History of Rugby Union - Important International Competitions

Important International Competitions

• 1883: First Home Nations Championship between England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
• 1900: Rugby union features at the 1900 Olympics - and finishes in the 1924 Olympics.
• 1910: The Home Nations Championship becomes the Five Nations Championship when France joins.
• 1930: European Cup, outside the Five Nations, but interrupted by WWII.
• 1951: South American Rugby Championship commences.
• 1952: European Cup restarts.
• 1981: Rugby union at the Maccabiah Games commences.
• 1982: Pacific Tri-Nations between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa
• 1987: First Rugby World Cup.
• 1995: PARA Pan American Championship
• 1996: The Tri Nations Series begins between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
• 1998: Rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games commences.
• 1999: IRB Sevens World Series commences.
• 2000: The Five Nations becomes the Six Nations Championship when Italy joins.
• 2000: Africa Cup commences.
• 2003: Churchill Cup commences with Canada, the USA, and England Saxons (England "A") as permanent participants and one invited team (later three).
• 2004: CAR Development Trophy (Africa) commences.
• 2006: Pacific Nations Cup/Pacific Rugby Cup and IRB Nations Cup commence.
• 2008: Asian Five Nations founded.
• 2011: The Churchill Cup holds its final edition. From 2012 on, the USA and Canada will be included in the IRB's international tour calendar.
• 2012: The Tri Nations adds Argentina, and is renamed The Rugby Championship.