From South America to Europe, from the Spanish Division de Honor to Super Rugby Americas, here are some of the world’s champions from the 2025! A reminder that a few leagues are only kicking-off later in the year, while others are still waiting for their conclusion.
South America
Super Rugby Americas
Peñarol
For a third time since the inception of the Super Rugby Americas, Peñarol has climbed to the podium as the winner, with the Uruguayans overcoming the Dogos XV in a frantic contest.
Los charrúas were the superior side in the first 60 minutes, building a 27-point margin advantage that ultimately was a bridge too far for the former Argentinian champions to overcome.
With the 2025 season concluded, Peñarol stay at the very top of the Super Rugby Americas food chain, adding a third cup since the competition’s debut in 2021.
Fixture
Major League Rugby
New England Free Jacks
Chicago Hounds
USA
MLR
Still ongoing (final scheduled for the 28th of June).
Portugal
Top 12
CF “Os Belenenses”
CF “Os Belenenses” retained their crown this year, successfully topping the league ahead of GDS Cascais. This was the Azuis’ 10th Portuguese Premiership, their fourth since João Mirra took over the head coach role, and they are certainly eyeing a third-peat come 2026!
Amongst the Belenenses best, you can find familiar names such as Portuguese internationals Rafael Simões, David Wallis and José Paiva dos Santos, and former Dragons and Welsh U20 Owen Jenkins.
Spain
Division de Honor
Club de Rugby El Salvador
After waiting almost 10 years, El Salvador ended their drought and climbed to the top of Spanish rugby after defeating the fully amateur but impressive Cisneros in a final contested until the full-time whistle.
Powered by the likes of John-Wessel Bell (the South African-born utility back is searching for a new ‘home’), Jaime Powys, Facundo Munilla, Santiago Ortega and Victor Sánchez, Chami has added their ninth Division de Honor.
Italy
Serie A
Rugby Rovigo Delta
Davide Giazzon’s Rovigo lifted their 15th Scudetto, equaling Benetton and Petraca’s number of Serie A titles. Rovigo and Viadana were locked in a tight race throughout the season, which concluded in a spectacular final won by the former. Former Stormers and Glasgow Warriors fly-half Brandon Thomson was crucial for Rovigo’s win, finishing the season with 150 points.
France
Top 14
Still ongoing (final scheduled for the 28th of June).
Pro D2
Montauban
Maybe the greatest underdog story of all time? Montauban were one second from falling to the Nationale when the 2023/2024 season came to an end. Twelve months later, they not only avoided the same fate, but were able to qualify for the Pro D2 championship play-offs, defeating Colomiers, Brive and Grenoble on their way to lifting the Pro D2.
An insane ride built on the back of former Les Bleus scrum-half Sébastien Tillous-Borde and powered by the amazing boot of Jérôme Bosviel, the club will now write a new chapter in the Top 14.
England
Gallagher Premiership
Bath
It took 29 years for Bath to savour again the sweet taste of a Premiership victory, with Johann van Graan’s team completing a season treble.
Led by an insatiable Finn Russell, Bath were able to overcome the Leicester Tigers’ early
lead at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, with the Scottish maestro adding 13 points from his boot and setting up Max Ojomoh’s try.
Even with a last 10-minute salvo, the Tigers weren’t able to spoil Bath’s title celebrations, putting an end to years of Premiership agony.
RFU Championship
Ealing Trailfinders
The all-powerful Ealing Trailfinders have mounted a successful title retention, winning 19 out of 22 games and finishing with a grand total of 99 points in the 2024/2025 RFU Championship.
Under Ben Ward, the Londoners have won three of the last four Championships, becoming the dominant side of an entertaining competition, having propelled the careers of individuals like Patrick Pellegrini and Carlo Tizzano.
With former Saracens and GB 7s wing Ben Harris finishing as the club’s top try-scorer, the Trailfinders are already gearing up for the next season, with dreams of finally earning promotion to the Premiership.
Netherlands
Ereklasse
Haagsche RC
After 11 long years, Haagsche RC were finally allowed to sing ‘We are the Champions’ when the referee signalled for the end of the Ereklasse final.
In a final not for the faint of heart, Haagsche RC came from behind several times to overcome Rotterdamse Rugby Club, managing to secure the win.
It was their 15th Dutch championship title, their fourth in the 21st century.
Ireland
AIL (Division 1A)
Clontarf
Clontarf and Cork Constitution provided an excellent final for the Irish AIL fans, with the former earning their fourth Division 1A title.
Captained by former Leinster hooker Dylan Donnellan, the Dublin region-based club finished at the top of the AIL table, overcoming Lansdowne to qualify for their first final since 2023.
In the final, the ‘Bulls’ maintained the lead throughout the game, although Cork Constitution reduced Clontarf’s margin to one point with one minute remaining until full-time. Thankfully for the Clontarfians, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
Wales
Super Rygbi Cymru
Newport
The newly revamped Super Rygbi Cymru had in Newport RFC its inaugural champions, with the Black & Ambers performing well in the season’s finale.
The Newportonians qualified for the knockout stage after a third-place finish, defeating Aberavon in the quarter-finals. One week later, they would shock fans by beating Cardiff at the Cardiff Arms Park, joining Ebbw Vale in the championship final.
With Jac Lloyd providing 17 points, Ty Morris’ side were the ultimate victors of the first-ever Super Rygbi Cymru.
United Rugby Championship
Leinster
An utterly dominant display at all levels from Leinster was enough to down the Vodacom Bulls, with the Irish region drawing an end to three years without winning any major accolades.
Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber deployed a plan that snuffed out the life of the Bulls’ set-piece, quickly taking control of the match’s tempo and ball possession.
After a long season in which Leinster won 19 out of 20 games, the region were finally allowed to be crowned as the new rulers of the URC.
Germany
Bundesliga
Still ongoing (final scheduled for the 28th of June).
Romania
Liga de Rugby Kaufland
Still ongoing (only wraps up in August).
Georgia
Didi10
RC Batumi
A nerve-wracking final ended with RC Batumi as the victors in Georgia, taking over Aia Kutaisi’s place as the Didi10’s champion.
With Irakli Ninidze and Paliko Jimsheladze as coaches of one of the oldest clubs in Georgia, Batumi qualified for the places in second place and pounced at the right time to claim their fifth Georgian Premiership.
A reminder that Georgian players with contracts with the national team/Black Lion are not allowed to play more than five games per season, and can’t be involved in the play-offs, which makes matters more interesting.
Argentina
Nacional de Clubes
Still ongoing (only wraps up in August).
Japan
League One
Brave Lupus Tokyo
With Richie Mo’unga leading a well-tuned orchestra, there was no other possibility than a League One win for the Brave Lupus Tokyo, who secured back-to-back titles.
After a competitive regular season, the Tokyo outfit handsomely beat the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the semi-finals and were able to put down a resilient Kubota Spears side to add a seventh Japanese Top League title to their trophy cabinet.
Mo’unga didn’t take the golden boot prize home, but his 129 points (12 tries) were crucial to Todd Blackadder’s team as they claimed the most desired prize in Japanese rugby.
Super Rugby Pacific
Still ongoing (final scheduled for the 21st of June).
South Africa
Currie Cup
Season gets underway in July.
New Zealand
National Provincial Championship
Season gets underway in July.
