November 3, 2024

Brief History of the Rugby World Cup

Few people know that the Rugby World Cup didn’t start until 1987. This event, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, would be the first of many. 

The Rugby World Cup began on May 22, 1987, in Auckland, when New Zealand, the host nation, defeated Italy 70–6, taking no prisoners. 

This would mark the start of the tale of how, over the following 33 years, the Webb-Ellis Cup found its way into the possession of four different countries. 

Every four years, the victorious nation raises the Webb Ellis Cup with pride—an accomplishment that each team strives for at the outset of the competition. 

William Webb Ellis, recognized as the creator of rugby football, is honored with the cup. 

Ellis did this by picking up the ball during a soccer match and sprinting down the field with it. Another question is how factual this is! 

We have now had the pleasure of witnessing nine World Cups in nine different nations. 

Australia and New Zealand have each hosted twice, once as the sole hosts and once as co-hosts. 

Wales, France, and England each hosted the event separately once more before the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France came together to host the tournament’s second edition in 1991. 

The final two stops were in 1995 in South Africa and, most recently, two years ago in Japan. 

I hear you ask, “So, who are the four countries that possess the magnificent work of art, crafted from gilded silver?” Who has been able to celebrate by raising the cup high above their heads? Who has won the Rugby World Cup? 

England has only won once, but that victory in 2003 was very amazing! Star player Jonny Wilkinson’s stunning goal in extra time stunned the English and demoralized the Australians on their field. 

The Australians, who have won the competition twice, in 1991 and 1999, come in second. 

Nevertheless, South Africa and New Zealand tie for first place with three wins apiece. 

The All Blacks were champions in 1987, but they amazingly had to wait until 2011 to lift the cup again. 

They promptly followed that up with another victory in the England-hosted tournament in 2015 versus Australia. 

In 1995, South Africa emerged victorious from their inaugural tournament after defeating a formidable New Zealand side in extra time. 

This victory was momentous and crucial in multiple ways. They defeated England in France in 2007 after that, and they most recently defeated them once more in Japan in 2019. What wonderful recollections! 

When the All Blacks defeated Japan 145-17 in 1995, the game had the greatest scoring total in Rugby World Cup history—162 points were scored overall. 

When Australia defeated Namibia 142-0 in 2003—the same game that yielded the record-tying 22 tries scored in a single game—Adelaide witnessed the largest victory margin. 

The player with the most points in Rugby World Cup history is Jonny Wilkinson. 

He scored 277 points in 19 games over four World Cups, demonstrating his incredible ability to kick when it counts most—especially under duress.

Rugby’s D-class sensation Jonah Lomu and South African icon Bryan Habana share the top spot with 15 tries apiece, an accomplishment that upcoming players will strive to match. 

So what will happen in 2023? Will South Africa or New Zealand beat all previous records to finish in fourth place, or will the next time around the cup bear a completely different name? 

Will there be a new sensation who takes a country by the scruff of the neck and wins it all for them? There will undoubtedly be blood, sweat, and tears shed on the French rugby fields, and the tournament will undoubtedly contribute to the incredible history that this magnificent game has already bestowed upon us. 

Brief History of the Rugby World Cup