Rugby union, widely known simply as rugby, is a contact team sport which originated in England in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is between two teams of 15 players using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field with H-shaped goalposts at each end.
The Rugby Championship is an international rugby union competition contested annually by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Prior to the 2012 tournament, when Argentina joined, it was known as the Tri Nations. The competition is administered by SANZAAR, a consortium consisting of four national governing bodies: the South African Rugby Union, New Zealand Rugby Union, Rugby Australia and the Argentine Rugby Union The inaugural Tri Nations tournament was in 1996, and was won by New Zealand – known as the All Blacks. South Africa won their first title in 1998, and Australia their first in 2000. Following the last Tri Nations tournament in 2011, New Zealand had won ten championships, with South Africa and Australia on three titles each. The first Rugby Championship was won by New Zealand, who won all six of their matches.
The Brazil national rugby union team, nicknamed Tupis, is controlled by the Confederação Brasileira de Rugby. Brazil is one of the founding unions of CONSUR and played in the inaugural South American tournament. Brazil has not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but participated in the first edition of rugby 7s in the Olympics. Brazil currently ranks 3rd in South America and 5th in the Americas region.
The Chile national rugby union team, nicknamed Los Cóndores, plays in red jerseys and blue shorts, and is organized by the Chilean Rugby Federation. As of 2019, Chile has not qualified for a Rugby World Cup.
Argentina XV, formerly known as the Jaguares and then as Argentina XV, are the second national rugby union team in Argentina, after the full national side, the Pumas.
The El Salvador national rugby union team, nicknamed Los Torogoces, represents El Salvador in rugby union. They had their first international tournament in 2011 in Costa Rica along the other teams from Central America, winning the Silver Cup.
The 1951 South American Rugby Championship was the first edition of the two tiered competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 1981 South American Rugby Championship was the twelfth edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 1991 South American Rugby Championship was the 17th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 1993 South American Rugby Championship was the 18th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 1997 South American Rugby Championship was the 20th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 1998 South American Rugby Championship was the 21st edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 2000 South American Rugby Championship was the 22nd edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 2001 South American Rugby Championship was the 23rd edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 2002 South American Rugby Championship was the 24th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 2003 South American Rugby Championship was the 25th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 2004 South American Rugby Championship was the 26th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 2006 South American Rugby Championship was the 28th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The Chilean Rugby Federation is the governing body for rugby union in Chile. The Federation is responsible for the various national teams representing Chile in international competitions. The Federation is a member of several international organizations, such as World Rugby, and CONSUR. The Federation is led by President Francisco Davanzo Pumarino. The Federation includes over 18,000 players.
