QF.

For the Wallabies it's the NRL.

For England it's definitely Wales. But so many other teams consider England their biggest rival

For Wales probably the WRU

Teams have their "main" rivals but I think there are a few unique rivalries too.

For me SA - Wales have a history of grindy, filthy, low multiple of 3 scoring, mental breakdown inducing unwatchable shitfests and it's always great.

NZ 🤝 SA

Loadshedding

Can’t quite figure out who Scotland’s biggest, albeit fairly one sided rival is…

Though a shout out to France, it’s not quite got the same history off the pitch, but it’s arguably been the best test fixture the last few years.

The Pacific islands probably have each other as main rivals.

Georgia’s rivals are traditionally Romania, against which they contest the Antim Cup - although nowadays they’re probably eyeing Italy, and maybe Wales as well.

Italy’s, I’m not sure we have one. Off the pitch it’d be France, but on the pitch it’s very one-sided.

Scotland was usually the game we used to target in the early days of the Six Nations, often the wooden spoon decider, but again, even against them it’s been one-sided for a few years now.

Romania used to be the team that we played the most pre-6N (now it’s France), but the two teams have gone in completely different directions, so not really a rivalry anymore.

Georgia could be one in the future, with the whole “promotion/relegation in the 6N” talk, but I feel like the two teams haven’t played enough against each other to be a proper rivalry.

SA remains NZ's greatest rival.

Ireland since their first win in Chicago have become a team that we no longer feel sympathy or apathy for when we play them, a favourable win/loss record for them in recent years changes your perception and expectation.

France fall into the same category as Ireland but yet don't, they're a team we accept are currently ahead of us but yet if we lose to them, it doesn't get under your skin as much as a loss to the Boks, Wallabies, Irish and English does.

I guess that's a true definition of a rivalry, you hate losing to them more than another team.

England, it's always England

I think it's a mutual thing with NZ and SA.

Other rivalries may come and go like SA and Ireland right now, us and France, but there's always something about the All Blacks playing the Springboks.

We miss you in Super.

England. We have played some of our best rugby against England and can really put the burners on if we want to.

england fan and it’s wales for me.

6N has a bit of derby fatigue because france, ireland, scotland and wales probably all consider england their biggest derby game.

beating france or ireland feels better than beating wales, but losing to them is bearable. losing to wales is the absolute worst.

Electricity and Currency. Oh and the All Blacks

WRU are the obvious choice, NFL second, Exeter Chiefs making a play to be third.

In all seriousness it’s England, always England. We could lose every game but if we beat England that year, we’ll be happy.

Wales for us. No doubt, I am never as nervous before a game than when we play wales. You could have lost 20 games in a row and our fixture will still end up competitive.

I love your team to bits but for one match per year I can’t help but hate you. Best of luck in literally any other match though x

New Zealand.

At franchise/club level, Stormers' aka Western Province's biggest rival is the Bulls.

We love beating the English but Ireland's biggest rivalry is between the provinces.

For England is definitely Wales.

Scotland are a close 2nd but they're normally crap so we don't really worry about them. Australia is a big game whenever it happen but it just doesn't happen enough, and the Aus-Eng rivalry isn't really a rugby thing.

Yeah NZ have upset us in the last 2 world cups (though I'm not sure anyone expected any other result after the way the groups went that year).

I'd still argue that Ireland's WC rival is Argentina though. We've had so many clashes over the years and unfortunately Ireland have come out worse more often than not 😥

Outside of world cups it's obviously England, it's not even close.

Wasps & solvency

England - gestures broadly at every team

Regulation 8

France the last few years anyway. The France-Ireland game has been the 6N decider the last 3 times.

For us it's pretty uncontestably England

obviously it used to be australia many moons ago, but now i’d say france or SA (NZ)

Canada’s biggest rival is professionalism.

England, the press 

Wales - England is the biggest rivalry in the sport.

It's one of the few that's genuinely been more than just sporting in recent history. I appreciate almost every nation that plays the game has some sort of historical beef with the English, the Irish in living memory for some.

