From Leicester Tigers to Nadroga: The most titled rugby clubs in the world

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup on the horizon, it is worth asking who each of the 24 qualified countries’ most successful club winners are.

We carried out a broad search through the various champions and competitions, and these were the findings.

PREM Rugby – Leicester Tigers (11)
One of the youngest national leagues in Europe, PREM Rugby came into existence after 1987 and has been England’s top division for 38 years.

Leicester Tigers have won the most titles (11), with Bath (7) and Wasps and Saracens (3) rounding out the top three.

On June 14, Bath beat the Tigers in front of more than 80,000 fans, ending a 29-year drought.

AIL (Ireland) – Shannon RFC (9)
Before the AIL, the IRFU Interprovincial Championship was contested by Ulster (26), Munster (22), Leinster (22) and Connacht (3) from 1947 to 2002.

With the rise of the Celtic League (now the URC), the Interpros were eventually replaced by the All-Ireland League, which began in 1990.

Shannon RFC have the most titles (9), followed by Cork Constitution (7) and Clontarf (4), who are the current Division 1 champions.

Welsh Premiership (Wales) – Neath (7)
While Super Rygbi Cymru is now the main Welsh competition outside the URC, the Welsh Premiership held that position until 2024.

Ten clubs won the Admiral Premiership between 1990 and 2024.

Neath took seven championships, while Merthyr are the current holders after a dominant season.

In Super Rygbi Cymru’s first year, Newport beat Ebbw Valley to claim the new league title.

Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership – Hawick RFC (13)
Scotland’s top flight has existed for 52 years, with Hawick remaining the most decorated club with 13 titles.

Ten teams take part, and Ayr were the most recent champions, beating Watsonians in the 2024/2025 final.

Finn Russell, Mark Bennett, Steve Munro, Gordon Reid and Derrick Lee are among the notable players who have represented Ayr.

URC – Leinster (9)
Although Ulster lead the all-time Interpros, Leinster have become the most successful team in the Celtic League/Pro12/Pro14/URC era with nine titles since the competition began in the 2000s.

The URC has expanded several times and now features franchises from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and South Africa, making it one of the world’s most competitive leagues.

After three years without a trophy, Leinster reclaimed their crown and remain the benchmark for the chasing pack.

Top14 – Stade Toulousain (24)
The first French club competition kicked off in 1892 when Racing Club de France edged Stade Français by a single point.

The league paused only twice, during World War I and World War II.

Stade Toulousain won their first Bouclier de Brennus in 1912 and have since added 23 more, giving them 24 titles in total.

Stade Français are next on 14, followed by AS Béziers-Hérault with 11, though Béziers have not won since 1984.

Top10 (Italy) – Amatori Milano (18)
The Italian Top10 has changed its name seven times but remains a proud competition dating back to 1929. Amatori Milano dominated for decades and remain the most titled club with 18 championships.

In the past decade, Calvisano, Petrarca and Rovigo have emerged as the strongest sides, with Rovigo winning the 2024/2025 season.

Top 10 (Portugal) – CDUL (20)
Launched in 1958, Portugal’s Top 10 has had eight champions, with Lisbon’s CDUL winning the title 20 times.

Since the early 2000s, GD Direito and Belenenses Rugby have shared much of the success, with Direito claiming 11 titles and Belenenses 10.

Belenenses have won the last two seasons and may be closing in on a third.

Rodrigo Marta, David Wallis, Rafael Simões, João Uva, Diogo Mateus and David Mateus are among the club’s most iconic players.

Division de Honor (Spain) – VRAC (13)
In 1953, FC Barcelona emerged as the top team in a four-team league, defeating Atlético Madrid, UE Santboiana and AD Plus Ultra to become Spain’s first champions, later retaining the title for a second season.

For much of the 20th century, the Copa del Rey was the country’s main tournament, and only in the 1980s did the Division de Honor become Spain’s leading club competition.

VRAC, the current holders, sit on 13 titles and have enjoyed one of the most dominant modern runs, winning all but two finals between 2011 and 2024.

Liga Nationala Kaufland (Romania) – Steaua Bucuresti (24)
One of the oldest rugby competitions in the world, the Liga Nationala Kaufland was first contested in 1914 and has seen 12 different champions. The now-defunct Tennis Club Român Bucuresti won the first three editions, and Steaua Bucuresti have since become the dominant force with 24 titles.

Since 2010, the balance of power has shifted due to Stiinta Baia Mare’s rise to power. The Bisons have won 10 championships in the past 15 years, while Bucharest clubs have managed only one.

In 2025, Baia Mare claimed another title thanks to the contributions of Paul Popoaia, Jason Tomane, Nicolaas Immelman and Stefan Iancu.

Crocobet Didi 10 (Georgia) – RC Locomotive (8)
The Georgian Didi 10 has been held since 1990, becoming one of Europe’s most physically demanding competitions.

Although the league has rarely seen long dynasties, Lelo Saracens won four straight titles between 2012 and 2016, and Locomotive Tbilisi won seven championships across eleven editions.

In May, RC Batumi defeated AIA Kutaisi in a tight final to take the trophy.

Before independence, a similar competition existed between 1967 and 1989. Dinamo Tbilisi won seven titles, while Locomotive won two, bringing their combined historical tally to 10.

MLR (USA) – New England Free Jacks (4)
Founded in 2018, Major League Rugby has faced its share of financial strain, with several clubs departing during the league’s early years.

