The annual Rugby Championship is finally here with New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina squaring off in a tournament across July.
In a shortened version because of the upcoming Rugby World Cup, the four SANZAR nations, affectionally known as the All Blacks, Wallabies, Springboks and Pumas, will play each other once through the event.
The Sporting News has all the schedule, results and squad details for the tournament.
The Rugby Championship 2023 schedule and results
Because a Rugby World Cup is happening this year, The Rugby Championship will see each of the four teams only play the other once, instead of the usual home-and-away encounters.
| Date (local) | Kickoff (local) | AEST | BST | Match/Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 8 | 5.05pm | 1.05am (+1 day) | 4.05pm | South Africa 43 def. Australia 12 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| July 8 | 4.10pm | 5.10am (+1 day) | 8.10pm | Argentina 12 def. by New Zealand 41 | Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza |
| July 15 | 7.05pm | 5.05pm | 8.05am | New Zealand vs South Africa | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland |
| July 15 | 7.45pm | 7.45pm | 10.45am | Australia vs Argentina | Comm Bank Stadum, Sydney |
| July 29 | 7.45pm | 7.45pm | 10.45am | Australia vs New Zealand | MCG, Melbourne |
| July 29 | 5.05pm | 1.05am (+1 day) | 1.05am | South Africa vs Argentina | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg |
The Rugby Championship 2023 standings
| Place | Nation | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Pts Fr | Pts Ag | Diff | Try Bon | Los Bon | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 12 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 12 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | Argentina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 41 | -29 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 43 | -31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Rugby Championship 2023 squads
Australia (Wallabies)
Forwards (18): Allan Alaalatoa, Richie Arnold, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Matt Gibbon, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper, Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggorr, David Porecki, Pete Samu, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese, Rob Valetini.
Backs (16): Quade Cooper, Lalakai Foketi, Carter Gordon, Reece Hodge, Len Ikitau, Marika Koroibete, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Suliasi Vunivalu, Nic White, Tom Wright, Ben Donaldson, Josh Kemeny, Dylan Pietsch.
New Zealand (All Blacks)
Forwards (20): Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Brodie Retallick, Josh Lord, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali'i, Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau*, Shannon Frizell.
Backs (16): Aaron Smith, Finlay Christie, Cam Roigard*, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod*, Caleb Clarke, Emoni Narawa*, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Mark Telea, Will Jordan.
South Africa (Springboks)
Forwards (24): Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Joseph Dweba, Malcom Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie, RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert, Jean-Luc du Preez.
Backs (17): Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard, Damian Willemse, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie Le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie.
Argentina (Pumas).
Forwards (26): Eduardo Bello, Ignacio Calles, Thomas Gallo, Francisco Gómez Kodela, Santiago Medrano, Joel Sclavi, Lucio Sordoni, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Mayco Vivas, Facundo Bosch, Agustín Creevy, Julián Montoya (c), Santiago Socino, Ignacio Ruiz, Matías Alemanno, Lucas Paulos, Guido Petti, Tomás Lavannini, Marcos Kremer, Pedro Rubiolo, Juan Martín González, Santiago Grondona, Facundo Isa, Pablo Matera, Joaquín Oviedo, Rodrigo Bruni.
Backs (22): Lautaro Bazán Vélez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Tomás Cubelli, Gonzalo García, Tomás Albornoz, Santiago Carreras, Nicolás Sánchez, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Luciano González, Matías Moroni, Matías Orlando, Martín Bogado, Sebastián Cancelliere, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Cordero, Bautista Delguy, Juan Imhoff, Rodrigo Isgró, Emiliano Boffelli, Juan Cruz Mallía
Further fixtures including Bledisloe Cup 2023
There will be two further fixtures after The Rugby Championship concludes which will see Australia and New Zealand play a second Bledisloe Cup match.
South Africa and Argentina will meet in the other contest.
Both games will be lead-in matches for the Rugby World Cup and won't count toward The Rugby Championship result.
| Date | Kickoff (AEST) | Match/Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 5 | 12.35pm | New Zealand vs Australia | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin |
| August 6 | 8.10am | Argentina vs New Zealand | Estadion Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires |