Rugby World Cup records have been accumulating since the first Rugby World Cup tournament was held in 1987.
Team records
[edit]Titles
[edit]Titles | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|
4 | ![]() |
1995, 2007, 2019, 2023 |
3 | ![]() |
1987, 2011, 2015 |
2 | ![]() |
1991, 1999 |
1 | ![]() |
2003 |
Title win rate
[edit]Win rate | Team |
---|---|
−50% | ![]() |
−30% | ![]() |
−20% | ![]() |
−10% | ![]() |
Most semi-finals
[edit]App | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|
9 | ![]() |
1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 |
6 | ![]() |
1987, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 |
![]() |
1991, 1995, 2003, 2007, 2019, 2023 | |
![]() |
1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 | |
![]() |
1995, 1999, 2007, 2015, 2019, 2023 |
Most quarter-finals
[edit]App | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|
10 | ![]() |
1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 |
![]() |
1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 | |
9 | ![]() |
1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 |
![]() |
1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2019, 2023 | |
8 | ![]() |
1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 |
![]() |
1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 |
Most appearances
[edit]App | Team(s) |
---|---|
10 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
9 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
8 | ![]() ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
- 10 teams appeared in every World Cup:
Samoa/Western Samoa also qualified for every World Cup but was not invited to the 1987 Rugby World Cup.
South Africa was banned from competing in 1987 and 1991 due to the sporting boycott of South Africa but appeared in every World Cup since the ban was lifted.
Points
[edit]Log Points | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | W% | TB | LB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
238 | ![]() |
64 | 54 | 1 | 9 | 2,888 | 842 | +2,046 | 84.38 | 20 | 0 |
186 | ![]() |
50 | 42 | 0 | 8 | 1,720 | 641 | +1,079 | 84.00 | 16 | 2 |
156 | ![]() |
57 | 44 | 0 | 13 | 1,887 | 845 | +1,042 | 77.19 | 15 | 2 |
153 | ![]() |
58 | 42 | 1 | 15 | 1,790 | 822 | +968 | 72.41 | 12 | 1 |
147 | ![]() |
58 | 40 | 2 | 16 | 1,823 | 1,027 | +796 | 68.97 | 13 | 3 |
Last updated: 28 October 2023
Points | Team | Opponent | Score | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
145 | ![]() |
![]() |
145–17 | 4 June 1995 |
142 | ![]() |
![]() |
142–0 | 24 October 2003 |
111 | ![]() |
![]() |
111–13 | 2 November 2003 |
108 | ![]() |
![]() |
108–13 | 15 September 2007 |
101 | ![]() |
![]() |
101–3 | 14 October 1999 |
![]() |
![]() |
101–10 | 15 October 1999 |
Margins
[edit]Margin | Team | Opponent | Score | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
142 | ![]() |
![]() |
142–0 | 24 October 2003 |
128 | ![]() |
![]() |
145–17 | 4 June 1995 |
98 | ![]() |
![]() |
101–3 | 14 October 1999 |
![]() |
![]() |
111–13 | 2 November 2003 | |
96 | ![]() |
![]() |
96–0 | 21 September 2023 |
Tries
[edit]Tries | Team | Opponent | Score | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
22 | ![]() |
![]() |
142–0 | 24 October 2003 |
21 | ![]() |
![]() |
145–17 | 4 June 1995 |
17 | ![]() |
![]() |
111–13 | 2 November 2003 |
16 | ![]() |
![]() |
108–13 | 15 September 2007 |
14 | ![]() |
![]() |
101–3 | 14 October 1999 |
![]() |
![]() |
96–0 | 21 September 2023 | |
![]() |
![]() |
96–17 | 29 September 2023 |
Player records
[edit]Points
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/St_Jonny_signing_autographs.jpg/220px-St_Jonny_signing_autographs.jpg)
Points | Name | Team | App. | Tries | Con. | Pen. | Drop | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
277 | Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
19 | 1 | 28 | 58 | 14 | 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 |
227 | Gavin Hastings | ![]() |
13 | 9 | 39 | 36 | 0 | 1987, 1991, 1995 |
195 | Handré Pollard | ![]() |
17 | 0 | 24 | 46 | 3 | 2015, 2019, 2023 |
Michael Lynagh | ![]() |
15 | 4 | 36 | 33 | 2 | 1987, 1991, 1995 | |
191 | Dan Carter | ![]() |
15 | 3 | 58 | 17 | 3 | 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 |
- Key: App = Appearances. Con = conversions. Pen = penalties. Drop = drop goals.
Points | Name | Team | Tournament |
---|---|---|---|
126 | Grant Fox | ![]() |
1987 |
113 | Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
2003 |
112 | Thierry Lacroix | ![]() |
1995 |
105 | Percy Montgomery | ![]() |
2007 |
104 | Gavin Hastings | ![]() |
1995 |
Points | Name | Team | Opponent | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
45 | Simon Culhane | ![]() |
![]() |
4 June 1995 |
44 | Gavin Hastings | ![]() |
![]() |
26 May 1995 |
42 | Mat Rogers | ![]() |
![]() |
25 October 2003 |
36 | Tony Brown | ![]() |
![]() |
14 October 1999 |
Paul Grayson | ![]() |
![]() |
15 October 1999 |
Tries
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Julian_Savea_September_2015_RWC.jpg/170px-Julian_Savea_September_2015_RWC.jpg)
Tries | Name | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
15 | Jonah Lomu | ![]() |
1995–1999 |
Bryan Habana | ![]() |
2007–2015 | |
14 | Drew Mitchell | ![]() |
2007–2015 |
13 | Doug Howlett | ![]() |
2003–2007 |
12 | Adam Ashley-Cooper | ![]() |
2007–2019 |
Tries | Name | Team | Tournament |
---|---|---|---|
8 | Jonah Lomu | ![]() |
1999 |
Bryan Habana | ![]() |
2007 | |
Julian Savea | ![]() |
2015 | |
Will Jordan | ![]() |
2023 | |
7 | Marc Ellis | ![]() |
1995 |
Jonah Lomu | ![]() |
1995 | |
Doug Howlett | ![]() |
2003 | |
Mils Muliaina | ![]() |
2003 | |
Drew Mitchell | ![]() |
2007 | |
Josh Adams | ![]() |
2019 |
Tries | Name | Team | Opponent | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 | Marc Ellis | ![]() |
![]() |
4 June 1995 |
5 | Chris Latham | ![]() |
![]() |
25 October 2003 |
Josh Lewsey | ![]() |
![]() |
2 November 2003 | |
Henry Arundell | ![]() |
![]() |
23 September 2023 | |
4 | John Gallagher | ![]() |
![]() |
27 May 1987 |
Craig Green | ![]() |
![]() |
27 May 1987 | |
Ieuan Evans | ![]() |
![]() |
3 June 1987 | |
Brian Robinson | ![]() |
![]() |
6 October 1991 | |
Gavin Hastings | ![]() |
![]() |
26 May 1995 | |
Chester Williams | ![]() |
![]() |
10 June 1995 | |
Jonah Lomu | ![]() |
![]() |
18 June 1995 | |
Keith Wood | ![]() |
![]() |
2 October 1999 | |
Mils Muliaina | ![]() |
![]() |
17 October 2003 | |
Bryan Habana | ![]() |
![]() |
9 September 2007 | |
Vereniki Goneva | ![]() |
![]() |
10 September 2011 | |
Zac Guildford | ![]() |
![]() |
2 October 2011 | |
Darcy Graham | ![]() |
![]() |
30 September 2023 |
Youngest try scorer in a World Cup game
- George North (
Wales), aged 19 years, 166 days (2 tries v
Namibia, 26 September 2011)[11]
Oldest try scorer in a World Cup game
- Diego Ormaechea (
Uruguay), aged 40 years, 13 days (v
Spain, 2 October 1999)[12]
Conversions
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Dan_Carter_1024x768.jpg/220px-Dan_Carter_1024x768.jpg)
Con. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
58 | Dan Carter | ![]() |
2003–2015 |
39 | Gavin Hastings | ![]() |
1987–1995 |
38 | Richie Mo'unga | ![]() |
2019–2023 |
37 | Grant Fox | ![]() |
1987–1991 |
36 | Michael Lynagh | ![]() |
1987–1995 |
Con. | Name | Team | Tournament |
---|---|---|---|
30 | Grant Fox | ![]() |
1987 |
23 | Dan Carter | ![]() |
2015 |
21 | Thomas Ramos | ![]() |
2023 |
20 | Michael Lynagh | ![]() |
1987 |
Simon Culhane | ![]() |
1995 | |
Leon MacDonald | ![]() |
2003 | |
Nick Evans | ![]() |
2007 | |
Richie Mo'unga | ![]() |
2019 |
Con. | Name | Team | Opponent | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Simon Culhane | ![]() |
![]() |
4 June 1995 |
16 | Mat Rogers | ![]() |
![]() |
25 October 2003 |
14 | Nick Evans | ![]() |
![]() |
15 September 2007 |
12 | Paul Grayson | ![]() |
![]() |
15 October 1999 |
Leon MacDonald | ![]() |
![]() |
24 October 2003 | |
Thomas Ramos | ![]() |
![]() |
21 September 2023 |
Penalty goals
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Gavin_Hastings.jpg/220px-Gavin_Hastings.jpg)
Pen. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
58 | Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
1999–2011 |
46 | Handré Pollard | ![]() |
2015–2023 |
36 | Gavin Hastings | ![]() |
1987–1995 |
35 | Gonzalo Quesada | ![]() |
1999–2003 |
33 | Michael Lynagh | ![]() |
1987–1995 |
Andrew Mehrtens | ![]() |
1995–1999 |
Pen. | Name | Team | Tournament |
---|---|---|---|
31 | Gonzalo Quesada | ![]() |
1999 |
26 | Thierry Lacroix | ![]() |
1995 |
23 | Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
2003 |
Handré Pollard | ![]() |
2015 | |
21 | Grant Fox | ![]() |
1987 |
Elton Flatley | ![]() |
2003 |
Pen. | Name | Team | Opponent | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 | Gavin Hastings | ![]() |
![]() |
30 May 1995 |
Thierry Lacroix | ![]() |
![]() |
10 June 1995 | |
Gonzalo Quesada | ![]() |
![]() |
10 October 1999 | |
Matt Burke | ![]() |
![]() |
30 October 1999 | |
7 | Gonzalo Quesada | ![]() |
![]() |
16 October 1999 |
Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
![]() |
20 October 1999 | |
David Humphreys | ![]() |
![]() |
20 October 1999 | |
Gonzalo Quesada | ![]() |
![]() |
20 October 1999 | |
Matt Burke | ![]() |
![]() |
6 November 1999 | |
Piri Weepu | ![]() |
![]() |
9 October 2011 | |
Dan Biggar | ![]() |
![]() |
26 September 2015 |
Drop goals
[edit]Drop | Name | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
14 | Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
1999–2011 |
6 | Jannie de Beer | ![]() |
1999 |
5 | Rob Andrew | ![]() |
1987–1995 |
Gareth Rees | ![]() |
1987–1999 | |
4 | Juan Martín Hernández | ![]() |
2003–2015 |
Drop | Name | Team | Tournament |
---|---|---|---|
8 | Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
2003 |
6 | Jannie de Beer | ![]() |
1999 |
5 | Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
2007 |
4 | Juan Martín Hernández | ![]() |
2007 |
3 | Jonathan Davies | ![]() |
1987 |
Rob Andrew | ![]() |
1995 | |
Andrew Mehrtens | ![]() |
1995 | |
Joel Stransky | ![]() |
1995 | |
Gregor Townsend | ![]() |
1999 | |
Theuns Kotzé | ![]() |
2011 | |
Dan Parks | ![]() |
2011 | |
George Ford | ![]() |
2023 |
Drop | Name | Team | Opponent | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Jannie de Beer | ![]() |
![]() |
24 October 1999 |
3 | Juan Martín Hernández | ![]() |
![]() |
30 September 2007 |
George Ford | ![]() |
![]() |
9 September 2023 | |
Theuns Kotzé | ![]() |
![]() |
10 September 2011 | |
Jonny Wilkinson | ![]() |
![]() |
16 November 2003 |
Appearance statistics
[edit]App. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
26 | Sam Whitelock | ![]() |
2011–2023 |
22 | Agustin Creevy | ![]() |
2011–2023 |
Jason Leonard | ![]() |
1991–2003 | |
Richie McCaw | ![]() |
2003–2015 | |
21 | Alun Wyn Jones | ![]() |
2007–2019 |
James Slipper | ![]() |
2011–2023 |
App. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
23 | Sam Whitelock | ![]() |
2011–2023 |
20 | Richie McCaw | ![]() |
2003–2015 |
19 | Keven Mealamu | ![]() |
2003–2015 |
18 | Sonny Bill Williams | ![]() |
2011–2019 |
17 | François Steyn | ![]() |
2007, 2011, 2019 |
App. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
14 | Eugene Jantjies | ![]() |
2007–2019 |
12 | PJ van Lill | ![]() |
2011–2023 |
Ovidiu Tonița | ![]() |
2003–2015 | |
D.T.H. van der Merwe | ![]() |
2007–2019 | |
11 | Jacques Burger | ![]() |
2007–2015 |
Jamie Cudmore | ![]() |
2003–2015 | |
Tinus du Plessis | ![]() |
2007–2015 | |
Romeo Gontineac | ![]() |
1995–2007 | |
Hugo Horn | ![]() |
1999–2011 | |
Merab Kvirikashvili | ![]() |
2003–2015 | |
Johnny Redelinghuys | ![]() |
2007–2015 | |
Aranos Coetzee | ![]() |
2015–2023 |
Oldest player to appear in a World Cup match
- Diego Ormaechea,
Uruguay, aged 40 years, 26 days (v
South Africa, 15 October 1999)[29][30]
Oldest player to appear in a World Cup final
- Duane Vermeulen,
South Africa, aged 37 years, 117 days (v
New Zealand, 28 October 2023)
Oldest player to win a World Cup final
- Schalk Brits,
South Africa, aged 38 years, 170 days (v
England, 2 November 2019)
Youngest player to appear in a World Cup match
- Vasil Lobzhanidze,
Georgia, aged 18 years, 340 days (v
Tonga, 19 September 2015)[31]
Youngest player to appear in a World Cup final
- Jonah Lomu,
New Zealand, aged 20 years, 43 days (v
South Africa, 24 June 1995)[29]
Youngest player to win a World Cup final
- François Steyn,
South Africa, aged 20 years, 159 days (v
England, 20 October 2007)[29]
By tournament
[edit]Year | Top points scorers | Top try scorers | Team records | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 |
126* – Grant Fox ( |
6 – Craig Green ( |
Most points in a match | 74 | ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 64 | ![]() | ||||
Most tries in a match | 13 | ![]() | ||||
1991 |
68 – Ralph Keyes ( |
6 – David Campese ( |
Most points in a match | 55 | ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 44 | ![]() ![]() | ||||
Most tries in a match | 9 | ![]() | ||||
1995 |
112 – Thierry Lacroix ( |
7 – Jonah Lomu ( |
Most points in a match | 145* | ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 128 | |||||
Most tries in a match | 21 | |||||
1999 |
102 – Gonzalo Quesada ( |
8* – Jonah Lomu (![]() |
Most points in a match | 101 | ![]() ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 98 | ![]() | ||||
Most tries in a match | 14 | |||||
2003 |
113 – Jonny Wilkinson ( |
7 – Doug Howlett ( |
Most points in a match | 142 | ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 142* | |||||
Most tries in a match | 22* | |||||
2007 |
105 – Percy Montgomery ( |
8* – Bryan Habana (![]() |
Most points in a match | 108 | ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 95 | |||||
Most tries in a match | 16 | |||||
2011 |
62 – Morné Steyn ( |
6 – Chris Ashton ( |
Most points in a match | 87 | ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 87 | |||||
Most tries in a match | 12 | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||
2015 |
97 – Nicolás Sánchez ( |
8* – Julian Savea (![]() |
Most points in a match | 65 | ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 64 | ![]() | ||||
Most tries in a match | 10 | |||||
2019 |
69 – Handré Pollard ( |
7 – Josh Adams (![]() |
Most points in a match | 71 | ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 63 | ![]() | ||||
Most tries in a match | 11 | ![]() | ||||
2023 |
75 – Owen Farrell ( |
8* – Will Jordan ( |
Most points in a match | 96 | ![]() ![]() | |
Biggest winning margin | 96 | ![]() | ||||
Most tries in a match | 14 | ![]() ![]() |
Note: * denotes an all-time record
Miscellaneous
[edit]Winning coaches and captains
[edit]A foreign coach has never managed a World Cup-winning team.
Discipline
[edit]Team | Red Cards | Tournaments |
---|---|---|
![]() |
4 | 1995, 1995, 1999, 2019 |
![]() |
4 | 1991, 2011, 2019, 2023 |
![]() |
4 | 1995, 1999, 2007, 2023 |
![]() |
3 | 2007, 2023, 2023 |
![]() |
2 | 1991, 2019 |
![]() |
2 | 2023, 2023 |
![]() |
2 | 1995, 1999 |
![]() |
2 | 2015, 2019 |
![]() |
2 | 1987, 2011 |
Draws
[edit]Team | Score | Opponent | Date |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
20–20 | ![]() |
23 May 1987 |
![]() |
12–12 | ![]() |
12 September 2007 |
![]() |
23–23 | ![]() |
27 September 2011 |
![]() |
0–0(1) | ![]() |
12 October 2019 |
![]() |
0–0(1) | ![]() |
12 October 2019 |
![]() |
0–0(1) | ![]() |
13 October 2019 |
![]() |
18–18 | ![]() |
23 September 2023 |
- 1 During the 2019 tournament, Typhoon Hagibis caused the matches New Zealand v Italy, England v France and Namibia v Canada to be cancelled and recorded as 0–0 draws.
Nil points
[edit]Team | Score | Opponent | Date |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
0–89 | ![]() |
26 May 1995 |
![]() |
0–20 | ![]() |
3 June 1995 |
![]() |
0–48 | ![]() |
16 October 1999 |
![]() |
0–142 | ![]() |
25 October 2003 |
![]() |
0–36 | ![]() |
14 September 2007 |
![]() |
0–42 | ![]() |
18 September 2007 |
![]() |
0–40 | ![]() |
23 September 2007 |
![]() |
0–30 | ![]() |
26 September 2007 |
![]() |
0–87 | ![]() |
22 September 2011 |
![]() |
0–66 | ![]() |
2 October 2011 |
![]() |
0–64 | ![]() |
7 October 2015 |
![]() |
0–34 | ![]() |
30 September 2019 |
![]() |
0–63 | ![]() |
2 October 2019 |
![]() |
0–35 | ![]() |
3 October 2019 |
![]() |
0–61 | ![]() |
9 October 2019 |
![]() |
0–0(1) | ![]() |
12 October 2019 |
![]() |
0–0(1) | ![]() |
12 October 2019 |
![]() |
0–0(1) | ![]() |
13 October 2019 |
![]() |
0–76 | ![]() |
17 September 2023 |
![]() |
0–96 | ![]() |
21 September 2023 |
![]() |
0–71 | ![]() |
23 September 2023 |
![]() |
0–84 | ![]() |
30 September 2023 |
![]() |
0–73 | ![]() |
5 October 2023 |
- 1 During the 2019 tournament, Typhoon Hagibis caused the matches New Zealand v Italy, England v France and Namibia v Canada to be cancelled and recorded as 0–0 draws.
Highest attendance
[edit]- 89,267 –
Ireland v
Romania, 27 September 2015 at Wembley Stadium, London, England, 2015.[32]
Lowest attendance
[edit]- 2,000 –
Argentina v
Italy, 28 May 1987 at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, New Zealand, 1987.
