2017 in rugby union
{{Short description|none}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2017}}
{{Year nav sports topic5|2017|rugby union}}
This page covers the major events of 2017 in rugby union.
International tournaments
- 31 May – 18 June: 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in {{GEO}}[http://www.worldrugby.org/u20 WR's U20 Championship Page]
- {{ruu|20|NZL}} defeated {{ruu|20|ENG}} 64–17 to win their sixth World Rugby Under 20 Championship title.
- {{ruu|20|RSA}} took third place.
- 9 – 26 August: 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup in {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Ireland (pool stage in {{IRL}}; knockout rounds and classification matches in {{NIR}}){{Cite web |url=http://www.rwcwomens.com/ |title=WR's Women's Rugby World Cup Page |access-date=2017-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903054021/http://www.rwcwomens.com/ |archive-date=2011-09-03 |url-status=dead }}
- {{ruw|NZL}} defeated {{ruw|ENG}} 41–32 to win their fifth Women's World Cup title.
- {{ruw|FRA}} defeated the {{ruw|USA}} 31–23 to take third place.
- 29 August – 10 September: 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy in {{URU}}[http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1732 WR's 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Trophy Page]
- 2017 Cup of Nations
=Northern hemisphere national teams=
- 3 September 2016 – 20 May 2017: 2016–17 Rugby Europe International Championships
- 24 September 2016 – 24 April 2017: 2016–17 Rugby Europe Trophy in {{POR}}, the {{NED}}, {{MDA}}, {{UKR}}, {{POL}}, and {{SUI}}[http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1714 WR's 2016–17 Rugby Europe Trophy Page]
- Round Robin: 1st place: {{ru|POR}}, 2nd place: {{ru|NED}}, 3rd place: {{ru|SUI}}
- 3 February – 18 March: 2017 Women's Six Nations Championship in {{ENG}}, {{FRA}}, {{ruw|IRE}}, {{ITA}}, {{SCO}} and {{WAL}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1751 |title=WR's 2017 Women's Six Nations Championship Page |access-date=2017-05-24 |archive-date=2017-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913072225/http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1751 |url-status=dead }}
- Round Robin: 1st place: {{ruw|ENG}}, 2nd place: {{ruw|IRE}}, 3rd place: {{ruw|FRA}}
- 4 February – 4 March: 2017 Americas Rugby Championship in {{ARG}}, {{BRA}}, {{CAN}}, {{CHI}}, the {{USA}} and {{URY}}[http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1727 WR's 2017 Americas Rugby Championship Page]
- Round Robin - 1st place: {{ru|USA}}; 2nd place: {{ruA|ARG}}; 3rd place: {{ru|URY}}
- 4 February – 18 March: 2017 Six Nations Championship in {{ENG}}, {{FRA}}, {{IRL}}, {{ITA}}, {{SCO}} and {{WAL}}[http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1623 WR's 2017 Six Nations Championship Page]
- Round Robin: 1st place: {{ru|ENG}}, 2nd place: {{ru|IRE}}, 3rd place: {{ru|FRA}}
- 11 February – 19 March: 2017 Rugby Europe Championship in {{BEL}}, {{GEO}}, {{GER}}, {{ROU}}, {{RUS}} and {{ESP}}[http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1724 WR's 2017 Rugby Europe Championship Page]
- Round Robin: 1st place: {{ru|ROU}}, 2nd place: {{ru|GEO}}, 3rd place: {{ru|ESP}}
- 22 April – 3 June: 2017 Asia Rugby Championship in {{HKG}}, {{JPN}} and {{KOR}}[http://www.worldrugby.org/tournament/1706 WR's 2017 Asia Rugby Championship TOP 3 Page]
- Round Robin: 1st place: {{ru|JPN}}, 2nd place: {{ru|HKG}}, 3rd place: {{ru|KOR}}
=Southern hemisphere national teams=
- 10 – 18 March: 2017 World Rugby Pacific Challenge
