Rugby Teams

 

Alphabetically listed -

Heineken Cup Teams HERE

Super 14 Teams HERE

 

Argentina

Undoubtedly South America'stop rugby nation. The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed los Pumas. The team, which plays in sky blue and white is currently the only International Rugby Board (IRB) tier one classed nation that has no regular competition, such as the Six Nations and the Tri Nations.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Australia

Double World cup winners Australia are always a team to watch. Commonly known as the Wallabies the team compete annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the Mandela Challenge Plate with South Africa.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Brazil

The Brazil national rugby union team are the national side of Brazil, representing them at rugby union. Brazil are a third tier rugby union side, and have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup.
- Coming Soon

 

 

Canada

The Canadian national side have competed in every world cup to date yet have only won one match each tournament with the exception of the 1991 tournament where they reached the quarter finals.
Read More HERE.

 

 

England

The Only home nation to have won the World cup and the team that everyone hates losing to. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won the championship on twenty-five occasions that includes twelve grand slams. England also compete for the Calcutta Cup.
Read More HERE

 

 

Fiji

An island nation who have enjoyed greater successes in the Sevens format but have also produced a number of All Black stars. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population of around 950,000.
Read More HERE.

 

 

France

France is a team that will always be unpredictable and can beat anyone on their day. France traditionally play in white-trimmed blue shirts with blue shorts and red socks, and are commonly referred to as les tricolores. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Georgia

The Georgia national rugby union team represents the former Soviet Caucasian republic of Georgia in rugby union. The team's nickname, The Lelos, comes from lelo, an indigenous Georgian sport with strong similarities to rugby.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Ireland

Ireland are currently enjoying what is arguably their best period in history. Ireland compete annually in the Six Nations Championship in which they also compete for the Triple Crown. They also provide players for the British and Irish Lions.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Italy

Italy are always improving with 2007 being their best year yet in the Six Nations. The team are also known as the Azzurri (blues) and "The Gladiators of Rome". Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Japan

Japan (often known as "The Cherry Blossoms" or more recently Brave Blossoms) are traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia and have both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Namibia

Neighbours to Africa's top Rugby team the Springboks from South Africa where many Namibians play their club game. The Namibian rugby union team, nicknamed the Welwitschias. Although they are a tier-three nation in the International Rugby Board (IRB) tier system, the team have become regular participants at the Rugby World Cup since their first appearance in 1999.
Read More HERE.

 

 

New Zealand

The All Blacks are rugby's most succesful (win percentages) rugby team. Rugby union is New Zealand's national sport. The All Blacks compete annually with the Australian rugby team, the Wallabies, and the South African rugby team, the Springboks, in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with Australia. They also compete for the Freedom cup against South Africa in the Tri-Nations
Read More HERE.

 

 

Portugal

The Portugal national rugby union team, nicknamed "Os Lobos," Portuguese for "the wolves", is a third tier rugby union side representing Portugal. Portugal have experienced unprecedented success in recent years. They were surprise winners of the 2003-4 European Nations Cup and have continued to record impressive results, although they could only finish third in the 2005-6 event.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Romania

Romania almost joined the Five Nations and probably enjoyed their best period in the 1980's. The Romania national rugby union team, nicknamed The Oaks (Stejarii). At their best, during the 1980s, the national side defeated Wales (twice), Scotland (the 1984 Grand Slam side) and France (twice). In 1981, they lost to the All Blacks 14-6 but had two tries disallowed
Read More HERE.

 

 

Samoa

Samoa are another island nation with great potential and have also provided a number of All Black stars. The national rugby union team of Samoa is called Manu Samoa (the name of a famous Samoan chief some 10 generations ago). They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game.
Read More HERE.

 

 

South Africa

The Springboks, Bokke or amaBokoboko are the South African national rugby union team. The Springboks (or Springbokke in Afrikaans), as they are commonly referred to, compete in the Tri Nations alongside the New Zealand All Blacks and Australia's Wallabies.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Spain

Spain have been playing rugby since the late 1920s, playing their first international against Italy in 1929. They qualified for one Rugby World Cup, in 1999 where they were pooled with Scotland, South Africa and Uruguay. Spain plays in red and blue colours.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Scotland

Scottish rugby dates back to 1871, where they beat England in the first international rugby union match at Raeburn Place Edinburgh, Scotland (on March 27, 1871). They annually take part in the Six Nations which includes the Calcutta Cup.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Tonga

The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles). Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance - the Kailao (aka the Sipi Tau).
Read More HERE.

 

 

United States of America

USA Rugby's men's national team is nicknamed the Eagles. The United States have always been considered a rugby union minnow. When America wakes up to rugby they will blow everyone away. Imagine a few of their track stars on the wing and you get the idea.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Uruguay

Uruguay needs more development even though they were in the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups. They missed the 2007 event. The Union was was founded in 1951 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1989.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Wales

The Welsh Rugby Union is also known as Undeb Rygbi Cymru. The Welsh are passionate about their rugby but the most important prize remains beating neighbours England.
Read More HERE.

 

 

Did we forget anyone ?

 

 

 

Conglomerate Teams

 

 

 

British & Irish Lions Rugby

The British & Irish Lions are made up of England,Scotland,Ireland & Wales top rugby players and tour every four years. In 2001 they went to Australia, 2005 to New Zealand and in 2009 they will tour South Africa. They are commonly referred to as the Lions.

For the latest British & Irish Lions Rugby news - click HERE

 

 

Barbarians

"Barbarian" is a pejorative term for an uncivilized, uncultured person, either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos perceived as having an inferior level of civilization, or in an individual reference to a brutal, cruel, insensitive person whose behaviour is unacceptable in the society of the speaker. In spite the above description The Baa-Baas as they are commonly known play some exciting and always entertaining rugby.
- Coming Soon.

 

 

 

With thanks to wikipedia for team descriptions.