The Tri Nations Trophy

The Tri Nations Series is an annual international rugby union series held between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The series is played on a home and away basis. Originally the three nations played each other twice but was changed to three times from 2006. The competition is organized by SANZAR, a consortium formed by the rugby governing bodies of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Image File history File links Tri_Nations_Trophy. ... Image File history File links Tri_Nations_Trophy. ... General phase play in rugby union. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... SANZAR is an abbrevation of the South African Rugby Football Union, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and the Australian Rugby Union. ...

The first tournament was contested in 1996, which was won by the All Blacks. Since the inception of the Tri Nations series, the games played in it between Australia and New Zealand also determine the winner of the Bledisloe Cup each year. The Bledisloe Cup Rugby Unions Bledisloe Cup is contested between Australias Wallabies and New Zealands All Blacks. ...

History

Australia and New Zealand first played each other in 1903. South Africa toured both nations in 1921, but there was never any formal competition in place, unlike the Home Nations in the northern hemisphere. The three nations met sporadically, with Australia and New Zealand meeting regularly to contest the Bledisloe Cup. The birth of the Rugby World Cup in 1987 was a step closer to the modern-day Tri Nations Series - due to apartheid, South Africa would not compete in the World Cup until 1995. The Six Nations Championship (referred to as RBS 6 Nations for sponsorship reasons), (2000-) formerly known as the Five Nations Championship, is an annual international rugby union competition held between six European sides; England, France (since 1910), Ireland, Italy (since 2000), Scotland and Wales. ... The Bledisloe Cup Rugby Unions Bledisloe Cup is contested between Australias Wallabies and New Zealands All Blacks. ... The Rugby World Cup trophy, the William Webb Ellis Trophy. ...

Professionalism launched the Tri Nations concept. Nearing the completion of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, SANZAR announced a ten-year deal worth £360 million. The opening tournament of 1996 was dominated by the All Blacks, who stormed to victory undefeated, leaving the Springboks and the Wallabies with just one win each – against each other. The opening exchange was between New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand winning by over 40 points and although they won all four of their games, the latter matches were a lot closer in their scorelines. The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby Union World Cup. ... SANZAR is an abbrevation of the South African Rugby Football Union, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and the Australian Rugby Union. ...

A similar story unfolded the following year, the All Blacks maintained their dominance over the new competition, and again went undefeated. Australia and South Africa found themselves in similar position again, with just one win each. The 1998 series was somewhat of a turnaround for all nations, with South Africa winning the tournament and Australia finishing second. Two-time winner New Zealand finished at the bottom with no wins. Though the following tournament, New Zealand again became Tri Nation’s champions, and defending champions South Africa fell to the bottom.

Under Rod McQueen, Australia, the World Champions at the time, won their first Tri Nations championship in 2000. The tournament is also notable for the opening Australia’s opening match against New Zealand at Stadium Australia, where 109,874 spectators turned up. Australia continued their reign as Tri Nations champions after successfully defending it the following year. Their run ended in 2002, when the All Blacks won the championship again, they successfully defended it in 2003 as well. South Africa won the 2004 tournament, where all three nations each finished with two wins. The Springboks emerged as winners due to their superior table points. The trophy returned to New Zealand in 2005, and the Wallabies failed to win a game. Rod McQueen was coach of the most successful Australian rugby union side to date. ... This page is for Telstra Stadium, Sydney. ...

There have been persistent rumours about the inclusion of Argentina into this competition, but no official word has yet been said.

The competition

The order of fixtures has changed several times throughout the history of the series. The most recent reworking of the Tri Nations calendar will take effect with the 2006 event. This was the result of a new television deal between SANZAR and broadcasters in the United Kingdom and the SANZAR countries. Each team will play the other three times. In 2006, the series will open in New Zealand, and the first four rounds will alternate between New Zealand and Australia. The fifth round will be in Australia. After a one-week break, the series will return to New Zealand, and then finish with South Africa's three home fixtures. Each team will by necessity have two home fixtures against one team and only one home fixture against the other. 2006 Tri Nations redirects here. ...

In the past, each team played the others twice. After some tweaking with scheduling, it was finally settled to start the series with two fixtures either in South Africa or New Zealand, and move the series toward the country that did not host the opening rounds. Under this setup, Australia's home fixtures were always the middle two in the series.

The competition begins in July. Originally, it started late in July, but with the expansion of the series, the start date has moved to early in the month. It typically ends early in September. The Tri Nations opens after the completion of the Super 14 competition for the year, which features teams from the SANZAR countries. The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ...

