The following is a list of international rugby union teams:

National teams – band classification

Starting in 2008, in addition to the existing tier system, the IRB introduced a four-band system of classification in which unions are classified based on "their development status and record on the international stage". The new structure is:

High performance

All countries previously in Tiers 1 and 2. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Development One

These are countries earmarked for increased developmental funding and include:

Targeted

The IRB did not release a list of unions in this category, but named several as World Cup hopefuls being in this band:

Developmental

World Rugby associates in italics

Other teams

• Rugby Africa teams not affiliated to World Rugby • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Asia Rugby teams not affiliated to World Rugby • • • • • • • • Rugby Europe teams not affiliated to World Rugby • • • • • • • • • Rugby Americas North teams not affiliated to World Rugby • • • • • • • • Oceania Rugby teams not affiliated to World Rugby • • • (associate member of Oceania Rugby) • • (associate member of Oceania Rugby) • Sudamerica Rugby teams not affiliated to World Rugby • • • • • • Teams with affiliation suspended or without affiliation • • • • • • • •

Multinational teams

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Defunct national sides

Various national sides have ceased to exist for political reasons. In the case of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, there is more than one successor team. In the case of Catalonia, the Spanish Civil War and Franco's crackdown put an end to it, and in the case of East and West Germany, reunification led to their amalgamation into a single German side.

• For more information on these teams see above.

Women's rugby

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Defunct women's national sides

Invitation sides

Notes and references