- Champions: {{flagicon|FIJ}} Fiji Warriors; Second: {{flagicon|JPN}} Junior Japan; Third: {{flagicon|TON}} Tonga A; Fourth: {{flagicon|SAM}} Samoa A
- 1 – 15 July: 2017 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
- Champions: {{ru|FIJ}}; Second: {{ru|TON}}; Third: {{ru|SAM}}
- 19 August – 7 October: 2017 Rugby Championship
- 2017 Sudamérica Rugby Cup
Club tournaments
=Northern hemisphere clubs=
- 26 August 2016 – 14 January 2017: {{flagicon|JPN}} 2016–17 Top League, won by Suntory Sungoliath
- 14 October 2016 – 13 May 2017: 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup, won by {{flagicon|ENG}} Saracens
- 13 October 2016 – 12 May 2017: 2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup, won by {{flagicon|FRA}} Stade Français
- 2 September 2016 – 27 May 2017: 2016–17 Pro12, won by {{flagicon|WAL}} Scarlets
- 20 August 2016 – 4 June 2017: {{flagicon|FRA}} 2016–17 Top 14 season, won by Clermont
- 2 September 2016 – 27 May 2017: {{flagicon|ENG}} 2016–17 Aviva Premiership, won by Exeter Chiefs
=Southern hemisphere clubs=
- January 30 – April 17: 2017 Varsity Cup in South Africa, won by UP Tuks
- February 9 – April 10: 2017 Varsity Shield in South Africa, won by UWC
- February 23 – August 5: 2017 Super Rugby season in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and Japan, won by the {{flagicon|NZL}} Crusaders
- August – October: 2017 Currie Cup Premier Division in South Africa, won by Western Province
- 2 September – 11 November: 2017 National Rugby Championship in Australia and Fiji, won by Queensland Country
Rugby sevens
- 2 December 2016 – 21 May 2017: 2016–17 World Rugby Sevens Series
=[[2017 Rugby Europe Men's Sevens Championships]]=
- Grand Prix Series
- June 3 – 4: #1 in {{flagicon|RUS}} Moscow
- Winners: {{ru7|IRE}} (Cup); {{ru7|FRA}} (Plate); {{ru7|ENG}} (Bowl)
- June 10 – 11: #2 in {{flagicon|POL}} Łódź
- Winners: {{ru7|RUS}} (Cup); {{ru7|GER}} (Plate); {{ru7|ITA}} (Bowl)
- July 1 – 2: #3 in {{flagicon|FRA}} Clermont-Ferrand
- Winners: {{ru7|IRE}} (Cup); {{ru7|WAL}} (Plate); {{ru7|ITA}} (Bowl)
- July 15 – 16: #4 (final) in {{flagicon|ENG}} Exeter
- Winners: {{ru7|RUS}} (Cup); {{ru7|GEO}} (Plate); {{ru7|FRA}} (Bowl)
- Men's Trophy Tournament
- June 3 – 4: #1 in {{flagicon|CZE}} Ostrava
- Winners: {{ru7|SWE}} (Cup); {{ru7|ISR}} (Plate); {{ru7|MDA}} (Bowl)
- June 17 – 18: #2 (final) in {{flagicon|ROU}} Bucharest
- Winners: {{ru7|SWE}} (Cup); {{ru7|CRO}} (Plate); {{ru7|CYP}} (Bowl)
- July 1 – 2: Men's Conference 1 in {{flagicon|BUL}} Burgas
- Winners: {{ru7|HUN}} (Cup); {{ru7|SRB}} (Plate); {{ru7|MON}} (Bowl)
- July 15 – 16: Men's Conference 2 in {{flagicon|EST}} Tallinn
- Winners: Saint Petersburg (Cup); {{ru7|LIE}} (Bowl)
Headlines
- 13 March – The two Paris-based clubs in the Top 14, Racing 92 and Stade Français, announced plans to merge into a single club, effective with the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/18896501/racing-92-stade-francais-merge-form-paris-super-club |title=Racing 92 and Stade Francais to merge to form Paris super club |publisher=ESPN (UK) |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=16 March 2017}}
- 16 March – World Rugby announced details of a new global rugby calendar taking effect after the 2019 Rugby World Cup and running until 2032. Highlights include:{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/18921156/world-rugby-reveals-details-post-2019-global-calendar |title=World Rugby reveals details of post-2019 global calendar |first=Martyn |last=Thomas |publisher=ESPN (UK) |date=16 March 2017 |accessdate=17 March 2017}}
- The June Test window will be shifted to July, allowing Super Rugby to conduct an uninterrupted season.
