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Rugby World Cup

Team and Ball-Sport World Cups

The Rugby World Cup is the sport's premier tournament, first held in 1987 when co-hosts New Zealand and Australia staged the inaugural event, which New Zealand won, defeating France 29 to 9 in the final. Governed by World Rugby (known as the International Rugby Football Board when the tournament began), it is contested every four years among the world's leading national teams; the field has grown from sixteen teams at the earliest tournaments to twenty teams by 1999, and is set to expand again to twenty four teams when Australia hosts in 2027. South Africa is the tournament's most decorated side, having won it four times, ahead of New Zealand's three titles, Australia's two, and England's one.

Facts

Founding Year

1987 2

Founding Date

1987-05-22 2

Date of the opening match of the inaugural 1987 tournament, New Zealand defeating Italy 70 to 6 at Eden Park in Auckland.

Frequency

Every four years. 2

Host History

First tournament: New Zealand and Australia, 1987; won by New Zealand, defeating France 29 to 9 in the final. 2

Classification

Scope

World or International 1

Frequency

Frequency (category)

Every Four Years 2

Learn More

Sixteen Teams to Twenty Four

This article records tradition as it has been passed down and reported. Its sources are not yet part of the atlas's verified catalogue.

When New Zealand and Australia co-hosted the first Rugby World Cup in 1987, sixteen teams took part, the same field size that held through the tournament's first three editions. That number only started moving in 1999, when the tournament expanded to twenty teams, the size it has held ever since. The next jump is already scheduled rather than merely proposed: the Rugby World Cup will expand again to twenty four teams when Australia hosts in 2027, half again the size of the sixteen-team field that saw New Zealand beat France 29 to 9 in the first final, governed at the time by a body still called the International Rugby Football Board rather than its current name, World Rugby.

The Only Four Time Champion

This article records tradition as it has been passed down and reported. Its sources are not yet part of the atlas's verified catalogue.

South Africa stands alone at the top of the Rugby World Cup's honours list, the only nation to have won the tournament four times. New Zealand, the inaugural 1987 champion, has won three times since the tournament began; Australia has won twice; England has won once. That single extra title separating South Africa from New Zealand is the entire margin at the top of a competition that has been contested every four years since 1987, across a field that has grown from sixteen teams to twenty, with twenty four scheduled for 2027, meaning South Africa built its record advantage while competing in exactly the same expanding, increasingly difficult field as everyone chasing it.

Rugby World Cup

4 entries

Sport

Home Country or City

Team Type

Founded Year

England National Rugby Union Team

Rugby World Cup

New Zealand National Rugby Union Team (All Blacks)

Rugby World Cup

South Africa National Rugby Union Team (Springboks)

Rugby World Cup

Wales National Rugby Union Team

Rugby World Cup

Connections

Administered By

Source Wikipedia, Rugby World Cup

Competitors Include

Source Antoine Dupont (Wikipedia)

Beauden Barrett

Source Beauden Barrett (Wikipedia)

Source Ben Tune (source article)

Source Ben Youngs (Wikipedia)

Brian O'Driscoll

Source Brian O'Driscoll (Wikipedia)

Brodie Retallick

Source Brodie Retallick (Wikipedia)

Source Bryan Habana (Wikipedia)

Chester Williams

Source Chester Williams (Wikipedia)

Source Dai Young (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia, Dan Carter

Source David Pocock (Wikipedia)

Source Eben Etzebeth (Wikipedia)

England National Rugby Union Team

Source England National Rugby Union Team (Wikipedia)

Source Faf de Klerk (Wikipedia)

Francois Pienaar

Source Francois Pienaar (Wikipedia)

Source Gareth Thomas (rugby, born 1974) (Wikipedia)

Genevieve Delves

Source Genevieve Delves (Wikipedia)

Source George Gregan (Wikipedia)

Source Grant Fox (Wikipedia)

Handré Pollard

Source Handré Pollard (Wikipedia)

Jannie du Plessis

Source Jannie du Plessis (Wikipedia)

Source Jason Leonard (Wikipedia)

Source Jason Robinson (rugby) (Wikipedia)

Source John Smit (Wikipedia)

Source Johnny Sexton (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia, Jonah Lomu

Jonny Wilkinson

Source Wikipedia, Jonny Wilkinson

Joost van der Westhuizen

Source Joost van der Westhuizen (Wikipedia)

Lawrence Dallaglio

Source Lawrence Dallaglio (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia, Martin Johnson

Source Michael Jones (Wikipedia)

Source Michael Lynagh (Wikipedia)

Source Mike Tindall (Wikipedia)

New Zealand National Rugby Union Team (All Blacks)

Source Os du Randt (Wikipedia)

Source Owen Farrell (Wikipedia)

Patricio Albacete

Source Patricio Albacete (Wikipedia)

Percy Montgomery

Source Percy Montgomery (Wikipedia)

Source Wikipedia, Richie McCaw

Source Sam Whitelock (Wikipedia)

Source Scott Quinnell (Wikipedia)

Sean Fitzpatrick

Source Sean Fitzpatrick (Wikipedia)

Sébastien Chabal

Source Sébastien Chabal (Wikipedia)

Source Semi Radradra (Wikipedia)

Source Serge Blanco (Wikipedia)

Source Sergio Parisse (Wikipedia)

Source Shane Williams (Wikipedia)

Source Siya Kolisi (Wikipedia)

Sonny Bill Williams

Source Sonny Bill Williams (Wikipedia)

South Africa National Rugby Union Team (Springboks)

Showing 1 to 50 of 53 in Competitors Include, page 1 of 2.

