by seven points or less to the opposition. If nations finish level on points (points for winning, drawing and bonus match points), the first tiebreaker is point differential (the actual in game scoreline, a cumulative scoreline difference). The scoreline difference is worked out by subtracting the number of points a nation has had scored against them from the total points they have scored in the series. Should teams still be level, this is followed by number of tries scored by a nation during the series.

The Tri Nations was created amongst the SANZAR partners (along with the provincial Super 12 competition, now, Super Rugby). The tournament involves three southern hemisphere nations; Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The series was created to form a similar competition to the Six Nations Championship (then, the Five Nations). The first tournament was held in 1996, which New Zealand won. It has subsequently been held annually. The competition has largely been dominated by New Zealand, who have won 10 championships, whereas Australia and South Africa have each won the series three times. New Zealand has won consecutive championships on three occasions (1996–97, 2002–03, and 2005–08) and Australia on one occasion (2000–01).

Tri Națiunilor este un turneu anual de rugby union disputat între cele mai bune trei echipe din Emisfera Sudică: Australia, Noua Zeelandă și Africa de Sud. Este considerat unul dintre cele mai importante turnee de rugby din lume.

Turneul a fost inițial disputat între Australia și Noua Zeelandă în 1996, iar Africa de Sud a fost adăugată în 1997. Turneul se desfășoară într-un format round-robin, fiecare echipă jucând cu celelalte două echipe de două ori. Echipa cu cele mai multe puncte la finalul turneului este declarată campioană.

Tri Națiunilor a fost dominat de Noua Zeelandă, care a câștigat titlul de 18 ori, inclusiv în ultimele cinci ediții consecutive. Australia a câștigat turneul de 6 ori, în timp ce Africa de Sud a câștigat de 5 ori.

Turneul este cunoscut pentru intensitatea și fizicalitatea sa, fiind considerat unul dintre cele mai dure turnee de rugby din lume. Este, de asemenea, un eveniment popular pentru fani, cu numeroase stadioane vândute la fiecare meci.

În 2020, turneul Tri Națiunilor a fost anulat din cauza pandemiei de COVID-19. În 2021, turneul a fost reprogramat și redenumit Campionatul Rugby, cu participarea Noii Zeelande, Australiei și Argentina.