History of rugby union matches between Canada and the United States explained

Canada and the United States have played each other a total of 65 times, with Canada winning 39 tests, the United States winning 24, and two matches resulting in a draw. Historically, Canada have dominated the rivalry. However, recently the results have been in favor of USA, who won 12 of 14 matches between 2014 and 2021, the same amount of victories as they had in the previous 37 years.

The first ever match occurred in 1977 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Canada won the match 17–6. The United States' first win came the following year in Baltimore winning 12–7.

Since their first match in 1977, the United States and Canada played on another nearly every year, with the exception of Covid-19 pandemic restricted years. In recent years they have played on a home and away basis, with many of these meetings serving as qualification rounds for the Rugby World Cup.

From 2013 to 2015 and in 2019, Canada and the United States played every June in the tournament now known as the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup, along with Japan, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. The 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup saw the return of both the USA and Canada.

Defunct tournaments

In 1996, Canada and United States played in the Pacific-Rim Championship along with Hong Kong and Japan.^[1] The 1999 edition saw the addition of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.^[1] The tournament folded in 2001.^[1] Alongside the Pacific-Rim Championship, the sides also competed in the Pan-American Championship until 2003.

In 2003 the Super Cup formed and was contested between Japan, Russia and the United States. In 2004 they were joined by Canada. The tournament was only contested for 3 years as it folded in 2005 with Canada the final champions. In 2003, the Churchill Cup began a tournament in which Canada and the United States would play A sides from Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. The tournament folded in 2011 prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.^[2]

Between 2016 and 2019, the two countries have played in the Americas Rugby Championship alongside the senior teams of Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, plus Argentina's second national side, Argentina XV.

Summary

Overview

Details	Played	Won by	Won by	Drawn	Canada points	United States points
In Canada	35	25	9	1	840	598
In United States	25	10	14	1	499	492
Neutral venue	5	4	1	0	159	108
Overall	65	39	24	2	1,498	1,198

Records

Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.

Record	Canada	United States
Longest winning streak	7 (11 July 2009–21 June 2014)	6 (1 July 2017–4 September 2021)
Most points for
Home	56 (12 August 2006)	52 (1 July 2017)
Away	52 (2 June 2007)	51 (18 February 2017)
Largest winning margin
Home	49 (12 August 2006)	36 (1 July 2017)
Away	42 (2 June 2007)	25 (23 June 2018)

Attendance

Up to date as of 11 February 2024.

Total attendance*
165,114
Average attendance*
5,694
Highest attendance
15,000 Canada 19–20 United States 26 June 2005
Excludes 36 matches in which no attendance was reported

