List of international rugby rivalries

In International rugby union history there have been a number of notable rivalries. This list reflects some of the great rivalries.[1][2][3]

For the purpose of this article only, the criteria for inclusion are (all must be met):

  • The two teams must have played each other at least 35 times.
  • Both teams must at least be a tier-one or tier-two rugby nation.
  • The two teams must have had their first match played in 1980 or earlier.
Rivalry Period Meetings Overall Head to Head Most Wins Name of Trophy Ref
Australia–New Zealand 1903– 181 128–45 (8 draws)  New Zealand Bledisloe Cup [4][5]
England–Scotland 1871– 144 77–48 (19 draws)  England Calcutta Cup [6]
England–Ireland 1875– 144 81–55 (8 draws)  England Millennium Trophy [7]
Ireland–Scotland 1877– 144 73–66 (5 draws)  Ireland Centenary Quaich [8]
England–Wales 1881– 144 71–61 (12 draws)  England N/a [9]
Ireland–Wales 1882– 137 70–60 (7 draws)  Wales N/a [10]
Scotland–Wales 1883– 132 75–54 (3 draws)  Wales Doddie Weir Cup [11]
England–France 1906– 113 61–45 (7 draws)  England N/a [12]
New Zealand–South Africa 1921– 110 63–43 (4 draws)  New Zealand Freedom Cup [13][14]
France–Wales 1908– 105 52–51 (3 draws)  France N/a [15]
France–Ireland 1909– 105 61–37 (7 draws)  France N/a [16]
France–Scotland 1910– 105 61–41 (3 draws)  France Auld Alliance Trophy [17]
Australia–South Africa 1933– 97 53–41 (3 draws)  South Africa Mandela Challenge Plate [18]
Fiji–Tonga 1924– 96 66–27 (3 draws)  Fiji N/a [19]
Samoa–Tonga 1926– 71 39–28 (4 draws)  Samoa N/a [20]
Canada–United States 1977– 67 40–25 (2 draws)  Canada N/a [21]
France–New Zealand 1906– 67 51–15 (1 draw)  New Zealand Dave Gallaher Trophy [22][23]
Chile–Uruguay 1948– 57 43–13 (1 draw)  Uruguay N/a [24]
Australia–England 1909– 57 29–27 (1 draw)  England Ella–Mobbs Trophy [25]
Fiji–Samoa 1924– 57 33–21 (3 draws)  Fiji N/a [26]
Argentina–France 1949– 56 40–15 (1 draw)  France N/a [27]
Australia–France 1928– 53 29–22 (2 draws)  Australia Trophée des Bicentenaires [28]
France–Romania 1924–2015 51 41–8 (2 draws)  France N/a [29]
France–Italy 1937– 51 47–3 (1 draw)  France N/a
Australia–Wales 1908– 49 34–14 (1 draw)  Australia James Bevan Trophy [30]
England–New Zealand 1905– 47 36–9 (2 draws)  New Zealand Hillary Shield [31][32]
England–South Africa 1906– 47 29–16 (2 draws)  South Africa N/a [33]
France–South Africa 1913– 47 29–12 (6 draws)  South Africa N/a
Italy–Romania 1936– 44 25–16 (3 draws)  Italy N/a [34]
South Africa–Wales 1906– 44 36–7 (1 draw)  South Africa N/a
Spain–Portugal 1935– 43 27–14 (2 draws)  Spain N/a [24]
Australia–Argentina 1979– 42 30–10 (3 draws)  Australia Puma Trophy [35]
Ireland–New Zealand 1905– 39 33–5 (1 draw)  New Zealand N/a [36][37]
Australia–Ireland 1927– 39 22–16 (1 draw)  Australia Lansdowne Cup [38]
Australia–Scotland 1927– 35 22–13  Australia Hopetoun Cup [39]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Top 5 international rugby rivalries of all time | RugbyPass rugby rivalries". RugbyPass. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Top Seven Rugby Rivalries That Defined the Sport". The Rugby Paper. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  3. ^ "The eight biggest rivalries in world rugby ranked". Ruck. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Rivalries > NZ Rugby Stats > Australia". stats.allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby.
  5. ^ "Rugby Database: All Blacks vs Australia rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Rugby Database: England vs Scotland rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Rugby Database: England vs Ireland rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Rugby Database: Ireland vs Scotland rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Rugby Database: England vs Wales rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Rugby Database: Ireland vs Wales rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Rugby Database: Wales vs Scotland rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Rugby Database: England vs France rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Rivalries > NZ Rugby Stats > South Africa". stats.allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby.
  14. ^ "Rugby Database: All Blacks vs South Africa rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Rugby Database: France vs Ireland rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  16. ^ "Rugby Database: France vs Wales rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Rugby Database: France vs Scotland rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Rugby Database: Australia vs South Africa rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Rugby Database: Fiji vs Tonga rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  20. ^ "Rugby Database: Tonga vs Samoa rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Results and Statistics | International | Canada vs USA | Rugby Kick Off". rugbykickoff.com. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Rivalries > NZ Rugby Stats > France". stats.allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby.
  23. ^ "Rugby Database: France vs All Blacks rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  24. ^ a b "Results and Statistics | International | Spain vs Portugal | Rugby Kick Off". rugbykickoff.com. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Rugby Database: Australia vs England rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Results and Statistics | International | Fiji vs Samoa | Rugby Kick Off". rugbykickoff.com. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Rugby Database: Argentina vs France rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Rugby Database: Australia vs France rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Teams played by France – International Rugby Union". Rugby Data. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Rugby Database: Australia vs Wales rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Rivalries > NZ Rugby Stats > England". stats.allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby.
  32. ^ "Rugby Database: England vs All Blacks rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Rugby Database: England vs South Africa rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  34. ^ "Results and Statistics | International | Romania vs Italy | Rugby Kick Off". rugbykickoff.com. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  35. ^ "Rugby Database: Australia vs Argentina rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Rivalries > NZ Rugby Stats > Ireland". stats.allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby.
  37. ^ "Rugby Database: Ireland vs All Blacks rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  38. ^ "Rugby Database: Australia vs Ireland rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  39. ^ "Rugby Database: Australia vs Scotland rugby stats". rugbydatabase.co.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
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