List of international rugby union teams: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The following is a list of international rugby union teams:

Any team added to this list should have a corresponding Category:International rugby union teams or Category:National rugby union teams link put into the bottom the article to keep the Category database up to date.

International Rugby Union Teams

British and Irish Lions

The British and Irish Lions are a separate case, being a combination of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

A similar development has been of a Pacific Islanders XV combining Fiji, Tonga, and Manu Samoa.

Invitation sides

There are some invitation sides, most famously the Barbarians Football Club, and its spawned New Zealand Barbarians. World XVs have also played.

Major nations

(criteria is playing in the Six Nations Championship or the Tri Nations Series)

• Australia (nicknamed The Wallabies)
• England
• France (nicknamed Les bleus)
• Ireland
• Italy (nicknamed The Azzuri)
• New Zealand (nicknamed The All Blacks)
• Scotland
• South Africa (nicknamed The Springboks)
• Wales (sometimes nicknamed The Dragons)

Minor nations

(criteria is qualification for a World Cup)

• Argentina (nicknamed The Pumas)
• Canada
• Fiji
• Georgia (nicknamed Lelos)
• Japan (nicknamed The Cherry Blossoms)
• Namibia
• Romania (nicknamed The Oaks)
• Manu Samoa
• Spain
• Tonga (nicknamed 'Ikale Tahi)
• United States
• Uruguay (nicknamed Los Teros)

The International Rugby Board (IRB) is the world governing and law-making body for the game of Rugby Union.