Results

No.	Date	Venue	Score	Winner	Competition	Attendance	Reference
1	21 May 1977	Swangard Stadium, British Columbia	17–6			6,000	^[3]
2	28 May 1978	Baltimore, Maryland	12–7				^[4]
3	9 June 1979	Varsity Stadium, Toronto	19–12				^[5] ^[6]
4	8 June 1980	Saranac Lake Park, New York	0–16				^[7]
5	6 June 1981	Kingsland, Calgary	6–3				^[8]
6	12 June 1982	Bleecker Stadium, New York	3–3	draw			^[9]
7	11 June 1983	Swangard Stadium, Burnaby	15–9				^[10]
8	9 June 1984	Rockne Stadium, Chicago, Illinois	21–13				^[11]
9	16 November 1985	Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver	21–10				^[12]
10	8 November 1986	Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona	16–27			4,500	^[13]
11	10 May 1987	Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver	33–9				^[14]
12	14 November 1987	Royal Athletic Park, Victoria, British Columbia	20–12				^[15]
13	11 June 1988	Saranac Lake Park, New York	28–16				^[16]
14	23 September 1989	Varsity Stadium, Toronto	21–3		1991 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers		^[17]
15	9 June 1990	Chief Sealth, Seattle	14–12		1991 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers		^[18]
16	8 June 1991	Kingsland, Calgary	34–15				^[19]
17	13 June 1992	Observatory Park, Denver	9–32				^[20]
18	19 June 1993	Winnipeg, Manitoba	20–9				^[21]
19	21 May 1994	George Allen Field, Long Beach, California	10–15				^[22]
20	9 September 1995	Fletcher's Fields, Markham, Ontario	14–15				^[23]
21	11 May 1996	Boxer Stadium, San Francisco, California	19–12		1996 Pacific-Rim Championship	3,500	^[24]
22	18 May 1996	Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver	24–20				^[25]
23	18 September 1996	Mohawk Sports Park, Hamilton, Ontario	23–18		1996 Pan-American Championship		^[26]
24	10 May 1997	Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver	53–12		1997 Pacific-Rim Championship	5,000	^[27]
25	28 June 1997	Boxer Stadium, San Francisco, California	11–22			1,800	^[28]
26	23 May 1998	Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver	17–15		1998 Pacific-Rim Championship		^[29]
27	6 June 1998	Burlington, Vermont	3–37			4,300	^[30]
28	18 August 1998	Club Atlético San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina	31–14		1998 Pan-American Championship	3,000	^[31]
29	19 June 1999	Fletcher's Fields, Markham, Ontario	17–18		1999 Pacific-Rim Championship	4,500	^[32]
30	3 June 2000	Manchester, New Hampshire	34–25		2000 Pacific-Rim Championship		^[33]
31	19 May 2001	Richardson Memorial Stadium, Kingston, Ontario	19–10		2001 Pan-American Championship	7,155	^[34]
32	29 June 2002	Fletcher's Fields, Markham, Ontario	26–9		2003 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers	2,200	^[35]
33	13 July 2002	Rockne Stadium, Chicago, Illinois	13–36			2,500	^[36]
34	18 June 2003	Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver	11–16		2003 Churchill Cup	3,200	^[37]
35	27 August 2003	José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina	20–35		2003 Pan-American Championship		^[38]
36	27 May 2004	National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	23–20		2004 Super Cup	3,500	^[39]
37	19 June 2004	Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton	32–29		2004 Churchill Cup	5,000	^[40]
38	25 May 2005	National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	30–26		2005 Super Cup		^[41]
39	26 June 2005	Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton	19–20		2005 Churchill Cup	15,000	^[42]
40	17 June 2006	Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton	33–18		2006 Churchill Cup		^[43]
41	12 August 2006	Swilers Rugby Park, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador	56–7		2007 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers		^[44]
42	2 June 2007	Twickenham Stadium, London, England	52–10		2007 Churchill Cup		^[45]
43	21 June 2008	Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois	10–26		2008 Churchill Cup		^[46]
44	4 July 2009	Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina	12–6		2011 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers	3,836	^[47] ^[48]
45	11 July 2009	Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton	41–18				^[49]
46	6 August 2011	BMO Field, Toronto	28–22		2011 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches	10,621	^[50] ^[51]
47	13 August 2011	Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado	7–27		2011 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches	5,000	^[52] ^[53] ^[54]
48	9 June 2012	Richardson Memorial Stadium, Kingston, Ontario	28–25		2012 June rugby union tests	7,521	^[55] ^[56]
49	25 May 2013	Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton, Alberta	16–9		2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup	3,526	^[57]
50	17 August 2013	Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina	9–27		2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers	5,258	^[58]
51	24 August 2013	BMO Field, Toronto	13–11			10,207	^[59]
52	21 June 2014	Cal Expo Facility, Sacramento, California	38–35		2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup	7,804	^[60] ^[61] ^[62]
53	3 August 2015	Swangard Stadium, Burnaby	15–13		2015 Pacific Nations Cup 5th Place play-off		^[63]
54	22 August 2015	Twin Elm Rugby Park, Ottawa, Ontario	23–41		2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up	5,168	^[64] ^[65]
55	13 February 2016	Dell Diamond, Round Rock, Texas	30–22		2016 Americas Rugby Championship	7,415	^[66] ^[67]
56	18 February 2017	Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia	34–51		2017 Americas Rugby Championship	3,416	^[68]
57	24 June 2017	Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton, Ontario	28–28	draw	2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers	13,187	^[69] ^[70]
58	1 July 2017	Torero Stadium, San Diego, California	52–16				^[71] ^[72] ^[73]
59	10 February 2018	Papa Murphy's Park, Sacramento, California	29–10		2018 Americas Rugby Championship		^[74] ^[75] ^[76]
60	23 June 2018	Wanderers Grounds, Halifax, Nova Scotia	17–42		2018 June test	6,000	^[77] ^[78]
61	8 March 2019	Starfire Sports, Tukwila, Washington	30–25		2019 Americas Rugby Championship		^[79] ^[80] ^[81]
62	27 July 2019	Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado	47–19		2019 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup	5,000	^[82] ^[83] ^[84]
63	7 September 2019	BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia	15–20		RWC warm-up match		^[85] ^[86]
64	4 September 2021	Swiler's Rugby Park, St. John's, Newfoundland	34–21		2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers		^[87] ^[88]
65	11 September 2021	Infinity Park, Glendale, Colorado	38–16				^[89] ^[90]
66	31 August 2024	Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles, California			Pacific Nations Cup

