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List of rugby union competitions

The following is a list of notable rugby union competitions that are still in existence. This includes both international tournaments played by national Test teams and also domestic club and provincial competitions.

International tournaments

See also:

Club and provincial tournaments

Intercontinental

  • United Rugby Championship — provincial/regional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. The competition began as the Celtic League, restricted to the three Celtic nations; became Pro12 when two Italian teams joined in 2010–11 and Pro14 when two South African teams joined in 2017–18. In 2021 the name was changed to United Rugby Championship.
  • Global Rapid Rugby — currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with an uncertain future. It was established in 2019 involving six professional teams from Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
  • Super Rugby Pacific — Super Rugby Pacific is the top professional rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring clubs from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

Africa

South Africa

  • Currie Cup — South African provincial tournament
  • SA Cup (South Africa) — Launched in 2024 for provincial teams not part of the URC. Qualifier competition for Currie Cup from 2025
  • Varsity Rugby — a two-tier annual South African inter-university competition
  • Gold Cup — an annual South African inter-club competition, also featuring invitational teams from Namibia and Zimbabwe

Ghana

  • Ghana Rugby Club Championship (GRCC) — The top tier rugby union competition in Ghana since 2014.

Kenya

  • Kenya Cup — The top tier rugby union competition in Kenya since 1970.

Americas

SRA

  • Super Rugby Americas - is a professional rugby union competition and the top-level championship for many countries in South America.

Argentina

Brazil

Canada

United States

Uruguay

Asia

Hong Kong

India

Japan

Korea

Malaysia

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Europe

  • European Rugby Champions Cup — Replaced the Heineken Cup effective with the 2014–15 season, although it claims the history of the former competition as its own. European club, provincial and regional teams, currently from the countries that participate in the Six Nations.
  • European Rugby Challenge Cup — Replaced the original European Challenge Cup in 2014–15; also claims the history of its predecessor as its own. Second-tier European club, provincial and regional teams knock-out tournament, also involving all of the Six Nations countries, with possible involvement from lower-tier countries (see below).
  • European Rugby Continental Shield – Third-tier competition involving teams from Italy's Top12, plus clubs from lower-tier countries; determines two places in each year's Challenge Cup. Originally known as the European Rugby Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition; current name adopted in 2016–17.
  • Rugby Europe Super Cup - Third tier of European club rugby 2021.
  • Copa Ibérica de Rugby — Annual competition between Spanish and Portuguese clubs.
  • Anglo-Welsh Cup — English and Welsh clubs knock-out tournament. From 1971–2005, open to all English clubs with no involvement from any other nation; from the 2005–06 season, has featured the 12 Premiership clubs and the four Welsh regional sides competing in Pro12.
  • British and Irish Cup — Tournament launched in 2009 featuring sides from second-level leagues in England and Wales, plus second-tier sides from Ireland and Scotland.
  • Regional Rugby Championship — Tournament launched in 2007 involving teams from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro and Serbia.

England

Men
Women

France

Men’s
Women’s

Ireland

Italy

  • Top12 — Italian clubs, top tier
  • — Italian clubs, second-level championship where winners can jump up to Top12.
  • — Italian clubs, third-level league, winners can play on .
  • — Italian clubs, the lowest-tier for local teams. Winners are promoted to .

Scotland

Wales

Austria

Belgium

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

Georgia

Germany

Malta

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Spain

Sweden

Ukraine

Oceania

  • Super Rugby — teams from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific (known originally as Super 12 and later as Super 14; the name "Super Rugby" was officially adopted from 2011. It is now known as 'Super Rugby Pacific' for the upcoming 2022 season).
  • Pacific Rugby Cup - Franchise teams from Fiji, Tonga & Samoa

Australia

Fiji

New Zealand

Men
Women

Sevens tournaments

Other tournaments

Mad River/Stowe 15's Tournament. Started in 1972 held now in Stowe, VT typically the last weekend in June at the Polo Grounds.

International trophies

The trophies in this list are regularly contested between two nations. Some of the competitions for these trophies form part of other international tournaments, such as the Six Nations and The Rugby Championship.

Six Nations Trophies

Trophies in The Rugby Championship

Other Trophies

Notes and references