The winner is determined by a points system:

• 4 points for a win
• 2 points for a draw
• 0 points for a loss

"Bonus points" may also be earned in any given match, and count fully toward deciding the series winner. A team may earn one bonus point in either of the following ways:

• Scoring four or more tries in a match, regardless of the final result of the match.
• Losing by seven points (a converted try) or less.

A victorious team can collect either 4 or 5 points, depending on whether it scored 4 tries. A losing team may collect anywhere from 0 to 2 points. At the end of the series the team with the most points is declared the winner. If teams end level on points, the first tiebreaker is point differential, followed by number of tries during the series. However, the Tri Nations has yet to finish in a tie for the top spot.

Results

Main article: Tri Nations Series champions

The Tri Nations is contested annually between the Wallabies (Australia), the All Blacks (New Zealand) and the Springboks (South Africa). ... The 1996 Tri Nations Series was contested from July 6 to August 10 between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. ... The 1997 Tri Nations Series was contested from July 19 to August 23 between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. ... The 1998 Tri Nations Series was contested from July 11 to August 22 between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. ... The 1999 Tri Nations Series was contested from July 10 to August 28 between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. ... The 2000 Tri Nations Series was contested from July 15 to August 26 between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. ... The 2001 Tri Nations Series was contested from July 21 to September 1 between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. ... The 2002 Tri Nations Series was contested from July 13 to August 17 between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. ... The 2003 Tri Nations Series was contested from July 12 to August 16 between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. ... The 2004 Tri Nations Series, an annual rugby union competition between the national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, was the nineth in the series. ... The 2005 Tri Nations Series, an annual rugby union competition between the national teams of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, was the tenth in the series. ...

Records and statistics

Try scorers

This lists try scorers up to and including the third match of the 2006 Tri Nations Series (July 22, 2006).

Sixteen: Christian Cullen (NZ) Christian Mathias Cullen (born February 12, 1976 in Paraparaumu) is a New Zealand rugby player. ...

Thirteen: Doug Howlett (NZ) Douglas Charles Howlett (born September 21, 1978 in Auckland) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who has been a major force in New Zealand and world rugby since he debuted in 2000. ...

Ten: Joe Rokocoko (NZ) Josevata Taliga Joe Rokocoko (born 6 June 1983 in Nadi, Fiji) is a New Zealand rugby union player, generally regarded as one of the rising stars in todays game. ...

Nine: Justin Marshall (NZ) Date of Birth: 5 August 1973 Place of Birth: Gore, New Zealand Height: 1. ...

Eight: Joe Roff (Aus) Joe Roff (born 20 September 1975) is an Australian rugby union footballer who played on the wing or at fullback for Brumbies and Australia. ...

Seven: Matt Burke (Aus), Chris Latham (Aus), Stirling Mortlock (Aus) Date of Birth: 26 March 1973 Place of Birth: Sydney, , New South Wales, Australia Height: 1. ... Chris Latham (born 8 September 1975) is an Australian rugby union player, who plays at full back for the Queensland Reds and Australia. ... Stirling Mortlock (born 20 May 1977) is an Australian rugby union player, who plays at outside centre for the Brumbies. ...

Six: Ben Tune (Aus), Marius Joubert (SA) Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Marius Joubert (born 10 July 1979 in Paarl) is a South African rugby player who plays for Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 12, and internationally for the Springboks. ...

Five: Stephen Larkham (Aus), Lote Tuqiri (Aus), Richie McCaw (NZ), Tana Umaga (NZ), Jeff Wilson (NZ), Breyton Paulse (SA) Date of Birth: 29 May 1973 Place of Birth: Canberra, ACT, Australia Height: 1. ... Lote Tuqiri (born 23 September 1979 in Suva, Fiji) is a rugby player. ... Richard Hugh Richie McCaw (born December 31, 1980 in Oamaru) is one of New Zealands top rugby players. ... Ionatana Falefasa Tana Umaga, ONZM, (IPA: , born May 27, 1973) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. ... Jeffrey William Wilson (born October 24, 1973) is a New Zealand sportsman who has represented his country in both rugby union and cricket—a so-called Double All Black, an increasingly rare achivement in the professional era. ... Breyton Paulse (born 25 April 1976 in Koue Bokkeveld) is a South African rugby player who has played at wing for the national team, the Springboks, since 1999. ...