See also

• Rugby Americas North
• Americas Rugby Championship
• Rugby World Cup qualification

Notes and References

1. Web site: WR Announces New Comp for US, Canada, Japan, Pacific Teams . Goff Rugby Report . 24 October 2023 . 3 March 2024.
2. http://www.espnscrum.com/churchill-cup-2011/rugby/story/141830.html Final bow for Churchill Cup
3. Web site: Canada (10) 17 - 6 (3) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
4. Web site: United States of America (9) 12 - 7 (4) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
5. Web site: Canada 19 - 12 United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
6. Book: Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980–81. 1980. Queen Anne Press. 0362020183. 56. Vivian Jenkins. Vivian Jenkins.
7. Web site: United States of America (0) 0 - 16 (7) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
8. Web site: Canada 6 - 3 United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
9. Web site: United States of America 3 - 3 Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
10. Web site: Canada 15 - 9 United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
11. Web site: United States of America 21 - 13 Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
12. Web site: Canada (15) 21 - 10 (6) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
13. Web site: United States of America (12) 16 - 27 (12) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
14. Web site: Canada 33 - 9 United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
15. Web site: Canada (4) 20 - 12 (6) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
16. Web site: United States of America (19) 28 - 16 (6) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
17. Web site: Canada 21 - 3 United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
18. Web site: United States of America (4) 14 - 12 (9) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
19. Web site: Canada (18) 34 - 15 (3) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
20. Web site: United States of America (6) 9 - 32 (22) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
21. Web site: Canada (8) 20 - 9 (6) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
22. Web site: United States of America (10) 10 - 15 (9) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
23. Web site: Canada (14) 14 - 15 (0) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
24. Web site: PACIFIC RIM CHAMPIONSHIP - San Francisco, 11 May 1996 . espnscrum . 22 April 2021.
25. Web site: Canada (10) 24 - 20 (6) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
26. Web site: Canada 23 - 18 United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
27. Web site: Canada (32) 53 - 12 (7) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
28. Web site: PACIFIC RIM CHAMPIONSHIP - San Francisco, 7 June 1997, 13:00 local, 20:00 GMT . espnscrum . 22 April 2021.
29. Web site: Canada (7) 17 - 15 (3) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
30. Web site: United States of America (3) 3 - 37 (19) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
31. Web site: Canada (25) 31 - 14 (0) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
32. Web site: Canada (10) 17 - 18 (5) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
33. Web site: United States of America (7) 34 - 25 (20) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
34. Web site: Canada (13) 19 - 10 (7) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
35. Web site: Canada (10) 26 - 9 (6) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
36. Web site: United States of America (0) 13 - 36 (23) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
37. Web site: Canada (8) 11 - 16 (3) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
38. Web site: Canada (6) 20 - 35 (20) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
39. Web site: Canada (23) 23 - 20 (13) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
40. Web site: Canada (8) 32 - 29 (7) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
41. Web site: Canada (10) 30 - 26 (6) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 1 March 2024.
42. Web site: Canada (6) 19 - 20 (10) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
43. Web site: Canada (13) 33 - 18 (6) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
44. Web site: Canada (27) 56 - 7 (0) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
45. Web site: Canada (24) 52 - 10 (5) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
46. Web site: United States of America (10) 10 - 26 (0) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