- The windows for November Tests and the Rugby World Cup will move forward by a week.
- The new July Test window will include opportunities for "Tier 2" nations, among them Canada, Georgia, Japan, the Pacific islands, Romania, and the U.S., to host tours by Tier 1 national teams. WR stated that the number of annual matches between Tier 1 and Tier 2 national teams would increase by nearly 40 percent.
- In the years following Rugby World Cups, SANZAAR nations (Rugby Championship participants) will only play two July Tests.
- 19 March – Racing 92 and Stade Français announced that their planned merger had collapsed following major resistance, including a strike by Stade players.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/18949353/racing-92-president-jacky-lorenzetti-confirms-racing-92-stade-francais-merger-collapse-amid-resistance-beautiful-project |title=Racing 92-Stade Francais merger collapses amid resistance |publisher=ESPN (UK) |date=19 March 2017 |accessdate=19 March 2017}}
- 9 April – Super Rugby organiser SANZAAR announced that the competition would drop three of its 18 teams after the 2017 season. Australia will lose one of its five teams, and South Africa two of its six. The affected unions were to determine which franchises would be axed.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/39547949 |title=Super Rugby to cut three sides for 15-team format from 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 April 2017 |accessdate=10 April 2017}}
- 10 April – RugbyWA, the governing body for the sport in Western Australia and operator of the Western Force, one of two Australian sides in danger of being axed from Super Rugby, announced that it had brought legal action against the Australian Rugby Union regarding the process of determining the franchise to be contracted.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/19123348/rugbywa-board-legal-action-aru |title=RugbyWA board in legal action against ARU |agency=Australian Associated Press |publisher=ESPN (UK) |date=10 April 2017 |accessdate=12 April 2017}}
- 10 May – World Rugby announced significant reform of its Regulation 8, which covers international eligibility:{{cite press release|url=http://www.worldrugby.org/news/245382 |title=World Rugby announces historic eligibility regulation reform |publisher=World Rugby |date=10 May 2017 |accessdate=10 May 2017}}
- From 31 December 2020 forward, the required period of continuous residency in a country for purposes of international eligibility will increase from three years to five. (This only applies if a player does not qualify for that country by birth, or by the birth of a parent or grandparent in said country.)
- Effective immediately, individuals with 10 years of cumulative residency in a country who are not previously tied to another national team will be eligible for that country, even if they do not meet the continuous residency requirement.
- Effective 1 January 2018, a member union cannot nominate its under-20 national team as its "A" side. This means that playing on or against a U-20 national team will not bind the player to that country at senior level. (Note that a 15-a-side match cannot bind a player to a given national union unless both the player's team and its opposition are senior or "A" national sides.)
- Effective 1 July 2017, rugby sevens players will not be tied to a national union until either of the following events occurs:
- They play for a senior national sevens team after reaching age 20.
- They represent a national team in the Olympic sevens tournament or Rugby World Cup Sevens after reaching age 18.