Features

Source Wikipedia, Rugby World Cup

Long-Form Articles

Sixteen Teams to Twenty Four

Source Wikipedia, Rugby World Cup

The Only Four Time Champion

Source Wikipedia, Rugby World Cup

Sources

1. Wikipedia, 1987 Rugby World Cup

Wikipedia

Infobox: dateto
20 June (30 days)
Introduction
The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the first Rugby World Cup.

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2. Wikipedia, Rugby World Cup

Wikipedia

History section
Features: Rugby Union
Administered By: World Rugby
Long-Form Articles: Sixteen Teams to Twenty Four
Long-Form Articles: The Only Four Time Champion

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Wikipedia, Jonah Lomu

Wikimedia FoundationCompetitors Include: Jonah LomuView the Source

Ben Tune (source article)

Competitors Include: Ben Tune, Career section

Quote, Competitors Include: Ben Tune, Career section

Tune was an important member of the national side that claimed the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales

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Genevieve Delves (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Genevieve Delves, Rugby union career

Quote, Competitors Include: Genevieve Delves, Rugby union career

Delves represented Australia at the 1998 and 2002 Women's Rugby World Cups.

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Sonny Bill Williams (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Sonny Bill Williams, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Sonny Bill Williams, Rugby World Cup

He won 58 caps for New Zealand (the All Blacks), and was part of the teams that won the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.

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Sébastien Chabal (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Sébastien Chabal, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Sébastien Chabal, Rugby World Cup

He also finished in fourth place at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

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Francois Pienaar (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Francois Pienaar, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Francois Pienaar, Rugby World Cup

He is best known for leading South Africa to victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

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Antoine Dupont (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Antoine Dupont, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Antoine Dupont, Rugby World Cup

He was selected to captain the 34-man squad for France as they hosted the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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Siya Kolisi (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Siya Kolisi, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Siya Kolisi, Rugby World Cup

eventually leading the South African Rugby team to victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final against England

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Shane Williams (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Shane Williams, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Shane Williams, Rugby World Cup

During the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Williams earned his 50th cap against Japan.

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Owen Farrell (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Owen Farrell, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Owen Farrell, Rugby World Cup

Farrell was picked by Lancaster as one of two fly-halves in the 31-man World Cup squad.

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Brian O'Driscoll (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Brian O'Driscoll, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Brian O'Driscoll, Rugby World Cup

He played for Ireland in the last four World Cups (17 caps, 7 tries).

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Johnny Sexton (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Johnny Sexton, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Johnny Sexton, Rugby World Cup

Sexton started Ireland's first two pool matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and came off the bench in their last two pool matches.

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George Gregan (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: George Gregan, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: George Gregan, Rugby World Cup

As a member of the Wallabies team, Gregan won the Rugby World Cup in 1999.

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Percy Montgomery (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Percy Montgomery, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: Percy Montgomery, Career

He played at the 1999 Rugby World Cup finals

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Eben Etzebeth (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Eben Etzebeth, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: Eben Etzebeth, Career

Etzebeth was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

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Serge Blanco (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Serge Blanco, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: Serge Blanco, Career

He scored the deciding try in the semi-final of the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987

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David Pocock (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: David Pocock, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: David Pocock, Career

Pocock scored two tries in Australia's opening game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup

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Bryan Habana (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Bryan Habana, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: Bryan Habana, Career

Habana was part of the South Africa team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup

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Handré Pollard (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Handré Pollard, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: Handré Pollard, Career

started for South Africa in their 2019 Rugby World Cup Final win

View the Source

Faf de Klerk (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Faf de Klerk, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: Faf de Klerk, Career

He was a member of the South Africa teams that won the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and 2023.

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Beauden Barrett (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Beauden Barrett, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: Beauden Barrett, Career

Barrett was selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup

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Brodie Retallick (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Brodie Retallick, Career

Quote, Competitors Include: Brodie Retallick, Career

He was a key member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning team

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Sergio Parisse (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Sergio Parisse, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Sergio Parisse, Lead

He also holds the joint record of playing in five Rugby World Cups.