47. Web site: United States of America (6) 12 - 6 (6) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
48. Web site: Hercus kicks Eagles to victory . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
49. Web site: Canada (24) 41 - 18 (0) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
50. Web site: Canada too good for USA . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
51. Web site: Canada (10) 28 - 22 (15) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
52. Web site: Canada make it two from two . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
53. Web site: United States of America (7) 7 - 27 (10) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
54. Web site: RWC 2011 Warm Ups . Rugby Unplugged . 1 March 2024.
55. Web site: Canada (20) 28 - 25 (18) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
56. Web site: Eagles fall to Canada in opener . USA Rugby . 9 June 2012 . 1 March 2024.
57. Web site: Canada (10) 16 - 9 (3) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
58. Web site: United States of America (0) 9 - 27 (13) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
59. Web site: Canada (8) 13 - 11 (8) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
60. Web site: U.S. rugby mounts comeback victory over Canada . Sportsnet . 29 February 2024.
61. Web site: USA claim first victory over Canada since 2009 . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
62. Web site: United States of America (18) 38 - 35 (28) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
63. Web site: Canada (3) 13 - 15 (12) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
64. Web site: USA get the better of Canada . Planet Rugby . 23 August 2015 . 29 February 2024.
65. Web site: Canada (6) 23 - 41 (17) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
66. Web site: United States of America (10) 30 - 22 (12) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
67. Web site: Eagles' captain Todd Clever hat-trick powers USA over Canada . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
68. Web site: Record-setting win for USA over Canada . americas rugby news . 19 February 2017 . 29 February 2024.
69. Web site: Canada and USA scrap to draw in Hamilton . americas rugby news . 24 June 2017 . 29 February 2024.
70. Web site: Canada (15) 28 - 28 (21) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
71. Web site: United States of America (19) 52 - 16 (9) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
72. Web site: USA rout Canada, earn World Cup spot . americas rugby news . 2 July 2017 . 29 February 2024.
73. Web site: Clever Eagles off to RWC after win over Canada . USA Rugby . 20 March 2024.
74. Web site: United States of America (14) 29 - 10 (7) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
75. Web site: Dominant second half sees USA defeat Canada . espnscrum . 11 February 2018 . 29 February 2024.
76. Web site: Men's Eagles Move to 2-0 with Win Over Rival Canada . USA Rugby . 10 February 2018 . 20 March 2024.
77. Web site: Canada (3) 17 - 42 (13) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 29 February 2024.
78. Web site: Eagles overpower Canada in Halifax . americas rugby news . 24 June 2018 . 29 February 2024.
79. Web site: United States of America (15) 30 - 25 (12) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 28 February 2024.
80. Web site: Eagles escape as Canada nearly earn upset . americas rugby news . 9 March 2019 . 28 February 2024.
81. Web site: Men's Eagles defeat rival-Canada in thrilling finale to Americas Rugby Championship 2019 . USA Rugby . 9 March 2019 . 20 March 2024.
82. Web site: Men's Eagles race past Canada to open Pacific Nations Cup . USA Rugby . 27 July 2019 . 20 March 2024.
83. Web site: United States of America (20) 47 - 19 (0) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 28 February 2024.
84. Web site: Eagles fly high above Canada . americas rugby news . 28 July 2019 . 28 February 2024.
85. Web site: Canada (12) 15 - 20 (10) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 28 February 2024.
86. Web site: USA edge Canada in North American battle . americas rugby news . 8 September 2019 . 28 February 2024.
87. Web site: Canada (10) 34 - 21 (14) United States of America (FT) . espnscrum . 28 February 2024.
88. Web site: Inspired Canada send USA reeling in St. John's . americas rugby news . 4 September 2021 . 28 February 2024.
89. Web site: Men's Eagles defeat Canada to become No. 1 seed for Rugby Americas North . USA Rugby . 12 September 2021 . 20 March 2024.
90. Web site: United States of America (25) 38 - 16 (9) Canada (FT) . espnscrum . 28 February 2024.