Clash of Titans: The Biggest Rivalries in Rugby

by , 4 January 2024

Rugby is among the most loved sports, showcasing some of the world’s fastest, most robust, and most resilient athletes. The intense competition to be the best in such a competitive sport breeds rivalries, with teams playing for pride. Over the years, famous clashes have developed to become recognised rivalries between some of the best teams in the world. Today’s article highlights some of the extraordinary rivalries in rugby history.

Rugby, Rugby Union, England, Scotland, France, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa

Our adventure begins with the well-known competition between Wales and New Zealand. I then focus on the clash between two of rugby’s top-tier teams, New Zealand and South Africa, who hold seven World Cup titles together, including victories in the five tournaments.

Additionally, I delve into the rivalries involving the French, Scottish, and Irish teams as they face off against England. To conclude, I’ll explore the neighbouring feud between Australia’s Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks and look ahead to the Six Nations, which starts next month.

Biggest Rivalries in Rugby – New Zealand Vs Wales

One of the most significant rugby rivalries exists between New Zealand and Wales, spanning over a hundred years of fierce competition. New Zealand has consistently been a top contender in rugby since the inception of the sport’s tournaments. In contrast, Wales cherishes its rich rugby heritage, considering it a fundamental part of its culture.

The fervent dedication to rugby and the drive to excel has propelled these two teams to extraordinary heights, resulting in unforgettable matches, thrilling moments, and an iconic rivalry. Sadly, it’s been a one-sided affair regarding results for the Welsh, meaning not much joy for their fans when rugby betting.

The first New Zealand national rugby union team, known as “The Originals” or simply “The Original All Blacks,” embarked on their inaugural tour outside Australasia in 1905-1906. This groundbreaking journey took them to the British Isles, France, and the USA.

On September 16, 1905, they kick-started their tour with a 55-4 triumph over Devon. Impressively, they overcame all the English teams they encountered. This included a 16-3 win against Durham, the English county champions, and a 32-0 rout of Blackheath.

Their prowess extended to victories over Scotland, Ireland, and England, with a narrow 12-7 win against Scotland being the most closely contested match.

The tour’s sole blemish was a 3-0 loss to Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, where a controversial non-awarded try by winger Bob Deans stirred debate. Despite this, the consensus was that Wales outshone the All Blacks, especially in the game’s first half, where New Zealand’s performance was notably lacklustre.

Over the years, these two teams have clashed 37 times[1] , often resulting in closely contested matches and showcasing the evolution of international rugby. Notable games include:

  • 1905 Original All Blacks Tour: This was the beginning, with Wales securing a narrow 3-0 win.
  • 1924 New Zealand Tour: New Zealand responded with a decisive 19-0 victory.
  • 1935–36 & 1953–54 Tours: Wales edged out close wins in both these tours.
  • 1963–64 & 1967 Tours: New Zealand started to establish dominance with wins in these years.
  • 1969 Wales Tour of New Zealand: New Zealand triumphed in both games.
  • 1972–73 & 1978 Tours: Both these matches were nail-bitingly close, with New Zealand narrowly winning.
  • 1980s and 1990s: This period saw New Zealand’s dominance grow, with large winning margins in several matches.
  • 1995 & 2003 Rugby World Cups: New Zealand continued their winning streak in these World Cup games.
  • 2000s and 2010s Autumn Internationals: These years saw a series of contests mostly won by New Zealand, often with significant score differences.
  • 2016 Wales Tour of New Zealand: A three-match series all won by New Zealand.
  • 2019 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final: A commanding 40-17 win for New Zealand.
  • 2021 & 2022 Autumn Internationals: These recent matches continued the trend of New Zealand’s dominance.

Below, you can see the all-time record between New Zealand and Wales;

New Zealand Vs Wales – All-Time Record
Location Played NZ Wins Wales Wins Drawn NZ Points Wales Points
In Wales 22 19 3 0 596 259
In New Zealand 10 10 0 0 405 95
Neutral Venue 5 5 0 0 218 76
Overall 37 34 3 0 1219 430

While Wales had some early successes, New Zealand has been the more dominant team in recent decades, showcasing their strength and skill in international rugby.

Biggest Rivalries in Rugby – England Vs Australia

England and Australia are generational rivals in almost all sports, most notably cricket and tennis, but in rugby, the two have rattled each other more aggressively. They first met in 1909, when the Australians beat the English 9 – 3 to triumph. The English fans and press had much to say about the match, terming it a product of good fortune, but the defeat had gotten under the skin of the English and stoked tensions for years to come.

