Rugby union trophies and awards

Rugby union trophies and awards have been given out to teams and participants from the very earliest days of the sport's history. In common with many other sports rugby union has an array of competitions, both domestic international, covering the spectrum of competition structures from season long leagues, to one-off matches. The list below is divided into sections such that trophies and awards competed for by national sides are grouped together, as are those competed for by club and provincial sides. In both cases, the type of award can differ. The award might be a perpetual trophy, which is one competed for in perpetuity by two sides such that on each occasion they meet, which may or may not be on a regular basis, that honour is contested. The award may be one that is given to the winner of a tournament, or as a subset of this, as an award for a particular honour attained in that tournament. Additionally, the sport of rugby union bestows certain honours on individual players, and these too have their own dedicated section below.

Current International Trophies

Rugby union international trophies

Name of trophy	First Contested	Last Contested	Type	Participants and Record	Current holders	Notes
Webb Ellis Cup	1987	2011	Tournament Trophy	World Cup Results: Australia-2 New Zealand-2 South Africa-2 England-1	New Zealand	The most prestigious trophy. The Main prize for the Rugby World Cup
Melrose Cup	1993	2013	Tournament Trophy	World Cup Results: England-1 Fiji-2 New Zealand-2 Wales-1	New Zealand	The main prize of the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Six Nations Championship Trophy	1993	2014	Tournament Trophy	England-26 France-17 Ireland-12 Italy-0 Scotland-15 Wales-26	Ireland
Triple Crown	1883	2014	Tournament Honour	England-24 Ireland-10 Scotland-10 Wales-20	England	The Triple Crown as a term was first recorded in 1884. The cup was known as the invisible cup because no trophy existed until one was commissioned in 2006.
Calcutta Cup	1879	2014	Perpetual Trophy	England-66 Scotland-39 drawn-15	England	Named after the Calcutta Football Club which, after disbanding withdrew the club's Silver Rupees from the bank, and had them melted down and made into a cup which they presented to the RFU in 1878, with the provision that it should be competed for annually.
Millennium Trophy (Template:Lang-ga)	1988	2014	Perpetual Trophy	England-17 Ireland-10 drawn-0	England	Contested as part of the Six Nations Championship. It was initiated in 1988 as part of Dublin's millennial celebrations. The trophy in the shape of a horned Viking helmet.
Centenary Quaich	1989	2014	Perpetual Trophy	Scotland-13 Ireland-12 drawn-1	Ireland	Awarded as part of the Six Nations Championship. Although the two countries have played each other on 121, the cup has only been presented to the winners of the fixture since 1989.
Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy	2006	2014	Perpetual Trophy	Italy-2 France-6 drawn-0	France	Awarded as part of the Six Nations Championship. The trophy, designed by former French international and professional sculptor Jean-Pierre Rives, was awarded for the first time on 3 February 2007 to France as part of the celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of Italian national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi in Nice.
Rugby Championship trophy	2012	2014	Tournament Trophy	New Zealand-3 Australia South Africa Argentina	New Zealand
Bledisloe Cup	1931	2014	Perpetual Trophy	New Zealand-42 Australia-12	New Zealand	Named after Lord Bledisloe, the former Governor-General of New Zealand who donated the trophy in 1931.
Mandela Challenge Plate	2000	2014	Perpetual Trophy	South Africa-5 Australia-7	South Africa	It is named after South Africa's first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela.
Freedom Cup	2004	2014	Perpetual Trophy	New Zealand-8 South Africa-2 drawn-0	New Zealand	The trophy is contested between South Africa and New Zealand, during the Tri-nations tournament. It was first contested in 2004, the 10 year anniversary of South African democracy.
Puma Trophy	2000	2014	Perpetual Trophy	Australia-5 Argentina-0	Australia
Trophée des Bicentenaires	1989	2014	Perpetual Trophy	Australia-12 France-4	Australia	To celebrate the bi-centenaries of Australia and the French Revolution, in 1988 and 1989 respectively, the French Rugby Union donated the Trophée des Bicentenaires to be played in perpetuity between the two countries. It is a bronze sculpture featuring two players in a tackle. Although the trophy dates from 1988, it was first contested in 1989.
Cook Cup	1997	2013	Perpetual Trophy	England-7 Australia-10	England	The cup is named after Captain James Cook
Hopetoun Cup	1998	2013	Perpetual Trophy	Australia-6 Scotland-2	Australia	Named after the Seventh Earl of Hopetoun, a Scotsman, who, as the then Governor-General of Australia, presided over the Federation of Australia in 1901.
Lansdowne Cup	1999	2013	Perpetual Trophy	Australia-7 Ireland-2	Australia	Donated by the Lansdowne Club of Sydney, which was named after Lansdowne Road, the home of Ireland rugby for over a century until its demolition in 2007 to make way for Aviva Stadium.
James Bevan Trophy	2007	2013	Perpetual Trophy	Australia-7 Wales-1	Australia
Dave Gallaher Trophy	2000	2013	Perpetual Trophy	New Zealand-10 France-1	New Zealand	Named after Dave Gallaher, the famous 1905–06 All Blacks captain who was killed in Belgium during World War I. Introduced in 2000, it is awarded to the winner of a selected challenge match in any given year.
Hillary Shield	2008	2014	Perpetual Trophy	England-1 New Zealand-5	New Zealand	The trophy is named in memory of the New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary.
Prince William Cup	2007	2013	Perpetual Trophy	South Africa-7 Wales-0	South Africa	Celebrates 100 years of rugby union history between Wales and South Africa. It is named after the Vice Royal Patron of the WRU, Prince William.
Admiral Brown Cup	2012	2014	Perpetual Trophy	Ireland-2 Argentina	Ireland	Admiral Guillermo Brown was born in 1777 in Foxford, County Mayo. He emigrated at an early age, first to Philadelphia and then to Buenos Aires. He led the Argentinean navy in the wars for independence against the Spanish and Brazilian empires. The Republic of Argentina honors this Irishman as a national hero and many cities, partidos, streets and parks, including clubs and sports stadiums throughout Argentina are named in his honor.
Investec Challenge Cup	2013	2013	Perpetual Trophy	England-1 Argentina	England
Tom Richards Trophy	2001	2013	Perpetual Trophy	Australia-1 Lions-1	Lions
British & Irish Lions South Africa Series Trophy	2009	2009	Perpetual Trophy	South Africa-1 Lions-0	South Africa
Killik Cup	2009	2014	Perpetual Trophy	Barbarians-5 Int. sides-4	Barbarians
Antim Cup	2002	2014	Perpetual Trophy	Georgia-8 Romania-5	Georgia	Named after Anthim the Iberian, a native of Georgia who became one of the most important Orthodox ecclesiastical figures in Wallachia, one of the predecessor states of modern Romania.
European Nations Cup	2000	2014	Tournament Trophy	Romania-4 Georgia-7 Portugal-1	Georgia	European Championship for tier 2 and tier 3 rugby union nations, with winners of each division promoted up to the next and loser demoted down.
Asian Five Nations	2008	2014	Tournament Trophy	Arabian Gulf Hong Kong Japan-7 Kazakhstan South Korea	Japan	Annual international rugby union competition held between the top five Asian sides.
Pacific Nations Cup	2006	2014	Tournament Trophy	Current Nations 2014 Canada Fiji-2 Japan-2 Samoa-2 Tonga United States 2006-2009 Māori-1 Junior All Blacks-2	Fiji and Japan
South American Rugby Championship	1951	2014	Tournament Trophy	Argentina-35 Uruguay-1 Chile-0 Brazil-0 Paraguay-0	Argentina
Americas Rugby Championship	2009	2013	Tournament Trophy	Argentina XV-4 Canada A-0 USA Select-0 Uruguay-0	Argentina XV
Africa Cup	2000	2013	Tournament Trophy	South Africa Amateurs-3 Morocco-2 Namibia-3 Uganda-1 Kenya-2 Madagascar-0 Tunisia-0 Zimbabwe-1	Kenya	Organised by the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR), the tournament prior to being renamed the Africa Cup in 2006, was known as the CAR Top 9 and CAR Top 10.

