The 2021 Rugby Championship was the ninth edition of the annual southern hemisphere competition, involving Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Springboks returned to the tournament after a year out in 2020 due to South African government travel restrictions and player welfare and safety concerns related to COVID-19. The tournament returned to its normal window of August, kicking-off on 14 August and concluding on 2 October.
Sponsorships
The competition was operated by SANZAAR, a joint venture of the four countries' national unions, and known for sponsorship reasons as The Castle Rugby Championship in South Africa, The Fortinet Rugby Championship in New Zealand, The eToro Rugby Championship in Australia, and The Zurich Rugby Championship in Argentina.
Travel disruptions
With continued restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the tournament was staged in Australia and New Zealand, with South Africa also hosting two games - their two matches against Argentina in the opening two rounds.
On 3 August, the original schedule was altered due to travel restrictions imposed in New Zealand, meaning the first and second tests between Australia and New Zealand (Bledisloe 2 & 3) were reversed and rearranged, and New Zealand would play at Eden Park instead of Wellington Regional Stadium. The restrictions also meant that New Zealand would not host their tests against Argentina, and were eventually played in Australia.
On 24 August, it was announced that all games in Rounds 3–6 would be hosted in Queensland, Australia. This came after COVID restrictions in New Zealand meant South Africa (and Argentina who were already set to play the All Blacks at a neutral venue) were unable to travel to New Zealand. In addition, due to the uncertainty over the original scheduled for the Championship, the All Blacks also delayed their travel to Australia for their round 2 clash in Perth.
New laws trialed
The 2021 Rugby Championship became the first international competition to include the new World Rugby global rugby laws trials, designed to support the priority mission of head impact reduction and potential welfare advancements across the game. For some of the law adaptions, they had previously been trialed at Super Rugby level in Australia and New Zealand; the goal-line drop out and the 50:22, whilst the others are new to help reduce injury risk at the breakdown. In addition, outside the World Rugby global law trials, this years Rugby Championship will also trial a 20-minute red card which like the goal-line drop out and 50:22, had been used in Australia and New Zealand respective Super Rugby tournaments. The championship was won by New Zealand after the 19-17 win against South Africa on 25 September.
Table
Fixtures
Round 1
Notes: New Zealand score their most points against Australia - previously 54 set in 2017. New Zealand retain the Bledisloe Cup.
Notes: Herschel Jantjies (South Africa) had been named on the bench but withdrew ahead of the game due to injury and was replaced by Jaden Hendrikse. Joseph Dweba and Jaden Hendrikse (South Africa) and Carlos Muzzio (Argentina) made their International debuts.
Round 2
Notes: Lucio Cinti and Ignacio Mendy and Nico Janse van Rensburg (South Africa) made their international debuts. Lood de Jager (South Africa) earned his 50th test cap. No replacement was issued for Jaden Hendrikse.
Notes: Samu Kerevi (Australia) became the first Australian player to play for the Wallabies after an amendment of the Giteau's law that allowed three players with less than the limit of 60 test caps to be picked. Jordie Barrett (New Zealand) became the first player at international level to receive a 20-minute red card. This was New Zealand's first ever match victory and their first ever win over Australia in Perth. This was Australia's first defeat in Perth since 2009 when they lost to South Africa 25–32 in the 2009 Tri Nations at Subiaco Oval.
Round 3
Notes: Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand) was named to start but withdrew ahead of kick off and was replaced by Rieko Ioane, Quinn Tupaea replaced Ioane on the bench. Gonzalo García (Argentina) made his international debut. Nicolás Sánchez became Argentina's most capped player with 90, surpassing Agustín Creevy's record of 89 caps. This was New Zealand's first win in Queensland since 2014 when they beat Australia 29–28 in the 2014 third Bledisloe Cup match at Brisbane's Lang Park.
Notes: Allan Alaalatoa and Reece Hodge (both Australia) earned their 50th test caps. Feleti Kaitu'u and Rob Leota (both Australia) made their international debuts.