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Ben Youngs (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Ben Youngs, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Ben Youngs, Lead

He started the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final

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Sam Whitelock (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Sam Whitelock, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Sam Whitelock, Lead

He was a key member of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning teams

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Joost van der Westhuizen (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Joost van der Westhuizen, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Joost van der Westhuizen, Lead

participated in three Rugby World Cups

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John Smit (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: John Smit, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: John Smit, Lead

led the team to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup

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Chester Williams (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Chester Williams, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Chester Williams, Lead

most notably for the team that won the 1995 Rugby World Cup

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Will Carling (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Will Carling, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Will Carling, Lead

reached the 1991 World Cup final

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Jason Leonard (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Jason Leonard, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Jason Leonard, Lead

England teams which won four Grand Slams (1991, 1992, 1995 and 2003) and the 2003 Rugby World Cup

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Michael Lynagh (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Michael Lynagh, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Michael Lynagh, Lead

During the 1987 Rugby World Cup, Lynagh broke the Australian record

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Mike Tindall (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Mike Tindall, Career, Bath, 2003 World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Mike Tindall, Career, Bath, 2003 World Cup

was selected for the 2003 Rugby World Cup

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Vincent Clerc (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Vincent Clerc, 2007 to 2010, 2007 World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Vincent Clerc, 2007 to 2010, 2007 World Cup

Clerc was picked for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

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Jason Robinson (rugby) (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Jason Robinson, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Jason Robinson, Lead

He was part of the 2003 World Cup-winning England team

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Sean Fitzpatrick (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Sean Fitzpatrick, Lead, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Sean Fitzpatrick, Lead, Rugby World Cup

He was part of the New Zealand side that won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987.

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Michael Jones (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Michael Jones, Lead, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Michael Jones, Lead, Rugby World Cup

including winning the first Rugby World Cup in 1987

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Grant Fox (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Grant Fox, Lead, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Grant Fox, Lead, Rugby World Cup

He was a member of the All Blacks team that won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

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Os du Randt (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Os du Randt, Lead, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Os du Randt, Lead, Rugby World Cup

won two Rugby World Cups, in 1995 and 2007

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Wales National Rugby Union Team (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Wales National Rugby Union Team, Lead, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Wales National Rugby Union Team, Lead, Rugby World Cup

Wales has also participated in every Rugby World Cup since the competition was established in 1987

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England National Rugby Union Team (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: England National Rugby Union Team, Lead, Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: England National Rugby Union Team, Lead, Rugby World Cup

having won the tournament in 2003

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Lawrence Dallaglio (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Lawrence Dallaglio, Lead, 2003 World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Lawrence Dallaglio, Lead, 2003 World Cup

was part of the team that won the 2003 World Cup

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Patricio Albacete (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Patricio Albacete, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Patricio Albacete, Lead

a part of their 2003 Rugby World Cup squad

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Dai Young (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Dai Young, Career, competition

Quote, Competitors Include: Dai Young, Career, competition

his Wales début in the first ever Rugby World Cup against England in the quarter-finals

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Gareth Thomas (rugby, born 1974) (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Gareth Thomas, International career

Quote, Competitors Include: Gareth Thomas, International career

His 100th and last test match was in his team's defeat by Fiji in the 2007 World Cup.

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Semi Radradra (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Semi Radradra, Lead

Quote, Competitors Include: Semi Radradra, Lead

He made his international debut for Fiji in 2018 and played in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

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Scott Quinnell (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Scott Quinnell, International career

Quote, Competitors Include: Scott Quinnell, International career

then reached the World Cup quarter-finals

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Jannie du Plessis (Wikipedia)

Competitors Include: Jannie du Plessis, Rugby career, 2007 Rugby World Cup

Quote, Competitors Include: Jannie du Plessis, Rugby career, 2007 Rugby World Cup

Neither Jannie nor Bismarck was named to the Springboks' original squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but both eventually joined the squad.

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Wikipedia, Richie McCaw

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Richie McCaw, lead paragraph, competed-in

Quote, Competitors Include: Richie McCaw, lead paragraph, competed-in

After their elimination in the quarter-finals, his captaincy came under criticism, but he was retained and eventually led the team to consecutive Rugby World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015, becoming one of only 43 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions.

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Wikipedia, Jonny Wilkinson

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Jonny Wilkinson, lead paragraph, competed-in

Quote, Competitors Include: Jonny Wilkinson, lead paragraph, competed-in

Wilkinson is currently a studio pundit for ITV Sport, working on their coverage of the Six Nations Championship, Rugby World Cup and other rugby events.

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Wikipedia, Dan Carter

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Dan Carter, lead paragraph, competed-in

Quote, Competitors Include: Dan Carter, lead paragraph, competed-in

Carter played for the All Blacks in their Rugby World Cup winning teams in both 2011 and 2015, becoming one of 43 players to have won multiple Rugby World Cups.

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Wikipedia, Martin Johnson

WikipediaCompetitors Include: Martin Johnson, lead paragraph, competed-in

Quote, Competitors Include: Martin Johnson, lead paragraph, competed-in

He left the post in November 2011 following England's quarter final defeat at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and has not taken another management position in the game since.

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Essays About This Entity (2 essays)

New Zealand Won the First Rugby World Cup, but South Africa Leads the Record

The Rugby World Cup Field Has Grown Since Its 1987 Start

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