Despite those setbacks, the New England Free Jacks have become the competition’s most successful side, winning the last three editions and holding four titles overall.

Only six teams will take part in the upcoming season, a 50 percent reduction compared to 2025.

Primera Nacional Top10 (Chile) – Universidad Católica / Old Boys (20)
Chile’s Top 10 has delivered some of South America’s most compelling club rugby, with five different champions in the last decade. The competition began in 1948, when the Prince of Wales Country Club won the inaugural title.

In 2025, Old Macks claimed their seventh championship by defeating Craighouse Old Boys.

However, the two most successful clubs remain Universidad Católica and Old Boys, each with 20 titles.

Campeonato Uruguayo Rugby (Uruguay) – Carrasco Polo (28)
The Copa Perifar is Uruguay’s main club competition and held its first edition in 1951. Montevideo Cricket won that maiden title, but Carrasco Polo have since rewritten the hierarchy with 28 championships, including a run of 17 straight from 1990 to 2006.

During the 2010s, Old Christians and Old Boys dominated, winning 11 titles between them.

In 2025, Old Boys secured their 17th national crown with a late penalty try.

Nacional de Clubes (Argentina) – Hindú (11)
The Torneo Nacional de Clubes brings together champions from the URBA and the Torneo del Interior in a final to determine the national winners.

The competition began in 1993 and has evolved several times. While it once featured the strongest teams from each of Argentina’s provincial federations, it later shifted to a showdown between the champions of the country’s two leading competitions.

Hindú have claimed the title 11 times, with San Isidro Club next on five.

However, many consider the URBA championship the country’s most prestigious trophy due to its age, depth and rivalries. CA San Isidro (CASI), the club of Agustín Pichot, Eliseo Branca, Santiago Phelan and Claudio Bincaz, have won it 33 times.

Super Rugby Americas – Peñarol (3)
Founded in 2020, Super Rugby Americas began competition a year later and has since grown into South America’s flagship franchise league.

With teams from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Colombia, the competition has helped elevate regional standards.

Peñarol are the reigning champions and the tournament’s most successful side, having won the title in 2022, 2023 and 2025.

Japan Rugby League One (Japan) – Brave Lupus Tokyo (7)
Japan Rugby League One has produced some of the sport’s most dramatic finals. Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo retained the title after Richie Mo’unga steered them past Kubota Spears in an 18-13 win.

With that victory, the Wolves became the undisputed JRLO leaders with seven championships.

Some of last season’s best matches are available to watch on RugbyPass TV.

Hong Kong Premiership (Hong Kong China) – Hong Kong FC (11)
The Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE Men’s Premiership has been Hong Kong China’s top-tier competition since 2001. Hong Kong FC have been its most successful side, claiming 11 titles.

After retaining the championship for two seasons, HKFC were dethroned by HKU Sandy Bay, who won 40-29 in the most recent final.

Currie Cup (South Africa) – Western Province (34)
One of the oldest domestic rugby competitions, the Currie Cup has crowned eight champions since its inception. Western Province lead the roll of honour with 34 titles.

In 2025, Griquas secured their fourth title. The Golden Lions came close to ending a 10-year drought before George Whitehead landed an 83rd-minute penalty to seal the game.

Northern Transvaal, now the Blue Bulls, follow with 25 titles.

Skipper Cup (Fiji) – Nadroga (15)
Nadroga remain Fiji’s most successful provincial side, winning 15 Skipper Cup titles, 11 more than Naitasiri, Nadi and Suva.

Alivereti Raka, Mosese Volavola, Joeli Lutumailagi, Jone Koroiduadua, Ifereimi Tawake, Fero Lasagavibau and Peni Ravai are among those who have represented the club.

In 2025, Malolo broke Nadroga’s long dominance, eliminating them in the quarterfinals before beating Nadi and Naitasiri to take the crown.

Their title was especially notable given they were nearly relegated in 2024.

Bunnings NPC (New Zealand) – Auckland (17)
While the Crusaders dominate Super Rugby, Auckland remain the NPC’s most decorated team with 17 titles. Their last championship came in 2018, when they beat Canterbury in a gripping final.

Canterbury have continued to close the gap, winning their 15th title in 2024.

After six years without silverware, they beat Otago 36-28 in the final.

Super Rugby AUS – Waratahs (1)
Despite a disappointing Super Rugby Pacific campaign, the NSW Waratahs recovered to become the inaugural champions of Super Rugby AUS.

After the NRC folded in 2019, Australia were left without a nationwide competition beyond the Shute Shield and Queensland Premier Rugby.

With Super Rugby AUS now established, Rugby Australia hope it will provide better preparation for Super Rugby Pacific.

Super Rugby Pacific – Crusaders (13)
The Crusaders are the most successful side in Super Rugby Pacific, winning 13 titles and enjoying their longest period of success under Scott Robertson.

The Blues sit second with four championships, while the Bulls won in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

Eleven teams now compete for the trophy: the Hurricanes, Highlanders, Blues, Moana Pasifika, Crusaders and Chiefs from New Zealand; the Brumbies, Reds and Waratahs from Australia; and Fiji’s Fijian Drua.

Other notable competitions
Several competitions could not be included due to unavailable post-2023 information for Samoa, Tonga and Zimbabwe.

Notable mentions include the Dutch Ereklasse (RC Hilversum), the German Bundesliga (11-time champions Heidelberger RK), the Brazilian Super 12 (Spac with 12 titles) and the Belgian Elite League (RSC Anderlecht as the most successful club).