Four: George Gregan (Aus), Mat Rogers (Aus), Frank Bunce (NZ), Jonah Lomu (NZ), Jean de Villiers (SA), Bob Skinstad (SA), Joost van der Westhuizen (SA) Date of Birth: 19 April 1973 Place of Birth: Lusaka, Zambia Height: 1. ... Mat Rogers Mat Rogers (born February 1, 1976 in Sydney and educated at The Southport School) is a former Australian Schoolboy Rugby Union International, Rugby League player with the Cronulla Sharks Rugby League Club and the Australian Kangaroos until his switch back to rugby union in 2002. ... Jonah Tali Lomu (born May 12, 1975) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who played 73 times (63 caps as an All Black) after debuting in 1994. ... Jean de Villiers (born 24 February 1981 in Paarl) is a South African rugby player. ... Robert Brian Bobby Skinstad (born 3 July 1976 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) played rugby union in the positions of flanker and eighthman for the South African national rugby team, the Springboks. ... Joost van der Westhuizen (born 20 February 1971) is a former South African rugby union player who was the Springboks first choice scrum half in the late 1990s. ...

Three: Jason Little (Aus), Jeremy Paul (Aus), George Smith (Aus), Pita Alatini (NZ), Aaron Mauger (NZ), Keven Mealamu (NZ), Taine Randell (NZ), Carlos Spencer (NZ), Mark Andrews (SA), Robbie Fleck (SA), Bryan Habana (SA), Percy Montgomery (SA), Pieter Rossouw (SA), Brent Russell (SA) Jason Little was born April 26, 1970 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... George Smith (born 14 July 1980 in Manly, NSW) is an Australian rugby union player who is a flanker for the Brumbies in Super 14 and has won 58 caps for the Australian national rugby union team internationally as of 8 March 2006. ... Pita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini (born 11 April, 1976 in Nukualofa) is a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union footballer. ... Aaron Joseph Douglas Mauger (last name pronounced Major; born 29 November 1980 in Christchurch) is a rugby union footballer who plays at first five-eighths and second five-eighths for Canterbury (National Provincial Championship), the Crusaders (Super 12) and the New Zealand All Blacks. ... Kevin Filipo Mealamu (born March 20, 1979 in Tokoroa, Waikato, New Zealand) is an international rugby football union player for the New Zealand All Blacks. ... Taine Cheyenne Randell is a New Zealand rugby union player. ... Carlos James Spencer (born 14 October 1975 in Levin) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays at fly-half for the Northampton Saints in England and formerly for the New Zealand All Blacks. ... Robert Frank Fleck (born 17 July 1975 in Cape Town) is a former rugby union footballer who played at centre for South Africa. ... Bryan Gary Habana (born 6 December 1983 in Benoni, Gauteng) is a South African rugby player who is a wing for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup, the Bulls in Super 14, and the Springboks internationally. ... Percy Montgomery (born 15 March 1974 in Walvis Bay, Namibia) is a South African rugby player who currently plays as a fullback for the Springboks internationally and the Newport Gwent Dragons (Celtic League, Wales) at club level. ... Brent Russell (born 7 December 1980 in Des Moines, Iowa) is an {Information Technology Professional primarily with Windows Server 2003, Exchange, MSSQL Server, MySQL, Linux, php, and . ...

Two: Mark Chisholm (Aus), Matt Giteau (Aus), Tim Horan (Aus), Toutai Kefu (Aus), Clyde Rathbone (Aus), Wendell Sailor (Aus), Phil Waugh (Aus), Penalty tries (NZ), Leon MacDonald (NZ), Piri Weepu (NZ), James Dalton (SA), Jannie de Beer (SA), Fourie du Preez (SA), Os du Randt (SA), Werner Greeff (SA), Victor Matfield (SA), Werner Swanepoel (SA), Joe van Niekerk (SA) Mark Chisholm (born 18 September 1981) is an Australian rugby union footballer. ... Matt Giteau Matt Giteau (born on September 29, 1982 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian Rugby Union international playing for the ACT Brumbies. ... Tim Horan (born 18 May 1970) is a former Australian rugby union footballer. ... Toutai Kefu (born April 8, 1974 in Tonga) is a rugby player who won 60 caps playing at Number eight for the Australian rugby union side (the Wallabies). ... Clyde Rathbone (born 23 July 1981) is an Australian rugby union player, born and raised in South Africa. ... Wendell Sailor (born 16 July 1974 in Sarina, Queensland) is one of the most charismatic footballers of the modern era, and one of the most famous players to have represented Australia in both Rugby Union and Rugby League. ... Date of Birth: 22 September 1979 Place of Birth: Sydney, Australia Height: 1. ... Leon Raymond MacDonald (born 21 December 1977 in Blenheim) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. ... Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu (born 7 September 1983) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. ... James Dalton (died 11 May 1730) was captain of a street robbery gang in 18th century London. ... Jan Hendrik de Beer (born 22 April 1971 in Welkom, South Africa), nicknamed Jannie, played flyhalf for the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. ... Fourie du Preez (born 24 March 1983 in Pretoria) is a rugby union player. ... Jacobus Petrus du Randt, better known as Os du Randt (born 8 September 1972 in Elliot, South Africa), is a South African rugby player who plays as a loosehead prop for the Springboks, Central Cheetahs (Super 14), and Free State Cheetahs (Currie Cup). ... Victor Matfield (born 11 May 1977 in Pietersburg (now Polokwane), South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls provincial side and Bulls Super 14 franchise. ... Johann Joe van Niekerk (born 14 May 1980 in Port Elizabeth) is a South African rugby player, who generally plays either as a flanker or Number 8. ...