Past International Trophies

Rugby union international trophies

Name of trophy	First Contested	Last Contested	Type	Participants and Record	Current holders	Notes
Tri Nations Trophy	1996	2011	Tournament Trophy	New Zealand-10 Australia-3 South Africa-3	Australia	The final edition of this tournament in its original format was in 2011. With Argentina's entry in 2012, the tournament was renamed The Rugby Championship.
Churchill Cup	2003	2011	Tournament Trophy	Canada England Saxons-6 Ireland Wolfhounds-1 Georgia Scotland A United States Argentina XV Māori-2	England Saxons	The tournament, whose final edition was held in 2011, was contested by teams from Canada, England, and the United States, and other invited teams. It was named after former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Churchill's mother, Jennie Jerome was an American, born in Brooklyn.
Cornwall Cup	2008	2008	Perpetual Trophy	Australia Barbarians	Australia
CAR Castel Beer Trophy			Tournament Trophy
PARA Pan American Championship			Tournament Trophy

International Honours not represented by Trophies

Rugby union Honours

Name of trophy	First Contested	Last Contested	Type	Participants (no. of wins in brackets)	Current holders	Notes
Le Crunch	1906	2014	Perpetual Contest	England-53 France-38 drawn-7	France	This is merely a traditional name for the tie. There is no physical trophy.
Grand Slam		2012	Tournament Honour	England Scotland Ireland Wales France Italy	Wales
Wooden Spoon		2014	Tournament Honour	England Scotland Ireland Wales France Italy	Italy	This is "awarded" to the team that finishes the Six Nations Championship at the bottom of the table.

