Rugby World Cup History

In June 1983 Australia proposed a World Cup and put itself as host, and the following year New Zealand put forward its case. In a major breakthrough, The International Rugby Board instigated a World Cup feasibility study, with Australia and New Zealand forming a joint working committee and the study began in December 1984.

At a meeting in Paris on 20-21 March 1985, the International Rugby Board held a vote on the concept. It was no secret that England, Scotland, Ireland & Wales were opposed to the idea, with Australia, New Zealand & France in favor. South Africa's crucial vote went in favor of the event, then when England and Wales changed their mind and voted in favor the World Cup finally had the go ahead.

The inaugural World Cup event was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Teams from 16 countries competed, and the final was won by New Zealand (more about 1987). From 1987 to 1995, 16 teams contested the final rounds after qualifying matches involving all the other International Rugby Board member unions over a two-year period. In 1999 the competition expanded to 20 teams playing off for the final.

FACTS

• Before the first Rugby World Cup in 1987, the USA was technically the reigning international champion because they had won the gold medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics rugby tournament.
• The World Cup winners are awarded the William Webb Ellis Cup - William Webb Ellis was the Rugby School pupil who, according to the popular myth, invented the game.
• The first Rugby World Cup in 1987 held no qualifying tournament. All the members of the IFRB were automatically included, the remaining positions were filled by invitation.
• New Zealand (1987, 2011, 2015) has won the Rugby World Cup three times. Australia (1991, 1999) and South Africa (1995, 2007) and have each won twice.
• The only nations to host and win a tournament are New Zealand (1987, 2011) and South Africa (1995)
• The 2003 Rugby World Cup had a global cumulative audience of 3.5 billion, and was broadcast in 205 countries around the world. No doubt the latest event was even bigger.
• The most points that have ever been scored against a team at a World Cup is 145 by New Zealand in a match against Japan in 1995. New Zealand scored 21 tries in that match.
• The widest winning margin in a World Cup match is 142, achieved by Australia against Namibia in 2003.
• England prop Jason Leonard made a record 22 appearances and featured in four World Cups from 1991 to 2003.
• Namibian Rudie van Vuuren appeared in both the cricket and rugby union World Cups in 2003.
• New Zealander Michael Jones scored the opening try of the match at both the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups.
• Eden Park in Auckland (1987 and 2011) and Twickenham Stadium in London (1991 and 2015) have hosted the Rugby World Cup Final twice.
• The first (and only so far) non-southern hemisphere country to win the world cup was England in 2003 (more firsts)
• English player Mike Tindall married Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne of England, Prince Williams cousin and 13th in line to the British throne in 2011.

HOST COUNTRY

The inaugural Rugby World Cup was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The next tournament in 1991 was also co-hosted. Click on the year in the table below to show more details of each event. The next event, in 2019, will be hosted by Japan.

Event Year Country

10. 2023 France

9. 2019 Japan

8. 2015 England

7. 2011 New Zealand

6. 2007 France

5. 2003 Australia

4. 1999 Wales

3. 1995 South Africa

2. 1991 UK and France

1. 1987 Australia and New Zealand

The Rugby World Cup was first held in 1987. The event is organized by the International Rugby Board (IRB), the sport's governing body, and contested by the men's national teams that go through qualifying matches to reach the final 20 teams in the finals.

The next men's Rugby World Cup will be played in Japan in 2019, from 20 September 2 November.

The next women's Rugby World Cup will be played in New Zealand in 2021.

The Rugby World Cup has been held seven times, with New Zealand each winning it three times, and Australia, South Africa twice each. The other winner was England in 2003. England is the only nation from the northern hemisphere to have won the tournament.

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