World Rugby Team of the Year | |
---|---|
Location | Tokyo (2019) |
Presented by | World Rugby |
First awarded | 2001 |
Currently held by | South Africa (2019) |
The World Rugby Team of the Year is awarded by the World Rugby in the spring each year. From 2004 to 2007, the award was called the IRB International Team of the Year. In 2017 the New Zealand Black Ferns became the first women's team to win the award beating nominees England and the All Blacks.
Year | Winner |
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2001 | Australia |
2002 | France |
2003 | England |
2004 | South Africa |
2005 | New Zealand |
2006 | New Zealand |
2007 | South Africa |
2008 | New Zealand |
2009 | South Africa |
2010 | New Zealand |
2011 | New Zealand |
2012 | New Zealand |
2013 | New Zealand |
2014 | New Zealand |
2015 | New Zealand |
2016 | New Zealand |
2017 | New Zealand (women's) |
2018 | Ireland |
2019 | South Africa |
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The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks, is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts, and their emblem is the native antelope springbok. The team has been representing South Africa in international rugby union since 30 July 1891, when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. They are currently ranked the number one mens team by World Rugby and are the only team besides the All Blacks to have won the Rugby World Cup on three occasions.
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