Hosting
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Eden_Park_cropped.jpg/220px-Eden_Park_cropped.jpg)
- Eden Park in Auckland Park was the first stadium to host the Rugby World Cup Final twice, with the 1987 and 2011 finals having been held there. Twickenham Stadium has also hosted the final twice in 1991 and 2015, as has the Stade de France in 2007 and 2023.
- The record for the city that has been a part of most Rugby World Cups is currently four and is held by Cardiff that hosted matches in 1991, 1999, 2007 and 2015. If the definition of "city" includes its metropolitan area, Paris has also hosted matches in four tournaments. The city of Paris hosted matches in 1991, its adjacent suburb of Saint-Denis hosted matches in 1999 and 2023, and both cities hosted matches in 2007. Edinburgh and Toulouse hosted matches in three tournaments.
Head-to-Head
[edit]The highest number of Head-to-Head matches between two nations currently stands at eight meetings, encompassing four teams (Australia, France, New Zealand, and Wales) in two Rugby World Cup rivalries. The following table lists the Head-to-Head statistics of the Rugby World Cup, ranging from the inaugural tournament in 1987 to the latest tournament in 2023. It is organised first numerically, with the more Head-to-Head meetings appearing at the top of the table and the fewer meetings, such as one meeting between two nations appearing at the bottom of the table, and second, alphabetically by teams.
Legend | |
---|---|
R1 | Round 1 (Pool stage) |
R2 | Round 2 (Quarter-Final Playoff / Last 16)(2) |
QF | Quarter-finals |
SF | Semi-finals |
3rd | 3rd/4th place playoff (Bronze final) |
F | Final |
- 1 Samoa competed as Western Samoa from 1924 to 1997.
- 2 Round 2 was introduced at the 1999 Rugby World Cup and consisted of the five group runners-up and the best third-placed team playoff for one of three places in the quarter-final. It was discontinued for the 2003 to 2023 Rugby World Cups. Round 2 will be re-introduced for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and will consist of the last 16 teams made up from the top two placed teams from six groups and the best four third-placed teams.[33]
- 3 Three Rugby World Cup 2019 matches; involving Namibia versus Canada, New Zealand versus Italy, and England versus France, were cancelled and recorded as a 0–0 draw due to Typhoon Hagibis.
Tier 1 Nations Head-to-Head
[edit]The table below shows the current dominance in the Head-to-Head meetings of Tier 1 nations at the Rugby World Cup from the first tournament in 1987 to the latest tournament in 2023 (as of 20 October). Currently, New Zealand has the best record amongst the other Tier 1 nations, achieving more wins and culminating in a superior Head-to-Head record over seven other Tier 1 nations, and equal with two others (Australia and South Africa). Italy is at the bottom of the table, and has an inferior Head-to-Head record with eight other Tier 1 nations, and parity with one other nation (Argentina). There are two Tier 1 Head-to-Head meetings that have never been played at a Rugby World Cup: England versus Ireland, and Scotland versus Wales.
