On a spring afternoon in 1871, Scotland hosted England and scribbled the game of Rugby into sporting existence. The 4,000 supporters in attendance were clueless that history was being made, not only because the first-ever rivalry was born but also because the debut of the sport they witnessed stood the test of time and is now recognized as one of the world’s most respected games.
Fast forward 150 years, England and Scotland are still rivals, but a globalized presence garnered over the last century, and a half has created many more sworn adversaries on the rugby field.
Today we’ll dive deeper into the most heated rivalries in professional rugby while analyzing some of the most memorable games of all time.
A Heated Rivalry: England & Ireland
The rivalry between Ireland and England is deeply rooted in their complex history. The initial match between the two teams occurred in 1875 and marked the beginning of a streak of forty-two consecutive victories for England.
However, this winning streak was broken in 1925 when the teams played to a 6-6 draw at Twickenham. The following year in Dublin, Ireland achieved its first-ever victory over England, with a score of 19-15.
Since then, Ireland has been able to even the series, although England still maintains the lead with 80 wins compared to Ireland’s 51. Interestingly, when either team gains the upper hand, they tend to maintain dominance for several seasons.
With so much history, these two rivals draw significant action at the top betting sites UK. And I hate to break the news to Irish fans, but based on the statistics, England is the team to put your money on as they’ve won 80 of the 140 encounters with Ireland, who’ve won just 52 games against their rivals.
A Memorable Game: South Africa vs. New Zealand
(1995 Rugby World Cup Final)
The 1995 Rugby World Cup final marked a significant moment in history, as South Africa had the privilege of hosting the tournament for the first time after the end of apartheid. The game was filled with tension, and Joel Stransky from the South African team managed to secure victory for the home side with a drop goal during extra time.
A Heated Rivalry: South Africa & New Zealand
On the topic of the All Blacks (New Zealand) and the Springboks (South Africa), we should probably mention how two of the most successful international teams in rugby also boast a deep-rooted rivalry.
Since their initial encounter in 1921, there has been a series of unsportsmanlike conduct, unfair officiating, and physical altercations between the teams. The tension peaked in 1981 when the South African government refused to allow the New Zealand team to include Maori players in their matches on South African soil. As a result, this sparked intense anti-apartheid protests and further fueled the fierce competition on the field.
Naturally, as of 2023, the politics aren’t as fierce, but the hostility is as present as ever. However, it hasn’t stopped the rivalry, and clashes between them often deliver the best efforts from both sides.
A Memorable Game: Ireland vs. Australia
(1991 Rugby World Cup)
This match is considered one of the most fiercely contested games in the World Cup’s history. Ireland, seen as significant underdogs against a highly talented Wallaby team, put up a strong fight and came close to achieving an improbable victory.
Ireland trailed by three points in the latter part of the second half. However, their flanker Gordon Hamilton scored a long-range try, giving Ireland an 18-15 lead. This try is still regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest ever. Unfortunately, this lead was short-lived, as Australia steadily advanced down the field.
Following a determined run by David Campese, Michael Lynagh scored the winning try. This outcome was incredibly unfortunate and heart-wrenching for Ireland, who had shown immense resilience. Nevertheless, many fans of the sport believe that this match will forever be remembered as the most significant “near” upset in Rugby World Cup history.
A Heated Rivalry: Georgia & Russia
Glasnost has taken a backseat, and while not as prominent as certain Test matches, there is a minimal amount of animosity in the 18 games these two teams have played since their initial encounter in 1993.
Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many of the early matches involved teammates, yet this did not prevent frequent physical altercations. To this day, Russia has only managed to secure one draw, suffering 17 defeats against the Georgians.
These games draw crowds exceeding 50,000, and with Russia investing more resources into rugby development, it is unlikely that the rivalry will dissipate anytime soon.
A Memorable Game: Barbarians vs. New Zealand
During their 1972–73 tour of North America and Europe, the New Zealand national rugby union team faced off against the Barbarians at the National Stadium in Cardiff for their final match in Great Britain.
This particular game is renowned as one of the finest rugby union matches ever played, highlighted by Gareth Edwards’ extraordinary try within the opening minutes. Ultimately, the Barbarians emerged victorious with a score of 23–11. Notably, this was the first time that the Barbarians had defeated New Zealand.
