Rugby Union World Cup
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The Rugby World Cup is the premier international Rugby Union contest in the world, first held jointly in Australia and New Zealand in 1987 and now held every four years. The prize is the "William Webb Ellis Trophy" (known in Australia as 'Bill') named after the pupil of Rugby School credited, probably apocryphally, with the game's invention. It is currently held by England.
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Tournaments
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| Past winners of the Rugby Union World Cup |
| Year | Hosts | Winners | Captain | Coach | Losing Finalist | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 World Cup | New Zealand and Australia | New Zealand | David Kirk | Brian Lochore | France | 29-9 |
| 1991 World Cup | England (games also held in Ireland and France) | Australia | Nick Farr-Jones | Bob Dwyer | England | 12-6 |
| 1995 World Cup | South Africa | South Africa | Francois Pienaar | Kitch Christie | New Zealand | 15-12 |
| 1999 World Cup | Wales (games also held in England, Ireland, Scotland and France) | Australia | John Eales | Rod Macqueen | France | 35-12 |
| 2003 World Cup | Australia | England | Martin Johnson | Clive Woodward | Australia | 20-17 |
| 2007 World Cup | France (games also to be held in Scotland and Wales) | |||||
| 2011 World Cup |
History
Rugby World Cup was originally thought up in late 1983, when the Australian Rugby Union and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union each independently wrote to the International Rugby Board seeking to conduct a World Cup tournament.
In 1985 the IRB approved for the inaugural Rugby World Cup to be jointly staged in Australia and New Zealand during May and June of 1987.
Nominally hosted by England and Wales, respectively, the 1991 and 1999 tournaments had games spread over the UK, Ireland and France.
The 1995 Cup, hosted and won by South Africa, will probably be most remembered for two moments—the emergence of Jonah Lomu as a rugby superstar, and the trophy presentation. In one of the most emotional moments in sports history, President Nelson Mandela wore a Springbok jersey and matching baseball cap when presenting the trophy to the team's Afrikaner captain Francois Pienaar. Mandela's jersey had Pienaar's number 6 on the back. The presentation was widely seen as a sign of reconciliation between South Africa's black and white communities.
The 2003 Cup was intended to be held jointly by Australia and New Zealand, but disagreements between the International Rugby Board and the NZ Union, over sponsorship, advertising and ticketing, saw the competition relocated to Australia.
The 2007 competition will be held in France.
See also
- 2007 Rugby Union World Cup
- 2003 Rugby Union World Cup
- 1999 Rugby Union World Cup
- 1995 Rugby Union World Cup
- 1991 Rugby Union World Cup
- 1987 Rugby Union World Cup
- List of International Rugby Union Teams
- Rugby League World Cup
External link
- 2007 Rugby World Cup website (http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/) (from the IRB)
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