Wikipedia:WikiProject Rugby union/Notability criteria

This is an essay on notability. It contains the advice and/or opinions of one or more WikiProjects on how notability may be interpreted within their area of interest.

This information is not a formal Wikipedia policy or guideline, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community.

This page is part of the WikiProject on Rugby union and provides a list of known fully professional leagues, and tier one and tier two nations. As such it can be used as an aide in considering the WP:ATHLETE guideline, which states that athletes that have 'competed at the fully professional level of a sport' are generally notable.

List of notable fully professional leagues since 1995

Men's competitions

Transnational competitions

Domestic competitions

Australia - Australian Rugby Championship (2007) and National Rugby Championship (2014–2019)
England - English Premiership and RFU Championship (2009–)
France - Top 14 and Pro D2
Japan - Japan Rugby League One (formerly Top League)
New Zealand - Bunnings NPC (previously National Provincial Championship, Air New Zealand Cup, ITM Cup and Mitre 10 Cup)
South Africa - Currie Cup Premier Divison

Women's competitions

(none)

Non-notable professional competitions

The following professional leagues are currently not considered notable by the WikiProject:

Transnational competitions

Domestic competitions

France - Championnat Fédéral Nationale
Italy - Top10
Japan - Top Challenge League (until 2021)
Portugal - Campeonato Português de Rugby
Romania - SuperLiga
Russia - Russian Rugby Championship
South Africa - Currie Cup First Division, Vodacom Cup (1998–2015) and Rugby Challenge
Spain - División de Honor de Rugby

Women's competitions

National sides

Men's

High performance unions^[1]

Argentina (1910–present)
Australia (1899–present)
British and Irish Lions (1888–present)
Canada (1932–present)
England (1871–present)
Fiji (1924–present)
France (1906–present)
Georgia (at Rugby World Cups in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 and from 2016–present)
Ireland (1875–present)
Italy (1929–present)
Japan (1932–present)
Namibia (at Rugby World Cups in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 and from 2016–present)
New Zealand (1903–present)
Romania (1919–present)
Samoa (1924–present)
Scotland (1871–present)
South Africa (1891–present)
Tonga (1924–present)
United States (1912–present)
Uruguay (at Rugby World Cups in 1999, 2003 and 2015 and from 2016–present)
Wales (1881–present)