Rugby Union's 10 moments of 2020: Exeter Chiefs, Argentina, Six Nations, Super Rugby Aotearoa feature

We take a look at 10 of the best moments from 2020's rugby union season, and delve into achievements from the northern and southern hemispheres...

10. Nigel Owens retires on 100 international Tests

Since 2001, Welsh referee Nigel Owens has graced the European game, before embarking onto the world stage and emerging as one of the most recognisable figures in the sport.

Owens refereed at Test level from 2003 and went on to officiate at four Rugby World Cups: 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 - achieving the ultimate accolade by refereeing the final at Twickenham in 2015.

In December 2020, the 49-year-old announced his retirement from international refereeing after a lengthy and stellar career, finishing on 100 Tests.

The Welshman has also refereed seven European Cup finals (2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020). Owens came out as gay in 2007, and has been a major role model and advocate for gay rights since.

9. France come back to life

Since they last won the Six Nations title in 2010, France had been on a steady decline over the ensuing 10 years.

For all the unpredictability and excitement France offered in the past, the 2010's proved utterly predictable in the sense that Les Bleus never remotely challenged for a Six Nations title, finishing in the top two just once, and that was in 2011.

An unprecedented trophy-drought followed in a decade-long malaise, but in 2020, Les Bleus returned with a bang, playing a highly attractive brand of rugby which should have seen them clinch the Six Nations title.

France won their opening three Championship games and away in Wales for the first time in 10 years. In fact, it was the first time in nine years that France won away to any previous Six Nations champion (England, Ireland or Wales).

Victories over England, Italy and Wales had them seemingly set for a Grand Slam, but defeat to Scotland in Murrayfield proved costly, as even a final day win over Ireland in Paris saw them fall short.

A group of young and talented players have emerged to drive things though, with plenty of depth, and there finally appears to be a settled half-back combination in 21-year-old Romain Ntamack and 24-year-old Antoine Dupont. In total, France have fielded 34 different half-back combinations since 2012, but now they are settled and playing brilliantly.

8. All Blacks pick up Tri-Nations

The All Blacks may not have been vintage in 2020, and the Rugby Championship/Tri-Nations may not have had a vintage year either, but come the end of it, New Zealand had their hands back on silverware.

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The world champion Springboks pulled out due to lack of preparation time as a result of Covid-19, while the All Blacks were exceptionally fortunate not to lose at home to Australia for the first time since 2001 before it began, drawing 16-16 in Wellington.

During the Tri-Nations held in Australia, the All Blacks then lost two of their four fixtures - to Argentina for the first time ever, and to Australia too.

But, when the tournament finished, it was the All Black players who had the medals.

7. Leinster go unbeaten in PRO14 triumph

The 2019/20 PRO14 season may have been reduced by six games due to the effect of Covid-19, but for Leinster to go the season unbeaten in the course of winning the title was still a fantastic achievement.

In 15 regular-season games, Leinster proved perfect to top Conference A before going on to beat Munster and Ulster in the semi-final and final - both in Dublin.

The success was the first time in history a club has won three PRO14 (or Celtic League equivalent) titles in succession, and also the first occasion a side has avoided defeat in securing the title since the inaugural league in 2001.

6. England clinch Six Nations in October behind closed doors

Six Nations history was made in 2020 as for the first time ever a side was crowned champions behind closed doors in October.

The 2001 championship - like 2020 - was actually delayed to October, but on that occasion it was an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Britain that caused three Tests in Ireland to be called off, and back then, the championship did finish in front of crowds.

In 2020, we saw four games called off due to Covid-19: Ireland vs Italy in Round 4, and all three Round 5 fixtures: Wales vs Scotland, Italy vs England and France vs Ireland.

The fixtures were rescheduled for the final two weeks of October in front of empty stadiums, and though France played the most entertaining rugby and actually beat England well in Round 1, Eddie Jones' men eventually won out on points difference due to a crucial losing bonus-point picked up late on in Paris.

5. Exeter Chiefs get over Premiership hump

For the four preceding years before 2020, the Chiefs made the Premiership final in each year. They lost three of the four finals, however, and two in a row in 2018 and 2019.