In 1974, England’s rugby team, having ended at the bottom of the Five Nations table, embarked on a tour to Australia. This tour was marked by a strategic shift, with fresh, younger players being introduced into the lineup. The Australians, ever sensitive to perceived slights from England, felt they were not being taken with due seriousness. Their response was a physical and aggressive style of play, characterised by rough tactics.

The initial match, in Sydney, concluded with Australia winning 16 9. The intensity rose in the following game held in Brisbane. At the beginning of the game, the Australian forwards engaged in a forceful attack, exchanging punches. This resulted in an event for English rugby; Mike Burton was subsequently ejected from the game, marking him as the first England international player to face such disciplinary action.

Despite having one less player on the field three minutes into the match, England showed great determination and resilience in the face of adversity. They put up a fight but ultimately ended up losing 30-21, leading to Australia winning the series. The game’s intensity had such an effect that it left a lasting impression on the Rugby Football Union (RFU), who even considered cancelling Australia’s match at Twickenham. The game was so violent it earned the title, the “Battle of Ballymore[2] “.

Roger Uttley, in 2014, said of the match, “The most annoying thing was the selection of young guys like Alan Wordsworth and Steve Callum when guys like Alan Old and Peter Dixon were left behind, and both had to be flown out mid-tour. I was concussed during the first Test. I got smacked, and I can remember bawling my eyes out in the toilets afterwards”.

Uttley continued, “The Australians viewed it as payback time for their defeats at Twickenham. It is a great country to tour, but their coach, Dave Brockhoff, was a nutcase, and they wanted to make a name – I suppose a former colony wanting to make a point. They had punchers like Steve Finnane and Ray Price, but also some very good players, and that, along with home referees and injuries to key players like Tony Neary and Fran Cotton, meant it was all uphill.”

The two nations renewed their rivalry at the biggest stage of the 2003 Rugby World Cup in the finals.

England was at the peak of its powers, towering at the top of the world rankings, while the Wallabies were unbeaten in the competition in eight years heading to the match. The match was decided in extra time, with Englishman Johnny Wilkinson scoring a drop goal with merely twenty-six seconds left to win England the trophy.

The Cook Cup was established in 1997 and has been played yearly except the World Cup years between the Australian and English teams on a home and away basis. Recently, the tournament was renamed the Ella-Mobbs Trophy. Due to the Corona pandemic, the tournament skipped the 2020 edition, which was the only year outside the World Cup schedule it didn’t feature. England and Australia have played each other fifty-five times. The Wallabies are behind by just two games, with twenty-six wins against the Lions, twenty-eight wins and one draw between them.

England Vs Australia – All-Time Record
Played Australia Won England Won Drawn Australia Points England Points
In England 11 17 1 466 549
In Australia 15 8 0 641 404
Neutral Venue 0 3 0 48 77
Overall 26 28 1 1,155 1,030

Biggest Rivalries in Rugby – New Zealand Vs South Africa

The dominance of New Zealand and South Africa in the rugby scenes is incredible. There have been ten editions of the World competition, and the two nations have won seven: South Africa (four) and New Zealand (three). The other two nations to win the Rugby World Cup are England (one) and Australia (two). The two nations won the previous five titles, with the Africans enjoying back-to-back titles for the first time, having won the 2019 and 2023 editions.

Test matches between these teams have been ongoing since 1921. South Africa secured a series win in New Zealand in 1937. However, the All Blacks have yet to achieve victory in South Africa. The Springboks had their most successful tour when they faced Australia and New Zealand, winning both matches at the Sydney Cricket Grounds. Initially considered underdogs against the dominant All Blacks, especially on their home turf, South Africa faced a defeat in their first match with a score of 13 – 7. However, they made a remarkable comeback in the next two games, winning 13 – 6 and 17 – 6, leading the series 2 – 1 with a combined score of 27 – 6. This achievement marked the Springboks as the only team ever to win against the All Blacks in the final.