Team Ranking | Tier 1 Nations Head-to-Head Wins (Draws) | Total Head-to-Head Meetings | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | Australia | England | France | Ireland | Italy | New Zealand | Scotland | South Africa | Wales | Superior | Equal | Inferior | Never Played | ||
![]() |
4 - 0 | 2 - 2 | 3 - 1 | 5 - 3 | 3 - 0 | 6 - 0 (& 1 Draw)(1) |
- | 5 - 0 | 3 - 3 | 4 - 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
![]() |
3 - 0 | - | 3 - 4 | 1 - 1 | 4 - 1 | 1 - 0 | 2 - 2 | 2 - 0 | 2 - 1 | 5 - 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
![]() |
2 - 0 | 1 - 2 | 5 - 1 | 2 - 0 | 0 - 1 | 1 - 0 | 3 - 3 | 3 - 0 | - | 3 - 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
![]() |
5 - 0 | 4 - 3 | - | 3 - 2 (& 1 Draw)(1) |
NP | 3 - 0 | 1 - 3 | 2 - 0 | 1 - 5 | 1 - 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
![]() |
2 - 1 | 3 - 5 | 2 - 1 | 1 - 1 | 2 - 1 | 1 - 0 | 0 - 4 | NP | 0 - 3 | - | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
![]() |
2 - 2 | 1 - 1 | 2 - 3 (& 1 Draw)(1) |
- | 3 - 1 | 2 - 0 | 3 - 5 | 2 - 0 (& 1 Draw) |
0 - 2 | 1 - 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
![]() |
- | 0 - 3 | 0 - 5 | 2 - 2 | 3 - 1 | 1 - 1 | 0 - 4 | 2 - 0 | 0 - 2 | 1 - 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
![]() |
1 - 3 | 1 - 4 | NP | 1 - 3 | - | 2 - 0 | 0 - 3 | 2 - 1 | 1 - 0 | 1 - 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
![]() |
0 - 2 | 0 - 2 | 0 - 2 | 0 - 2 (& 1 Draw) |
1 - 2 | 1 - 0 | 0 - 5 | - | 0 - 3 | NP | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
![]() |
1 - 1 | 0 - 1 | 0 - 3 | 0 - 2 | 0 - 2 | - | 0 - 6 (& 1 Draw)(1) |
0 - 1 | 0 - 1 | 0 - 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
- 1 Two Tier 1 Rugby World Cup 2019 matches; involving New Zealand versus Italy, and England versus France, were cancelled and recorded as a 0–0 draw due to Typhoon Hagibis.
Trivia
[edit]- England became the first sole host nation to be eliminated in the pool stage of a Rugby World Cup in 2015. Wales, as joint hosts, were eliminated in the pool stage in 1991.
- Four match-ups have occurred twice in the same World Cup:
- 2007 Argentina defeated France in the opening match 17–12, and went on to beat them 34–10 in the bronze final.
- 2007 South Africa defeated England 36–0 in the pool stage, and went on to play them in the final, winning 15–6.
- 2011 New Zealand defeated France 37–17 in the pool stage, and went on to play them in the final, winning 8–7.
- 2023 England defeated Argentina 27–10 in the pool stage, and went on to beat them 26–23 in the bronze final.
- There are two Tier 1 Head-to-Head meetings that have never been played at a Rugby World Cup: England versus Ireland, and Scotland versus Wales.
- Four nations have reached a Rugby World Cup Final having previously lost a game in that tournament: England in 1991 and 2007, South Africa in 2019 and 2023, New Zealand in 2023 and France in 2011, the latter being the only team to reach the final having lost two games. The 2023 final is the only one with both teams having previously lost a game in the tournament.
- New Zealand have been involved in four World Cup opening matches, the most by any other team. The All Blacks defeated Italy in 1987, England in 1991, and Tonga in 2011, but lost to France in 2023. Argentina have participated in three World Cup opening matches. The Pumas participated in the first three World Cup openers of the professional era – losing to Wales and Australia in 1999 and 2003 respectively, and defeating France in 2007.
- France and New Zealand are the only nations to have made it to at least the quarter-finals of every Rugby World Cup. Furthermore, South Africa have also done so since they started participating in 1995.
- France is the only non English-speaking country to have made it to a Rugby World Cup final – in 1987, 1999 and 2011. It is also the only country to reach a final without ever winning it.
- The only Tier 2 country to have participated in every Rugby World Cup is Japan, with Canada only failing to qualify for the first time in 2023, making it to one quarter-final in 1991 and Japan reaching the quarter finals in 2019.
- Japan is the only team to have won three matches in a tournament where they did not progress beyond the pool stage, losing out to South Africa and Scotland in their pool by points difference in 2015.
- Among the Tier 1 nations, Italy is the only one not to have made it to at least the quarter-finals in any Rugby World Cup. Conversely, four Tier 2 countries have made it to the quarter-finals – Fiji in 1987, 2007 and 2023, Samoa (then called Western Samoa) in 1991 and 1995, Canada in 1991 and Japan in 2019.