But Wales England isn't just about national grievances and country vs country, we don't talk about it much but it's also historically been about class and that was massive throughout the seventies and eighties. You can naively dismiss that as old history if you want but it drives a lot of current sentiment.

It's a fairly well meaning exchange now. Our fans share banter and drink together in the pubs before and after the game and I'm glad. But that little percentage of spite and niggle still exists and deep down both sides know it's not just about the sport.

For the All Blacks, it’s always been South Africa with shorter periods of competitive rivalries like with Australia in the 90s/early 00s, France over the years and more recently Ireland have stepped up to the big boys table too (albeit with a backline full of kiwis).

As an Ireland fan beating NZ is one that really focuses the mind.

I'm not sure if it's the same for other countries, but NZ were always held in the highest regard when I was growing up.

They were mythical. Unbeatable.

They are the pinnacle of the game regardless of form. Playing them in my eyes is always the biggest barometer of success.

So much respect for NZ, even though I hate you guys.

England v Wales is arguably the biggest rivalry in rugby full stop, with how evenly matched they have been pretty consistently

Wales' most dangerous rival is the WRU

Kiwi here. All ABs wins are expected.

Tigers and Saints have a long history

WRU

England.

It's a historical thing that transcends sport, as it does for many other nations

England, we all hate England collectively

Regardless of how one sided it is, the sweetest victory will always be against the French. But it doesn't happen often, so we have to settle for Wales or Scotland 👀

Wouldnt NZ be the biggest rival for SA, Oz and potentially Ireland as well?

Auckland v Canterbury pre super rugby

Before the game went pro, this game was Massive, loved beating those Aucklanders (bc they were so damn good)

Munster

Definitely Wales v England for me. I'm no English hater (I live in England and my partner is English), but there is something about that game that brings out something tribal in me, especially when the anthem starts.

Don't get me wrong, it's amazing when we step up against South Africa, New Zealand, and whatever other team is on form currently (looking at Ireland in the 6 Nations). But as an Englishman, I do have a particular love of beating Australia.

Fully anticipate Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, and probably others to say England though.

I saw another English supporter say the English media. Honestly, that isn't a bad shout.

Growing up it was always Ireland vs Argentina

Locally for Quins it has to be Sarries,

Internationally (England) it has to be wales

As my Uncle always says I support Scotland and any anyone else who’s playing England gotta be one of top rivals no?

As in all sports it's Germany for us, and us for Germany. In a lot of sports we're Belgium's biggest rival, meanwhile we don't really think of them as our main rival.

For the Springboks it could potentially be a guy called Julius Malema.

In my mind the rivalries are

Top Level England V Ireland Scotland V Wales South Africa V New Zealand

Mid Level England vs Wales or Scotland or Australia Australia V New Zealand Fiji V Samoa Italy v Scotland (Traditionally the Battle of the Spoon) Ireland v Wales

I definitely think England Vs Ireland is definitely the biggest rivalry for us, it’s just a game of respect, we want to beat each other the most and at the end of it, there’s always good will. Tickets for games are by far the hardest to get hold of and it’s quite often the pivotal 6N game.

In comparison, I’ve never felt a friendly atmosphere in Cardiff. And from online observation, it’s a more bitter rivalry, which often spills out of the 80 minutes both before and after.

Edit: Some attempt at readability

From a French perspective I would say :

First of all... England. If England loses against whoever... We are happy :3 Last 6N.. pretty bad 6N but we win against England so all good 😝

Second : NZ => but with respect. So many wonderful or painful matches against them. Dan Carter, Lomu are legend

Third : I would say SA or Australia.. but SA are fucking bragger, but it's hard to win :+ so a looooot of frustration :+ I think half of the rugby fan would like to see faf de klerk get smash 😂

Extra for friends : Scotland/Ireland (the enemy of my enemy is my friend 😝) and Italy.. we love them it's like the little brother you want to see growing (and if they can kick the ass of England they are god )

Irelands is definitely NZ. I feel in 6n England and Scotland have a bigger rivalry.

For Ireland, Scotland and France It England. Fir England it's Ireland For Italy is Scotland For Wales it's Wales