Saracens proved Exeter's nemesis, beating them in all three of their losses - a factor all the more frustrating for Rob Baxter and his players when it emerged Saracens had done so by routinely breaching the salary cap in each season.

With Saracens out of the equation in 2020 due to their enormous points deduction and enforced relegation, Exeter had massive pressure on them to go on and clinch a title they have won just once in history and fallen short of repeatedly in recent years.

In November, at a deserted Twickenham in driving rain, Exeter faced a Wasps side who were minus 11 squad players due to positive Covid-19 tests and close contact protocols. In a tight and error-ridden affair, the Chiefs came through to celebrate a 19-13 victory.

4. Red Roses seal another Grand Slam

Like the men's Six Nations, the Women's championship was halted due to Covid-19 and restarted in October.

England's Red Roses comprehensively displayed their quality by securing a 2020 Grand Slam, with a 54-0 win against Italy at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi - their second Grand Slam triumph in succession and third in four years.

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A flawless campaign in a near flawless era for Simon Middleton's charges.

As second row Abbie Ward exclusively told Sky Sports in the aftermath, the Red Roses still do not get all the respect they deserve for their accomplishments.

"I think we are still fighting old stigmas. Not as much as we were - things have improved - but I don't think you can say: 'Things are fantastic', because we have improved but being grateful probably isn't enough."

3. Super Rugby Aotearoa

The first country to restart with rugby after the initial period of Covid-19 lockdowns was New Zealand, which returned in the form of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

The conventional structure of Super Rugby between New Zealand, Australia and South Africa had to be abandoned in favour of separate competitions within the countries.

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What followed was some of the best club rugby we have ever witnessed, as New Zealand's five franchises played off in 10 successive weekends, producing some outstanding attacking play.

The Crusaders won the title, while the Blues returned to challenge at the top for the first time in years. Super Rugby Aotearoa proved such a success that New Zealand's Rugby Union confirmed it would return in 2021.

2. Exeter conquer Europe

In October, Heineken Champions Cup history was made as Exeter Chiefs became champions for the first time, defeating Racing 92 31-27 in a stunning final at Ashton Gate in Bristol.

While Racing had reached such a stage twice before, finishing as losing finalists in 2016 and 2018, Exeter entered into completely unexplored territory.

In fact, the 2019/20 season was the first time the Chiefs had made it past the quarter-finals in only their second knockout appearance. The club were then successful in their maiden European Cup semi-final vs Toulouse.

Going all the way, Exeter's glory capped a remarkable story - not least because of where the Chiefs have come from in such a short space of time.

The Chiefs had never experienced top-flight rugby until 2010 and 20 years ago - they finished ninth in the third tier, below the Met Police. They shared a stadium with local speedway team Exeter Falcons up until 15 years ago, and as recently as 2008 or so the Chiefs were playing in front of less than 500 people.

They transitioned from Championship wanderers to a bona fide European force, and all in 10 years. Incredible.

1. Pumas make history vs the All Blacks

To defeat the All Blacks for the first time is extremely special, but to beat them in the manner in which Argentina did, when taking into consideration the wider context, was nothing short of miraculous.

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In short, 29 previous Tests between the All Blacks and Pumas dating back to 1985 had yielded zero wins for Argentina - the third-longest run in Test history between two tier-one nations. Four previous non-cap internationals between 1976 and 1979 also saw the All Blacks beat the Pumas on each occasion.

In any era, for Argentina to turn this tide would be incredible, but Mario Ledesma's spirited charges did so in 2020 - the era of Covid-19 - and did so having not played a Test in 13 months; 402 days.

They did so having trained on their own, within their gardens and houses, with family, over Zoom calls for six months of quarantine in Argentina. More than 20 members tested positive for Covid-19 back in August and September.

Barely anyone gave Argentina a chance against New Zealand in Sydney. In fact, most expected them to get destroyed. Notwithstanding their chaotic build-up, Los Pumas had won just three of their past 36 Tests against tier-one nations prior to this match.

Yet, at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney on November 14, 2020, history was made as Argentina pulled off what seemed impossible. A win against all odds. A monumental, worldwide sporting shock.