The 1995 Rugby World Cup, hosted and won by South Africa, stands as a historic event. This World Cup marked the end of apartheid and was notably attended by Nelson Mandela. The home team’s victory, with a score of 15 – 12[3] , symbolised a new era of harmony and marked the Springboks’ reintegration into the rugby community after being previously excluded due to the country’s political situation. As the two top teams in the world, their encounters often feel like finals, consistently delivering some of the most exciting rugby matches. While South Africa appears to have a slight advantage in this rivalry, fans continue to be enthralled by the exceptional performances of both teams on the field.

The 2023 World Cup marked the zenith of their longstanding rivalry. With each team boasting three championships, their journey to the finals set the stage for an epic showdown, where the victor would not only claim a fourth title but also esteemed recognition as the premier team in international rugby.

In a nail-biting finale, the Springboks secured victory by the slimmest of margins, concluding the game with a scoreline of 12 – 11. This victory marked their first-ever consecutive World Cup wins. Also of note is that this game was the first instance in World Cup history where both finalists had experienced a defeat in the tournament. Nonetheless, the sheer quality of the match meant this final was widely regarded as one of the finest finals ever played between the world’s top two rugby teams.

Match Record: New Zealand vs South Africa
Played NZ Won SA Won Drawn NZ Points SA Points
In New Zealand 33 10 3 1003 616
In South Africa 25 26 1 1037 967
Neutral Venue 4 4 0 156 157
Overall 62 40 4 2196 1740

Biggest Rivalries in Rugby – France vs England

The European Classic, a significant rivalry in rugby history, started in 1906 and has since become a highly anticipated fixture. France emerged victorious in a notable match in 2000, thwarting England’s aspirations for a Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship. The yearly encounter between these two teams in the Six Nations is commonly referred to as ‘Le Crunch’. Since 2000, this match has frequently been dubbed the ‘Eurostar Trophy’.

In their long-running rivalry spanning one hundred and ten matches, the Red Roses (England) hold the upper hand against Les Blues[4] (France), boasting sixty victories to France’s forty-three. Each clash between these two formidable sides in the Six Nations Championship is memorable and often plays a crucial role in determining the winner of that year’s edition.

In a closely contested 2015 World Cup warm-up match, the Roses narrowly edged out France with a 19 – 14 win. The game began with England’s Antony Watson scoring two tries, though only one was converted, leading to a 12 – 3 advantage. France responded robustly, leveraging their pack’s strength to draw errors from England, resulting in two successful penalties and a halftime score of 12 – 0. England’s Johnny May later added a converted try, extending their lead and keeping the victory just beyond France’s grasp. The English defence, notably bolstered by centre-backs Sam Burgess and Henry Slade, effectively contained the French flair, securing the win.

Match Record: England vs France
Played England Won France Won Drawn England Points France Points
In England 36 12 5 949 609
In France 23 29 2 770 803
Neutral Venue 1 2 0 45 45
Overall 60 43 7 1,764 1,457

Biggest Rivalries in Rugby – Ireland Vs England

Ireland and the Red Roses first clashed in 1875, marking the start of the oldest rugby rivalry between these neighbouring nations. Over the years, they’ve had several significant matches, notably the 2007 clash at Croke Park, where Ireland decisively defeated England 43 – 13. This loss was a historic low for the Red Roses in the Six Nations, as they recorded their lowest-ever points tally of thirty points.

In 2011, Ireland once again proved to be a stumbling block for England. The Red Roses, seeking their first victory in Dublin since their clean sweep in 2003, faced Ireland in the final Test at the newly inaugurated Aviva Stadium.

Under the leadership of Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll, Ireland emerged victorious with a 24 – 8 win, dashing England’s hopes of ending an eight-year drought.

Despite these high-profile wins for the Irish, England has the bragging rights between the two nations. Of the 274 clashes, England has won 14, Ireland 80, and there have been 53 draws[5] .

Match Record: England vs Ireland
Played England Won Ireland Won Drawn England Points Ireland Points
In England 47 19 4 1029 583
In Ireland 33 34 4 711 709
Neutral Venue 0 0 0 0 0
Overall 80 53 8 1,740 1,292

Biggest Rivalries in Rugby – Australia vs New Zealand

The neighbouring countries have a standing rugby rivalry and even had the honour of jointly hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2023. Their close proximity and shared passion for the sport have led to numerous matchups between their teams.

Throughout history, these two sides have faced each other in a total of 177 games, which is the highest number of matches played between any two teams in rugby.