One: Penalty try (Aus), Tom Bowman (Aus), Brendan Cannon (Aus), Mark Connors (Aus), Scott Fava (Aus), Mark Gerrard (Aus), Nathan Grey (Aus), Dan Herbert (Aus), Greg Holmes (Aus), Lloyd Johansson (Aus), David Knox (Aus), Daniel Manu (Aus), Drew Mitchell (Aus), Nathan Sharpe (Aus), Zinzan Brooke (NZ), Daniel Carter (NZ), Craig Dowd (NZ), Rico Gear (NZ), Mark Hammett (NZ), Alama Ieremia (NZ), Ian Jones (NZ), Michael Jones (NZ), Josh Kronfeld (NZ), Kees Meeuws (NZ), Andrew Mehrtens (NZ), Mils Muliaina (NZ), Glen Osborne (NZ), Scott Robertson (NZ), Reuben Thorne (NZ), Isaia Toeava (NZ), Richard Bands (SA), Russell Bennett (SA), Warren Brosnihan (SA), Jacques Cronjé (SA), Neil de Kock (SA), Thinus Delport (SA), Naka Drotske (SA), Gaffie du Toit (SA), Johan Erasmus (SA), Jaque Fourie (SA), Adrian Garvey (SA), Pieter Hendriks (SA), Enrico Januarie (SA), Andre Joubert (SA), Ruben Kruger (SA), Japie Mulder (SA), André Pretorius (SA), Andre Snyman (SA), Joel Stransky (SA), Gary Teichmann (SA), Stefan Terblanche (SA), Jaco van der Westhuyzen (SA), Ashwin Willemse (SA), Chester Williams (SA) Mark Connors (born 17 May 1971 in Brisbane) is an Australian rugby union footballer. ... Scott Fava (born 19 January 1976 in Kiama, Australia) is an Australian Rugby Union player and vice-captain of the Western Force Rugby Union club. ... Mark Gerrard (born 4 September 1982) is an Australian rugby union player. ... Nathan Grey (born 31 March 1975 in Gosford) is an Australian rugby union footballer who plays at centre for the New South Wales Waratahs and Australia. ... Daniel Herbert was born February 6, 1974 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ... Greg Holmes (born 11 June 1983 in Warwick, Queensland) is an Australian rugby union footballer. ... Official website ... Drew Mitchell (born 26 March 1986) is an Australian rugby union player. ... Nathan Sharpe (born 26 February 1976 in Wagga Wagga) is an Australian rugby union player. ... Zinzan Valentine Brooke (born February 14, 1965) is a former New Zealand rugby union international player who played at number eight. ... Date of Birth: 5 March 1982 Place of Birth: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Height: 1. ... Rico Gear (born 26 February 1978 in Gisborne) is a New Zealand rugby union player. ... Alama Ieremia (born 27 October 1970 in Apia, Samoa) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. ... The subject of this article seems to fail Wikipedias consensually-accepted criteria for inclusion of biographies. ... Michael Niko Jones (born April 8, 1965 in Apia) has been named as one of the worlds greatest rugby union players of the all-time by The Times and also the 3rd greatest all black of all-time after Colin Meads and Sean Fitzpatrick respectively. ... Joshua Adrian Josh Kronfeld (born June 30, 1971) is a former international rugby union player for the New Zealand All Blacks. ... Andrew Philip Mehrtens (born 28 April 1973 in Durban, South Africa) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who has been one of the top fly-halves (or first five-eighths) in the world since the advent of the sports professional era in the mid-1990s. ... Junior Malili Muliaina, known as Mils, is an international rugby union player for the New Zealand All Blacks. ... Scott Robertson (born 21 August 1974) is a rugby union footballer, who plays Flanker for Perpignan. ... Reuben David Thorne (born January 2, 1975 in Christchurch) is a New Zealand rugby union player, and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. ... Isaia Toeava (born 15 January 1986) also know as Ice is an up and coming, rising talent in New Zealand rugby. ... Richard Bands (born 25 March 1974 in Mafeking) is a South African rugby union player. ... Jacques Cronjé (born 4 August 1982 in Klerksdorp) is a rugby union player. ... Thinus Delport (born 2 February 1975 in Port Elizabeth) is a rugby union player who plays on the wing for Worcester Warriors and South Africa. ... Gaffie du Toit (born 24 March 1977 in Cape Town, South Africa) is a South African rugby union footballer. ... Jaque Fourie (born 4 March 1983 in Carletonville, South Africa) is a South African rugby union footballer. ... Enrico Januarie (born 2 January 1982) is a South African rugby union footballer. ... André Pretorius (born 29 December 1978 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a South African rugby union footballer. ... Joel Stransky (born 16th July 1967) is a former South African rugby union footballer, most notable for scoring the winning drop goal in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. ... Gary Hamilton Teichmann born in Gwelo, Zimbabwe on the 9th of January 1967 played eighthman for and was the captain of the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks, between 1995 and 1999. ... Jaco van der Westhuyzen (born 6 April 1978 in Groblersdal, Mpumalanga province, South Africa) is a South African rugby union footballer who plays fly-half or full back. ... Chester Williams (born 8 August 1970 in Paarl, Western Province, South Africa) played winger for the South African national rugby union team the Springboks from 1993 to 2000. ...

