 The professional era in rugby union began in 1995 , spurred by creation of the SANZAR group ( a combination of South Africa , New Zealand and Australia ) which was formed with the purpose of selling broadcast rights for two new competitions , the domestic Super 12 competition and the Tri @-@ Nations . The first Tri @-@ Nations was contested in 1996 , with New Zealand winning all four of their tests to take the trophy . After a 1996 Tri @-@ Nations match hosted by South Africa , won 29 – 18 by New Zealand , preceded a separate three @-@ match test series between the two sides . Under new coach John Hart and the captaincy of Sean Fitzpatrick , New Zealand won a test series in South Africa for the first time . Fitzpatrick rated the series win higher than the 1987 World Cup victory in which he had participated . 
