Tri Nations

Tri Nations Series champion is the title given to the rugby union nation (either Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or, since 2012, Argentina) that finishes at the top of competition table of the annual Tri Nations Series. The Bledisloe Cup, an Australian-New Zealand trophy is also awarded within the series.

Each nation plays each other thrice on a home and away basis, though the number of games against each side was expanded from two to three in 2006. A nation receives four points for a win, two for a draw and none for a loss. A nation can obtain a bonus point by either scoring four tries in a match or by losing by seven points or less to the opposition. If nations finish level on points (points for winning, drawing and bonus match points), the first tiebreaker is point differential (the actual in game scoreline, a cumulative scoreline difference). The scoreline difference is worked out by subtracting the number of points a nation has had scored against them from the total points they have scored in the series. Should teams still be level, this is followed by number of tries scored by a nation during the series.

The Tri Nations was created amongst the SANZAR partners (along with the provincial Super 12 competition, now, Super Rugby). The tournament involves three southern hemisphere nations; Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The series was created to form a similar competition to the Six Nations Championship (then, the Five Nations). The first tournament was held in 1996, which New Zealand won. It has subsequently been held annually. The competition has largely been dominated by New Zealand, who have won 10 championships, whereas Australia and South Africa have each won the series three times. New Zealand has won consecutive championships on three occasions (1996–97, 2002–03, and 2005–08) and Australia on one occasion (2000–01).

Tri Nations är en årlig rugbyunionturnering som spelas mellan de tre främsta sydhemisfärlagen: Nya Zeeland All Blacks, Australien Wallabies och Sydafrika Springboks. Turneringen startade 1996, då som Tri Nations Series, och har spelats varje år sedan dess, med undantag för 2001 när den ersattes av Two Nations Series på grund av att Nya Zeeland var värd för det årets Rugby World Cup.

Tri Nations är en av de mest prestigefyllda turneringarna i rugbyunion och den anses vara lika viktig som Six Nations Championship på norra halvklotet. Turneringen spelas i en round robin-format, där varje lag möter de andra två lagen en gång hemma och en gång borta. Det lag som samlar flest poäng efter sex matcher vinner turneringen. Om två eller flera lag slutar på samma poäng, används följande tiebreakers för att avgöra vinnaren:

* Poängskillnad i alla matcher
* Försök gjorda i alla matcher
* Inbördes möten

Om lagen fortfarande är oavgjorda efter att alla tiebreakers har använts, delas turneringen mellan de två lagen.

Tri Nations har dominerats av Nya Zeeland All Blacks, som har vunnit turneringen 16 gånger, inklusive de senaste tre åren. Australien Wallabies har vunnit turneringen fem gånger, medan Sydafrika Springboks har vunnit turneringen tre gånger.