Australia Rugby News
The Australian rugby team, nicknamed the Wallabies, is a force on the international stage. As one of the world’s oldest rugby teams, they
contested their first international at Sydney Cricket Ground in 1899.
The Australia rugby team is the second-most successful side in the history
of The Rugby Championship, with four titles (joint with South Africa).
They’re also the third-most successful in the history of the Rugby World Cup, as they’ve lifted the Webb Ellis Cup twice (1991, 1999).
This second win made Australia the first nation to claim two Rugby World
Cups. Five years later, in 2004, the Wallabies secured their
highest-ever World Rugby Ranking, reaching number two in the world.
Wallabies Versus Springboks
The Wallabies and the Springboks first met in 1921, during South
Africa’s tour of Australia and New Zealand. The Wallabies lost all three matches against a South Africa XV, a result that sparked a
long-standing rivalry.
The teams played in their first official
test match against each other in 1933. Again, South Africa emerged
victorious. Two weeks later, Australia exacted their revenge and
defeated the Springboks 21-6 in Durban.
As of 2024, the teams
have played in almost 100 test matches against each other. The
Wallabies’ news-worthy encounters include their largest victory over the Springboks: a 49-0 triumph in 2006. In contrast, South Africa handed
Australia their worst ever defeat: a 53-8 loss in 2008.
Both
nations compete in The Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup. In
the Rugby Championship, the teams are tied with four titles each. In the RWC, the Springboks have four wins to Australia’s two. The teams have
also contested three RWC matches: Australia won two (1999, 2011), while
South Africa won one (1995).
Eager to keep up with the latest Wallabies news? Bookmark this Australia rugby news page to enjoy every update.