| Date | 24 August– 4 October 1997 |
|---|---|
| Countries |  Argentina  Chile  Paraguay  Uruguay |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Argentina |
| Runner-up | Uruguay |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 6 |
← 1995 1998 → | |
The 1997 South American Rugby Championship was the 20th edition of the competition of the leading national rugby union teams in South America.
The tournament was not played in a host country, but at different venues in each country participating.
Argentina won the tournament.
The Rugby Championship, formerly known as the Tri Nations Series (1996–2011), is an international rugby union competition contested annually by Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. These are traditionally the four highest ranked national teams in the Southern Hemisphere; the Six Nations is a similar tournament in the Northern Hemisphere.
World Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international competitions, such as the World Rugby Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the World Under 20 Championship, and the Pacific Nations Cup.
The Brazil national rugby union team, nicknamed Tupis, is controlled by the Brazilian Rugby Confederation. 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 4th in South America and 6th in the Americas region.
Argentina XV, formerly known as the Jaguares, are the second national rugby union team in Argentina, after the full national side, the Pumas.
The South American Rugby Championship refers to the continental rugby union championships for South America, organized by Sudamérica Rugby. The current name of the championships is South American Six Nations, implemented in 2018. Throughout history, South American Championships have also existed for lower divisions of the rugby union championships, as well as youth and women tournaments, and editions for rugby sevens.
The Americas Rugby Championship, often informally called the Americas' Six Nations, was an annual international rugby tournament between six North and South American nations: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the United States and Uruguay.
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 1979 South American Rugby Championship was the eleventh edition of the 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 1983 South American Rugby Championship was the 13th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.
The 1985 South American Rugby Championship was the 14th edition of the competition of the leading national rugby union teams in South America.
The 1987 South American Rugby Championship was the 15th 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 1995 South American Rugby Championship was the 19th 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 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 2006 South American Rugby Championship was the 28th edition of the competition of the leading national Rugby Union teams in South America.