The Bledisloe Cup, a contest between the Wallabies and the All Blacks, has been held since 1931. This prestigious tournament occurs early in the season, with the victorious team retaining possession of the trophy. Over the years, there have been sixty-three editions of this competition, with the All Blacks emerging victorious on fifty-one occasions, including their triumph in 2023.

While New Zealand holds the upper hand in the clashes between the two sides[6] , there have been moments when Australia managed to deliver performances that rival even the consistently excellent All Blacks team.

In Sydney in 2000, an unprecedented gathering of 109,874 spectators experienced a match often hailed as ‘The Greatest Ever Rugby Match’, where the All Blacks triumphed over The Wallabies with a score of 39–35. Just three weeks later, in a dramatic turn of events, the All Blacks faced defeat against the Wallabies on their home turf. This loss resulted in the Wallabies securing The Bledisloe Cup for the third consecutive year.

Match Record: Australia vs New Zealand
Played Australia Won NZ Won Drawn Australia Points NZ Points
In Australia 28 55 6 1,411 1,881
In New Zealand 15 65 2 1,040 1,895
Neutral Venue 2 4 0 112 152
Overall 45 124 8 2,563 3,928

Biggest Rivalries in Rugby – Scotland Vs England

In a bitter rivalry that commenced in 1871, encompassing one hundred and forty-one encounters, England has emerged as the more successful side, claiming victory in seventy-six matches compared to Scotland’s forty-six. Their rivalry extended to the Rugby World Cup, where they clashed in the 2011 group stage and the 1991 Semi-finals, with England securing wins in both meetings. Their longstanding competition in the Six Nations saw Scotland clinch the latest match with a score of 29 to 23.

The Calcutta Cup, a historic fixture first broadcasted in 1938, has been an annual event since 1879[7] . This cup is a significant component of the Six Nations, involving six teams, and stands as the tournament’s second most frequently contested match.

In the 2022 Six Nations, Scotland delivered a stunning performance at Murrayfield, overcoming England 20 – 17, defying England’s typically dominant form. Remarkably, the Bravehearts, trailing 10 – 6 at halftime, rallied in the second half to secure a victory over England for the second successive game. The match remained evenly poised until the seventy-second minute when Scotland was awarded a crucial penalty, which they successfully converted, clinching the win by a narrow three-point margin.

Match Record: England vs Scotland
Played England Won Scotland Won Drawn England Points Scotland Points
In England 45 16 8 1011 621
In Scotland 30 30 11 706 658
Neutral Venue 1 0 0 16 12
Overall 76 46 19 1,733 1,291

Home Nations Attention Switches to the Six Nations

As we revisit the core of our exploration through the most intense rivalries in rugby, it’s clear that these confrontations are far more than mere games.

They represent epic tales interwoven into the very essence of the sport, each bearing a heritage that spans time. The contests between teams like New Zealand and Wales, England and Australia, and the burgeoning intensity of England versus Scotland go beyond mere scores and accolades.

They embody the very soul of rugby, displaying a fusion of fierce rivalry, mutual admiration, and a collective enthusiasm that resonates with enthusiasts worldwide.

For fans of the home nations teams, the attention now turns to the Six Nations, which starts next month[8].

Six Nations 2024 Fixtures (All times GMT)

  • Friday, 2 February
    • France v Ireland (20:00)
  • Saturday, 3 February
    • Italy v England (14:15)
    • Wales v Scotland (16:45)
  • Saturday, 10 February
    • Scotland v France (14:15)
    • England v Wales (16:45)
  • Sunday, 11 February
    • Ireland v Italy (15:00)
  • Saturday, 24 February
    • Ireland v Wales (14:15)
    • Scotland v England (16:45)
  • Sunday, 25 February
    • France v Italy (15:00)
  • Saturday, 9 March
    • Italy v Scotland (14:15)
    • England v Ireland (16:45)
  • Sunday, 10 March
    • Wales v France (15:00)
  • Saturday, 16 March
    • Wales v Italy (14:15)
    • Ireland v Scotland (16:45)
    • France v England (20:00)

The 2024 Six Nations Championship will be broadcast on the free-to-air networks BBC and ITV in the UK as part of their agreement lasting until 2025. This year’s tournament will show both channels jointly airing the matches, making them accessible on their online platforms, BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Starting from Friday, February 2 2024, each competition game will be shared between these broadcasters. Additionally, Welsh viewers can catch all of Wales’ matches live on S4C, while Irish fans can follow Ireland’s games on the RTE channel.

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