Domestic and Club Trophies

Rugby union domestic and club trophies

Name of trophy	First Contested	Last Contested	Type	Image	Participants (no. of wins in brackets)	Current holders	Notes
United Hospitals Cup	1874	Ongoing	Tournament		GKT RFC-50 Imperial Medicals RFC-50 Barts and The London RFC-24 File:SGHMSRFC.jpgSt George's RFC-3 RUMS RFC-1 File:Royal Veterinary College crest.jpgRoyal Vets RFC-0	Barts and The London RFC	The United Hospitals Challenge Cup is contested by the six medical schools in London and is most notable for being the oldest rugby cup competition in the world.
Waratah Shield
Ranfurly Shield	1902	2013	Domestic challenge		New Zealand provinces. For a list of holders, see Ranfurly Shield#Past shield-holders.	Hawkes Bay	Named after Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly, the Governor of New Zealand who donated the trophy to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union in 1901. The NZRFU decided to award it to the winner of its 1902 season, and then make it subject to a challenge system.
Super Rugby Trophy	2011	2014	Tournament		provincial teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa	NSW Waratahs
Super 12 Trophy	1996	2004	Tournament		provincial teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa	Brumbies
Super 14 Trophy	2005	2010	Tournament		provincial teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa	Bulls
Currie Cup	1892	2013	Domestic		South AfricaSouth African provinces See Currie Cup#Overall winners	Natal Sharks	South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces. Named after Sir Donald Currie, owner of Union-Castle Lines, who instructed the touring British Isles team of 1891 to hand this trophy over to the team in South Africa that gave them the best game.
MacTier Cup	1998	2014	Domestic		Rugby Canada Super League Canadian Rugby Championship	[Ontario Blues]]	Prior to 2009, was awarded to the winner of the RCSL. From 2009 onwards, was awarded to the winner of the CRC.
Meads Cup	2006	2013	Domestic		New Zealand second-level provinces. See Heartland Championship#Winners.	Mid Canterbury	The top-tier trophy awarded in New Zealand's second-level domestic competition, the Heartland Championship. Named after iconic All Black Colin Meads.
Lochore Cup	2006	2013	Domestic		New Zealand second-level provinces. See Heartland Championship#Winners.	South Canterbury	The second-tier trophy awarded in the Heartland Championship. Named after another All Black great, Brian Lochore.
Hanan Shield
Bouclier de Brennus	1892	2014	Domestic		French League For winners see Top 14#Total wins	Toulon	Trophy awarded to the winners of the French rugby union domestic league. Named after Charles Brennus, cofounder of France's original rugby governing body, USFSA, who created the shield based on a design by the other cofounder, Pierre de Coubertin. The original trophy is no longer presented. Due to its increasingly battered condition, it was decided in 2003 to restore the trophy and place it on permanent static display. In each season since 2003, with the exception of 2004 when the original was used one final time, a replica of the original shield has been presented.
European Challenge Cup	1996	2014	Tournament		Clubs from England, France, and Italy always compete, as well as a specially created team from Romania. Clubs from Ireland and Wales usually compete as well. Clubs from Scotland do not start in the competition, but may parachute in from the Heineken Cup. Also, one club from either Spain or Portugal also qualifies. For winners, see European Challenge Cup finals.	Northampton Saints	Also known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Heineken Cup	1996	2014	Tournament		Clubs from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. For winners see Heineken Cup records and statistics.	Toulon	Named after the competition's sponsor, Heineken.
Pacific Rugby Cup	2006	2013	Tournament		Fiji Warriors Fiji Barbarians Upolu Samoa Savaii Samoa Tau'uta Reds Tautahi Gold	Fiji Warriors

Other

IRB Awards

• IRB International Player of the Year
• IRB International Team of the Year
• IRB International Coach of the Year
• IRB Junior Player of the Year
• IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
• IRB International Sevens Team of the Year
• IRB Award for Distinguished Service
• IRB Chairman's Award
• IRB Development Award
• IRB Distinguished Service Award
• IRB Hall of Fame inductees
• IRB International U21 Player of the Year
• IRB International U19 Player of the Year
• IRB International Women’s Personality of the Year
• IRB International Women's Player of the Year
• IRB International Young Player of the Year
• IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service
• IRB Spirit of Rugby Award
• IRPA Special Merit Award
• IRPA Try of the Year
• Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service

Halls of Fame

• IRB Hall of Fame
• International Rugby Hall of Fame
• World Rugby Museum Wall of Fame