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).

Das Tri Nations ist ein jährlich stattfindendes Rugby-Union-Turnier zwischen den Nationalmannschaften von Australien, Neuseeland und Südafrika. Das Turnier wurde 1996 ins Leben gerufen und hieß ursprünglich Sanzar Tri Nations, nach dem Sponsorennamen South African Rugby Union (SARU), New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) und Australian Rugby Union (ARU). Seit 2012 wird es von einem Konsortium aus den drei Verbänden selbst organisiert und trägt keinen Sponsorennamen mehr.

Das Turnier wird in einem Round-Robin-Format gespielt, bei dem jede Mannschaft zweimal gegen jede andere Mannschaft antritt, einmal zu Hause und einmal auswärts. Die Mannschaft mit den meisten Punkten am Ende des Turniers gewinnt den Titel. Bei Punktgleichstand wird der Gewinner anhand der folgenden Kriterien ermittelt:

* Punktedifferenz aus allen Spielen
* Anzahl der erzielten Versuche
* Direkter Vergleich zwischen den punktgleichen Mannschaften

Das Tri Nations ist eines der bedeutendsten Rugby-Turniere der Welt und zieht jedes Jahr große Zuschauerzahlen an.