# Major achievements in rugby by nation

This article contains lists of achievements in major senior-level international rugby union, rugby sevens, rugby league and wheelchair rugby tournaments according to first-place, second-place and third-place results obtained by teams representing different nations. The objective is not to create combined medal tables; the focus is on listing the best positions achieved by teams in major international tournaments, ranking the nations according to the most number of podiums accomplished by teams of these nations.

## Results

For the making of these lists, results from following major international tournaments were consulted:
| Form | Governing body | Tournament | Edition | Edition | Edition |
| Form | Governing body | Tournament | First | Latest | Next |
| Rugby union | WR & IOC | Rugby union at the Summer Olympics (quadrennially) | 1900 | 1924 | Defunct |
| Rugby union | WR | Rugby World Cup (quadrennially) | 1987 | 2023 | 2027 |
| Rugby union | WR | Women's Rugby World Cup (quadrennially) | 1991 | 2017 | 2021 |
| Rugby sevens | WR & IOC | Rugby sevens at the Summer Olympics (quadrennially) | 2016 | 2024 | 2028 |
| Rugby sevens | WR | Rugby World Cup Sevens (quadrennially) | 1993 | 2018 | 2022 |
| Rugby sevens | WR | World Rugby Sevens Series (annually) | 1999–2000 | 2018–2019 | 2019–2020 |
| Rugby sevens | WR | World Rugby Women's Sevens Series (annually) | 2012–2013 | 2018–2019 | 2019–2020 |
| Rugby league | RLIF | Rugby League World Cup (quadrennially) | 1954 | 2017 | 2021 |
| Rugby league | RLIF | Women's Rugby League World Cup (quadrennially) | 2000 | 2017 | 2021 |
| Wheelchair rugby | IWRF & IPC | Wheelchair rugby at the Summer Paralympics (quadrennially) | 1996 | 2016 | 2020 |
| Wheelchair rugby | IWRF | World Wheelchair Rugby Championships (quadrennially) | 1995 | 2018 | 2022 |
* IOC: International Olympic Committee
* IPC: International Paralympic Committee
* RLIF: Rugby League International Federation
* WR: World Rugby
Medals for the demonstration events are NOT counted. Medals earned by athletes from defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) or historical teams are NOT merged with the results achieved by their immediate successor states. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) do NOT combine medals of these nations or teams.
The tables are pre-sorted by total number of first-place results, second-place results and third-place results, then most first-place results, second-place results, respectively. When equal ranks are given, nations are listed in alphabetical order.

### Rugby union, rugby sevens, rugby league and wheelchair rugby

Last updated after the 2024 Olympic Games (As of 30 July 2024) :
| | | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby league | Rugby league | Wheelchair rugby | Wheelchair rugby | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Cup | Olympic Games | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Cup | World Series | World Series | World Cup | World Cup | Paralympic Games | World Championship | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Mixed | Mixed | | | | Total |
| 1 | New Zealand | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 3 | United States | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 4 | France | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| 5 | England$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 6 | Great Britain | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | Canada | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Fiji | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 9 | South Africa | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Argentina | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 11 | Samoa | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | Wales$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 13 | Japan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | Kenya | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | Australasia$^*$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Germany | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | New Zealand Māori | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Ireland | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | Romania | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | Spain | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^*$Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) or historical teams are shown in italic. $^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

### Rugby union, rugby sevens and rugby league
#### Men and women

Last updated after the 2019 Rugby World Cup (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby league | Rugby league | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Cup | Olympic Games | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Cup | World Series | World Series | World Cup | World Cup | | Number of | Number of | Number of |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | | | | Total |
| 1 | New Zealand | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | England$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | France | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | United States | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | South Africa | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 7 | Great Britain | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Canada | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | Fiji | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Wales$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 | Argentina | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 12 | Samoa | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | Australasia$^*$ | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Germany | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Ireland | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | Kenya | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | Romania | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^*$Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic. $^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

#### Men

Last updated after the 2019 Rugby World Cup (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby league | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | World Cup | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Series | World Cup | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Men | Men | Men | Men | Men | | | | Total |
| 1 | New Zealand | | | | | | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | Australia | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | England$^†$ | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | South Africa | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | Fiji | | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | France | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Great Britain | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Wales$^†$ | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 9 | Argentina | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | United States | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Samoa | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Australasia$^*$ | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Germany | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Ireland | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Kenya | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Romania | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^*$Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic. $^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