Top point scorers

This lists the top ten point scorers up to and including the third match of the 2006 Tri Nations Series (July 22, 2006).

1. Andrew Mehrtens (NZ) - 328 (1 try, 34 conv, 82 pen, 3 drop)
2. Matt Burke (Aus) - 271 (7 tries, 19 conv, 65 pen, 1 drop)
3. Percy Montgomery (SA) - 165 (3 tries, 21 conv, 33 pen, 3 drop)
4. Carlos Spencer (NZ) - 153 (3 tries, 21 conv, 32 pen)
5. Stirling Mortlock (Aus) - 107 (7 tries, 12 conv, 16 pen)
6. Daniel Carter (NZ) - 106 (1 try, 10 conv, 27 pen)
7. Braam van Straaten (SA) - 94 (5 conv, 28 pen)
8. Christian Cullen (NZ) - 80 (16 tries)
9. Jannie de Beer (SA) - 69 (2 tries, 13 conv, 9 pen, 2 drop)
10. Doug Howlett (NZ) - 65 (13 tries)

Andrew Philip Mehrtens (born 28 April 1973 in Durban, South Africa) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who has been one of the top fly-halves (or first five-eighths) in the world since the advent of the sports professional era in the mid-1990s. ... Date of Birth: 26 March 1973 Place of Birth: Sydney, , New South Wales, Australia Height: 1. ... Percy Montgomery (born 15 March 1974 in Walvis Bay, Namibia) is a South African rugby player who currently plays as a fullback for the Springboks internationally and the Newport Gwent Dragons (Celtic League, Wales) at club level. ... Carlos James Spencer (born 14 October 1975 in Levin) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays at fly-half for the Northampton Saints in England and formerly for the New Zealand All Blacks. ... Stirling Mortlock (born 20 May 1977) is an Australian rugby union player, who plays at outside centre for the Brumbies. ... Date of Birth: 5 March 1982 Place of Birth: Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Height: 1. ... Christian Mathias Cullen (born February 12, 1976 in Paraparaumu) is a New Zealand rugby player. ... Jan Hendrik de Beer (born 22 April 1971 in Welkom, South Africa), nicknamed Jannie, played flyhalf for the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks. ... Douglas Charles Howlett (born September 21, 1978 in Auckland) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who has been a major force in New Zealand and world rugby since he debuted in 2000. ...

See also

• All Blacks
• Springboks
• The Wallabies

First international Australia 3 - 22 New Zealand (15 August 1903) Largest win New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan (4 June 1995) Worst defeat Australia 28 - 7 New Zealand (28 August 1999) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 1987 The international rugby union team of New Zealand are... The Springboks or Bokke are the South African national rugby team. ... First international British Isles 3 - 13 Australia (24 June 1899) Largest win Namibia 0 - 142 Australia (25 October 2003) Worst defeat South Africa 61 - 22 Australia (23 August 1997) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 1991, 1999 The Australian national rugby union team is the representative...

External links

• Tri Nations News from rugby.com.au
• Tri nations news from Planet Rugby