2012 in rugby union
International competitions
- June 4 – June 22: 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, South Africa
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- Wales
- 4th: Argentina
- South Africa claim their first title, also marking the first time in the tournament's five-year history that New Zealand fail to win the title.
- June 18 – June 30: 2012 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Salt Lake City, United States
- United States
- Japan
- Tonga
- 4th: Georgia
- The USA win their first title, and are promoted to the 2013 Junior World Championship at the expense of Italy.
- February 4 – 17 March: Six Nations Championship
- Wales win the championship for the 25th time, also claiming their 11th Grand Slam and 20th Triple Crown.
- May 18: Amlin Challenge Cup Final at The Stoop, London:
- Toulon21–18 to claim their first Challenge Cup title and first European trophy.
- May 19: Heineken Cup Final at Twickenham, London
- 25 November 2011 – 13 May 2012: IRB Sevens World Series:
- New Zealand, Fiji and England. New Zealand claim their second consecutive series crown and tenth overall.
- August 4: Final at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton:
- August 18 – October 6: The Rugby Championship
- New Zealand win the title with a clean sweep in the first season of the newly renamed competition, now including Argentina. Including the competition's previous history as the Tri Nations, this is the All Blacks' 11th series win.
- 2012 mid-year rugby test series5 weeks: 27 May - 24 June
- 2012 end of year rugby union tests5 weeks: 20 October - 1 December
- 2012 South American Rugby Championship "A"
Domestic competitions
- English PremiershipFinal, May 26 at Twickenham:
- Harlequins defeat Leicester Tigers 30–23 to claim their first Premiership title. Quins had also finished atop the league table.
- RFU Championship Final, May 23 and May 30:
- London Welsh defeat Cornish Pirates 66–41 on aggregate to claim the title. London Welsh were initially denied a place in the Premiership due largely to stadium issues, but successfully appealed the denial, placing them in the Premiership for 2012–13 at the expense of bottom finisher Newcastle Falcons.
- Top 14 Final, June 9 at Stade de France, Saint-Denis:
- Toulon 18–12 and lift the Bouclier de Brennusfor the 19th time.
- Lyon, which finished on the bottom of the Top 14 table.
- :
- Celtic League/Pro12title.
- LV Cup (Anglo-Welsh Cup) – Leicester Tigers
- ITM Cup
- Premiership Final, October 27 at Auckland31–18 for their fifth consecutive provincial title.
- Championship Final, October 26 at Counties Manukau defeat Otago 41–16 to claim their first title at any level of provincial rugby in 32 years. The Steelers are promoted to the 2013 ITM Premiership, replacing bottom-placed Hawke's Bay.
- Premiership Final, October 27 at
- Currie Cup Final, October 27 at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban:
- Western Province defeat Sharks25–18 to claim their first Currie Cup title since 2001.
Other news
- IRB Hall of FameClass of 2012:
- Gordon Tietjens, New Zealand (inducted 13 May at Twickenham, London shortly after the London Sevens)[1]
- Donald Campbell, Chile (inducted 26 May in Santiago on the final day of the South American Championship)[2]
- 1920 and 1924 USA Olympic rugby teams, United States (inducted 30 June at halftime of the Junior World Rugby Trophy Final at Murray Rugby Park Stadium, Salt Lake City)[5]
- Richard Tsimba and Kennedy Tsimba, Zimbabwe (inducted 25 October in Johannesburg)[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Gordon Tietjens inducted to IRB Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 2012-05-13. Archived from the original on 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
- ^ "Chilean Rugby greats added to IRB Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 2012-05-26. Archived from the original on 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
- ^ "IRB inducts Japanese legend into Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 2012-06-05. Archived from the original on 2012-06-10. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
- ^ "Pioneering Romanians added to Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 2012-06-06. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
- ^ "USA Olympic teams inducted into Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 2012-07-01. Archived from the original on 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
- ^ "Tsimba brothers enter IRB Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 2012-10-25. Archived from the original on 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2012-10-25.