Tri Nations Rugby

The Tri Nations competition is organized by SANZAR, a consortium formed by the rugby governing bodies of Australia's ARU, New Zealand's NZRFU and South Africa's SARFU.

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


The Tri Nations rugby tournament opens after the completion of the Super 15 competition for the year because players from the SANZAR countries are involved in both. The Tri Nations tournament for 2011 runs from 23 July and finishes on 27 August when Australia plays New Zealand in Brisbane.

In 2012, the tournament will be expanded to include Argentina so it wil become the Quad Nations Tournament. .

2011 games are:

July 23 2011 Australia v South Africa Sydney (Winners Australia 39-20)
July 30 2011 New Zealand v South Africa Wellington (Winners All Blacks 40-7)
August 6 2011 New Zealand v Australia Auckland (Winners All Blacks 30-14) ***
August 13 2011 South Africa v Australia Durban (Winners Australia 14-9)
August 20 2011 South Africa v New Zealand Port Elizabeth (Winners South Africa 18-5)
August 27 2011 Australia v New Zealand Brisbane (Winners Australia 25-20) ***

*** these games were also Bledisloe Cup matches.

So Australia were the winners of the Tri Nations series for 2011.

For other matches, visit the Games schedule page.

The winner of the Tri Nations 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 toward deciding the series winner. A team may earn one bonus point in each of the following ways (to a total of two points):

• By scoring four or more tries in the match, regardless of the final result of the match.
• By losing by seven points (a converted try) or fewer.

A victorious team can collect either 4 or 5 points, depending on whether or not it scored 4 tries. A losing team may collect 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.

For travel information about venue towns and the rest of New Zealand go to our Travel Zone section. For stadium information go to our Rugby Venues page.

Start supporting your favourite Tri Nations team by purchasing their rugby gear here!!!