Explanation
The ranking is calculated from the introduction of the Rugby World Cup in 1987. It includes results from the World Cup, the European Six Nations tournament, and the southern hemisphere competition The Rugby Championship. Additional points are awarded for so-called Grand Slams, meaning winning a tournament without a single defeat.
Scoring system
| Contest | Discipline | Category | Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championship | Global | Men | 1930-2025 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Six Nations | Continental | Men | 1987-2026 | 2 | 1 | |||
| The Rugby Championship | Continental | Men | 1996-2025 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Six Nations | Grand Slam | Men | 1987-2023 | 1 | ||||
| The Rugby Championship | Grand Slam | Men | 1996-2023 | 1 |