#### Women

Last updated after the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby union | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby league | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | World Cup | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Series | World Cup | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Women | Women | Women | Women | Women | | | | Total |
| 1 | New Zealand | | | | | | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | Australia | | | | | | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Canada | | | | | | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | United States | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | France | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 6 | England$^†$ | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Great Britain | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | South Africa | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

### Rugby union and rugby sevens
#### Men and women

Last updated after the 2019 Rugby World Cup (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Cup | Olympic Games | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Cup | World Series | World Series | | Number of | Number of | Number of |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | | | | Total |
| 1 | New Zealand | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | Australia | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | England$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | United States | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | South Africa | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 | France | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 7 | Canada | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | Fiji | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | Argentina | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | Samoa | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 | Wales$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Great Britain | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | Australasia$^*$ | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Germany | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Ireland | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | Kenya | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | Romania | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^*$Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic. $^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

#### Men

Last updated after the 2019 Rugby World Cup (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | World Cup | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Series | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Men | Men | Men | Men | | | | Total |
| 1 | South Africa | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | Fiji | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | New Zealand | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | England$^†$ | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Australia | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Argentina | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | France | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | United States | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Samoa | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | Wales$^†$ | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | Great Britain | | | | | | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Australasia$^*$ | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Germany | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Ireland | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Kenya | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Romania | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^*$Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic. $^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

#### Women

Last updated after the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby union | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | World Cup | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Series | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Women | Women | Women | Women | | | | Total |
| 1 | New Zealand | | | | | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | Australia | | | | | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Canada | | | | | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | United States | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | France | | | | | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 6 | England$^†$ | | | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | South Africa | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

### Rugby union

Last updated after the 2019 Rugby World Cup (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby union | Rugby union | Rugby union | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Cup | | Number of | Number of | Number of |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Men | Women | | | | Total |
| 1 | France | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | England$^†$ | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | New Zealand | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | United States | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Australia | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Australasia$^*$ | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | South Africa | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Canada | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Germany | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Great Britain | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Argentina | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Romania | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Wales$^†$ | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^*$Defunct National Olympic Committees (NOCs) or historical teams are shown in italic. $^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

### Rugby seven
#### Men and women

Last updated after the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Cup | World Series | World Series | | Number of | Number of | Number of |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Women | Men | Women | Men | Women | | | | Total |
| 1 | New Zealand | | | | | | | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | Australia | | | | | | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | South Africa | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Fiji | | | | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | England$^†$ | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Canada | | | | | | | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | United States | | | | | | | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | Samoa | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | Argentina | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | France | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | Wales$^†$ | | | | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Great Britain | | | | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Ireland | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Kenya | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

#### Men

Last updated after the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Series | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Men | Men | | | | Total |
| 1 | Fiji | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | South Africa | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | New Zealand | | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | England$^†$ | | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Samoa | | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Australia | | | | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Argentina | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | Wales$^†$ | | | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Great Britain | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | United States | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Ireland | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | Kenya | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

#### Women

Last updated after the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Rugby sevens | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Olympic Games | World Cup | World Series | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Women | Women | Women | | | | Total |
| 1 | Australia | | | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | New Zealand | | | | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Canada | | | | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | France | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | United States | | | | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | England$^†$ | | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | South Africa | | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

### Rugby league

Last updated after the 2017 Rugby League World Cup (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Rugby league | Rugby league | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Men | Women | | | | Total |
| 1 | Australia | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | New Zealand | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Great Britain | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | England$^†$ | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | France | | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Wales$^†$ | | | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
$^†$Non International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.

### Wheelchair rugby

Last updated after the 2018 IWRF World Championship (As of 3 November 2019) :
| | | Wheelchair rugby | Wheelchair rugby | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| | | Paralympic Games | World Championship | Number of | Number of | Number of | |
| Rk. | Nation | Mixed | Mixed | | | | Total |
| 1 | Australia | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | United States | | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Canada | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | New Zealand | | | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Japan | | | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
$^†$Non International Paralympic Committee (IPC) members.