The Up and Coming Rugby Union Nations
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 14 October 2024
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Rugby Union Nations
Several countries have long been known to dominate the field in rugby union, including England, South Africa, England, and Scotland. However, in recent years, a number of rugby nations have emerged, with participation rates increasing and greater government investment amounting to more robust teams. As these nations are set to join a reformed global rugby union competition in the coming years, we’ve looked at the top new countries set to change rugby union.
Intro to the Rugby World Cup Nations
As many in the USA will be unfamiliar with the rules and structure of rugby union, we’ve kicked off this guide by providing a brief explanation of the sport. We’ve then looked at the top emerging rugby union nations, from Georgia in Eastern Europe to Namibia.
In the latter half of this guide, we’ve discussed why rugby union’s popularity is growing and what the major events in the sport are. To wrap things up, we’ve highlighted the challenges that face the up-and-coming nations as they attempt to compete against more developed teams.
- About Rugby Union
- The Emerging Rugby Union Nations
- Why is Rugby Union Growing?
- Biggest Rugby Union Events
- Challenges Facing Emerging Nations
About Rugby Union and World Rugby Team Rankings
Rugby Union is a team sport that was invented in England in the early 1800s and is massively popular in Commonwealth nations such as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and England as well as France. The game is played with 15 players on each team, who aim to score points by carrying, passing, or kicking the ball into their opponent’s territory.
Since 1987, the International Rugby World Cup has been held every four years. Currently, 20 rugby World Cup nations compete in the tournament, with the most recent winner being France in 2023. The next World Cup will take place in 2027 and is set to be hosted by Australia, which of course you can wager on at online sportsbooks with rugby markets.
The sport is governed by World Rugby, which also manages the World Rugby Team Rankings. This ranks the teams based on their performances in international matches. These are updated every week and consider elements such as the location of the match, the competition, and the rankings of both opponents.
Emerging Rugby Union Nations
In this section, we’ve looked at the rugby nations that in recent years have indicated a growing prowess on the field. In some cases, the public participation rates in the sport have spiked dramatically, which indicates that in time, the sport may be greatly impacted by their future success.
Japan
Japan’s progress in rugby union has steadily improved over the last decade. Its first breakthrough moment came during the 2015 World Cup when they defeated South Africa. In 2019, Japan hosted the rugby World Cup nations and surprised pundits by reaching the quarterfinals. On a domestic level, the interest of viewers has been helped by the creation of the Top League, which has attracted international stars. Now, more than 125,000 people are approximated to play in Japan.
Fiji
While Fiji has long been a formidable opponent in seven-a-side rugby, recent performances have shown the nation excelling at the traditional format. The sport is deeply ingrained in Fiji’s culture and is considered to be the national sport. The team is currently ranked 10th in the world, which is only just behind former powerhouse Australia. Increased investment in local infrastructure is set to improve the national team’s performance, as well as the establishment of the Super Rugby Pacific League.
Georgia
Another of the rugby union countries that are often overlooked but show huge promise is the nation of Georgia in Europe. The national team has earned a reputation for their powerful scrummaging and robust forward play, creating a tough opposition. The team generates immense national pride among locals, who have cheered them on as they have reached 12th on the rankings. With youth development programs seeing more funding, Georgia may not be overlooked much longer.
Uruguay
Uruguay’s Los Teros have been carving out their place in world rugby over the last few competitions. In the 2019 World Cup, the team’s surprise victory over Fiji turned heads and showcased Uruguay’s growing boldness. The Super Liga Americana de Rugby has been a game-changing competition, by providing players with professional experience. Uruguay is fast becoming the dark horse of South American rugby and is currently ranked 17th in the world.
Portugal
After a long hiatus from the World Cup, Portugal returned in 2023 to delighted crowds. They are currently ranked 15th in the world, which indicates a growing commitment to the sport in the region. The sport has been popular in schools and universities which is helping to nurture a new generation of talent. There are more than 11,000 registered players of rugby union in Portugal, with the Campeonato Nacional de Rugby the top-tier competition to build future stars.
Chile
While Chile may only be ranked 22 in the world, it made history in 2023 by qualifying among the rugby World Cup nations to compete at the global tournament. This is despite only having a small 4,000 registered players. Like Uruguay, the team has been aided by the advent of the Super Liga Americana de Rugby, and after the team’s qualification, the sport has been building an audience at home.
Namibia
Namibia has regularly competed in the World Cup since 1999, which is quite impressive because there are only 7,000 registered players in the country. One of the biggest drivers of their consistency and success has been their dominance in the Rugby Africa Cup. They are currently ranked 25th in the global rankings, though there’s plenty of time for them to qualify for the 2027 World Cup.
Samoa
Despite the tiny population of Samoa, the nation has recently proven itself to be a force to be reckoned with. The team is ranked 13th in the world, which is a testament to its unique style that blends raw power with technical speed. The team once dominated in the 1990s, only to have a spotty decade after. As it rebuilds its standing, we’re keeping a close eye on Samoa in the lead-up to expanded global competitions.
Why is Rugby Union Growing?
In most of the emerging rugby nations, their uptick in participation and national team success can be linked to the investment in grassroots development. This has seen the development of younger talent thanks to improved coaching methods and better infrastructure. There have also been localized international tournaments set up according to regions, providing more opportunities to play and improve.
Participation in global tournaments such as the Rugby World Cup and the World Rugby Sevens Series also provided invaluable experience and boosted interest from their home audiences. In some cases, emerging nation’s players have been trained overseas and returned to their national teams with a better awareness of high-level rugby.
The Biggest Rugby Union Events
Rugby union’s biggest international events include the Rugby World Cup, the Six Nations Championship, and the Rugby Championship. Held every four years, the Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle of showcasing rugby talent, as the best national teams from around the world vie to be the champion.
In the past, 20 teams were allowed in the competition, but this is set to change to 24 teams in the upcoming 2027 competition. Furthermore, at least one team from each of the six rugby nations regions will be permitted, which will give greater exposure to less developed nations.
The Six Nations Championship is Europe’s premier rugby tournament and is held annually between England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. Meanwhile, the Rugby Championship is the top competition in the Southern Hemisphere and is held between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The Challenges Faced by Emerging Nations
Several challenges face the highlighted rugby nations before they come head-to-head against the more established teams. Most notably, financial constraints limit their ability to develop talent or update essential infrastructure. Furthermore, a lack of access to top-level competitions involving major competitors means they can have less insight into their opponents.
Many of these nations rely heavily on government funding and sponsorships, which can be easily pulled if they do not perform well. When local players do display expertise, they are often lured to more established nations which leads to a local talent drain. As teams emerge, they will need support from World Rugby to mitigate these issues.