- 30 June – BBC Wales reported that the Cheetahs and Southern Kings, the two most likely South African teams to be dropped from Super Rugby, would join the European Pro12 competition as early as the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/40448854 |title=South African sides Cheetahs and Southern Kings set to join Pro12 |first1=Matt |last1=Lloyd |first2=Gareth |last2=Griffiths |publisher=BBC Sport Wales |date=30 June 2017 |accessdate=5 July 2017}}
- 7 July – The South African Rugby Union announced that the Cheetahs and Kings would be dropped from Super Rugby.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/19886669/sa-rugby-confirm-cheetahs-southern-kings-super-rugby-axe |title=SA Rugby confirm Cheetahs, Southern Kings Super Rugby axe |publisher=ESPN (UK) |date=7 July 2017 |accessdate=7 July 2017}}
- 1 August – Pro12 organiser Celtic Rugby Limited announced that the Cheetahs and Southern Kings would be added to the renamed Pro14 competition from the 2017–18 season forward.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/20215592/pro12-confirm-addition-cheetahs-kings-2017-18-season |title=PRO12 confirm addition of Cheetahs, Kings for 2017-18 season |publisher=ESPN (UK) |date=1 August 2017 |accessdate=1 August 2017}}
- 10 November – The 2017 induction class of the World Rugby Hall of Fame was enshrined at a ceremony held at the Hall's facility in Rugby. Inductees were:{{cite press release|url=https://www.worldrugby.org/news/293371?lang=en |title=Five legends inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame |publisher=World Rugby |date=10 November 2017 |accessdate=6 December 2017}}
- Rob Andrew, {{ru|ENG}}
- Al Charron, {{ru|CAN}}
- Felipe Contepomi, {{ru|ARG}}
- Phaidra Knight, {{ruw|USA}}
- Fabien Pelous, {{ru|FRA}}
- 15 November – World Rugby announced that France would host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.{{cite press release|url=https://www.worldrugby.org/news/294487 |title=World Rugby awards RWC 2023 to France |publisher=World Rugby |date=15 November 2017 |accessdate=16 November 2017}}
- 26 November – The 2017 World Rugby Awards were presented at a gala in Monaco:{{cite press release|url=https://www.worldrugby.org/news/296409 |title=Barrett and Woodman named World Rugby Players of the Year 2017 |publisher=World Rugby |date=26 November 2017 |accessdate=27 November 2017}}
- Men's Player of the Year: Beauden Barrett, {{ru|NZL}}
- Women's Player of the Year: Portia Woodman, {{ruw|NZL}}
- Team of the Year: {{ruw|NZL|name=New Zealand Women}}
- Coach of the Year: {{flagicon|AUS}} Eddie Jones, {{ru|ENG}}
- Breakthrough Player of the Year: Rieko Ioane, {{ru|NZL}}
- Men's Sevens Player of the Year: Perry Baker, {{ru7|USA}}
- Women's Sevens Player of the Year: Michaela Blyde, {{ru7w|NZL}}
- World Rugby Referee Award: Joy Neville, {{runionflag|IRE}}
- World Rugby Award for Character: Eduardo Oderigo, {{ARG}}
- Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service: Marcel Martin, {{runionflag|FRA}}
- IRPA Try of the Year: Joaquín Tuculet, {{ru|ARG}} (vs. {{ru|ENG}})
- IRPA Special Merit Award: Richie McCaw, {{ru|NZL}} and Rachael Burford, {{ruw|ENG}}
Significant deaths
- 6 February – Joost van der Westhuizen, South Africa international (45)
- 12 February – Sione Lauaki, Tonga-born New Zealand international (35)
- 18 February – Dan Vickerman, South Africa-born Australia international (37)
- 25 February –
- Lloyd Williams, Wales international captain (83){{cite web|title=Former Wales and Cardiff captain Lloyd Williams dies, 83|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39077135|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=26 February 2017}}
- Elli Norkett, Wales international (20){{cite web|title=Welsh rugby international Elli Norkett dies in crash|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-39094781|website=BBC News|accessdate=26 February 2017}}
- 11 April – David Perry, England international (79)
- 20 August – Colin Meads, New Zealand international (81)
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.worldrugby.org/ World Rugby Official Site]