- Arguably, Argentina in 1999 could also be regarded as having been a Tier 2 nation at the time, since they were not yet in the southern-hemisphere Rugby Championship: although official "Tiers" were not recognised at the time, this match can be regarded as the start of their actual period of achievement which led to them later earning recognition at the top table. Similarly, Japan's achievements in 2019, added to their defeat of South Africa in 2015, were eventually recognised by formally admitting them to the definition of a Tier 1 nation in May 2023.
- The 2015 final between Australia and New Zealand is the highest scoring Rugby World Cup final, with New Zealand winning that match 34–17.
- After the 2015 final, New Zealand became the first team to win the Rugby World Cup three times, and the first team to have successfully defended its title. South Africa became the second team to defend its title in 2023 and the first to win the Rugby World Cup on four occasions, as well as the first to win successive titles away from home.
- Wales have had the most upsets in the Rugby World Cup, having lost to Samoa both in 1991 and 1999, then losing to Fiji in 2007. Other major upsets include Ireland and Scotland losing to Japan in 2019, France losing to Tonga in 2011, South Africa losing to Japan in 2015 and Australia losing to Fiji in 2023. Argentina's defeat of Ireland in 1999 was also regarded as an upset at the time.
- South Africa became the first nation to win a World Cup after losing a match in the pool stage in 2019 and did so again in 2023.
- New Zealand were the last Tier 1 team to experience defeat in the pool stages of a Rugby World Cup. They were defeated by France in 2023.[34]
See also
[edit]- List of rugby union playing countries
- List of Rugby World Cup hat-tricks
- Rugby World Cup try scorers
- Rugby World Cup Overall Record
- National team appearances in the Rugby World Cup
- List of winners of multiple Rugby World Cups
- List of Rugby World Cup finals
- Rugby World Cup
- International rugby union team records
- International rugby union player records
References
[edit]- ^ "Team Records". ESPN. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Most team points in a match". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "All Time RWC Team Records". Rugbyworldcup.com. 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most team tries in a match". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "All Time RWC Player Statistics". Rugbyworldcup.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual points in a tournament/season". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "All Time RWC Player Records". Rugbyworldcup.com. 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "RWC ALL TIME MOST TRIES SCORED". Rugbyworldcup.com. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- ^ "Most individual tries in a tournament/season". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual tries in a match". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Youngest tryscorer". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Oldest tryscorer". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "RWC ALL TIME MOST CONVERSIONS". Rugbyworldcup.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual conversions". Espnscrum.com. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ "Most individual conversions in a tournament/season". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual conversions in a match". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "RWC ALL TIME MOST PENALTIES SCORED". Rugbyworldcup.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual penalty goals". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual penalty goals in a tournament/season". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual penalty goals in a match". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "RWC ALL TIME MOST DROP GOALS". Rugbyworldcup.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual drop goals". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual drop goals in a tournament/season". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "Most individual drop goals in a match". Espnscrum.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ "RWC ALL TIME MOST MATCHES PLAYED". Rugbyworldcup.com. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ "Most matches". Espnscrum.com. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ "Player Records: Overall figures, Rugby World Cup, won match". ESPN (UK). 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ "Player Records: Overall figures, Rugby World Cup, lost match". ESPN (UK). 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Griffiths, John (12 September 2011). "Victors in the Five/Six Nations, Tri-Nations and the World Cup, the youngest and oldest players, referees and close encounters". Ask John. ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ For the specific match where Ormaeches established the current record, see the list of his Test matches at ESPN Scrum.
- ^ "Georgia spring first surprise by taking down Tonga". ESPN (UK). PA Sport. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ "Rugby World Cup - Highest attendance". ESPN. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ Phillips, Mitch (24 October 2023). "World Cup expands to 24 teams amid radical new calendar". Reuters. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand discipline poor again as Rugby World Cup pools streak ends". AP. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
External links
[edit]- All Time RWC Team Statistics on Rugbyworldcup.com
- All Time RWC Player Statistics on Rugbyworldcup.com
- IRB Rugby World Cup Records on Espnscrum.com