The Most Title-Winning Rugby Teams of All Time

Rugby has seen its fair share of nations dominating throughout the years with the southern hemisphere being at the forefront of those periods. For context, a team from the northern hemisphere has won the Rugby World Cup just once in the last six editions – England in 2003.

Adding to that, only the All Blacks or Springboks have won each of the last four, with both nations going back-to-back during that time. Here, we take a look at some of the sport’s most successful teams.

Springboks and All Blacks (Back-to-back Rugby World Cup winners)

New Zealand were the first team to successfully defend their world title in 2015, having regained the Webb Ellis Cup on home soil in 2011. South Africa, meanwhile, got their hands back on rugby’s richest prize in Japan before retaining their crown in France which was where they won their second title in 2007. The Springboks, however, hold the record for the most Rugby World Cup titles. 

What about Australia’s World Cup winning side in 1999 or England’s in 2003? A case can also be made for the all-conquering Irish class of 2023.

Ireland (17-Test match unbeaten run)

Ireland headed into the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France as the tournament favourites after romping to a 15th Six Nations title, while recording a fourth Grand Slam. During their campaign, they moved to the top of World Rugby’s rankings after beating the Springboks in the pool stage to extend their unbeaten run.

Remarkably, Ireland scored consecutive victories over all tier-one nations they faced during that time before coming up short against the All Blacks in the semi-finals – bringing their 17-Test match winning run to an end. That run of victories coming between July 2022 and October 2023.

All Blacks (Unbeaten runs after being crowned world champions)

New Zealand’s golden generation that recorded successive Rugby World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015 exerted their dominance by going on unbeaten runs after each win. After regaining the Webb Ellis Cup in 2011, the All Blacks only tasted defeat after 13 attempts, while 10 was the magic number after their 2015 triumph. 

After their win in 1987, it took 17 attempts before they were finally beaten. For context, the likes of Australia, England and the Springboks were defeated inside five matches after their respective World Cup wins.

On the club side of things, it’s a bit easier to pick out the most successful teams due to longer periods of sustained dominance. Looking at both the southern and northern hemisphere, the Crusaders, Toulouse and Leinster stick out with no shortage of silverware in their last 30 years, La Rochelle in more recent years.

Crusaders (14 Super Rugby titles)

The Crusaders crushed their way to 14 Super Rugby titles between 1998 and 2023, dominating from the turn of the millennium into the early 2000s. They won three successive titles from 1998 to 2000.

Leinster (7 PRO14 titles)

Irish club side, Leinster, also boast an impressive trophy-haul which points to their dominance of the European scene with four Champions Cup victories as well as eight United Rugby Championship successes. The have also been crowned PRO14 kings on seven occasions which is a record in its own right.