About
The Rugby World Cup is contested every four years between the top international teams. The tournament was first held in 1987, when the tournament was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. In 2019, the tournament was held in Japan, where the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time.
The history
The winners are awarded the Webb Ellis Cup, named after William Webb Ellis, the Rugby School pupil who, according to a popular legend, invented rugby by picking up the ball during a football game. Four countries have won the trophy; New Zealand three times, Australia and South Africa each twice, and England once. New Zealand are the current champions, having defeated Australia in the final of the 2015 tournament in England. The tournament is administered by World Rugby, the sport's international governing body. Sixteen teams were invited to participate in the inaugural tournament in 1987, however since 1999, 20 teams have taken part. Japan hosted the 2019 Rugby World Cup and France will host in 2023. In 1987, New Zealand won on home soil. In 1991, Australia were crowned champions in England, and the Springboks won the tournament in South Africa in 1995, followed by victories in 2007 (in France) and 2019 (in Japan).
Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() Wales
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 69 | 67 | 17 | 9 | 19 |
2 |
![]() Japan
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 62 | 53 | 13 | 7 | 19 |
3 |
![]() England
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 119 | 20 | 99 | 17 | 2 | 17 |
4 |
![]() New Zealand
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 157 | 22 | 135 | 22 | 1 | 16 |
5 |
![]() Ireland
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 121 | 27 | 94 | 18 | 2 | 16 |
6 |
![]() Australia
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 136 | 68 | 68 | 20 | 6 | 16 |
7 |
![]() Springboks
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 185 | 36 | 149 | 27 | 3 | 15 |
8 |
![]() France
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 79 | 51 | 28 | 9 | 5 | 15 |
9 |
![]() Italy
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 98 | 78 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 12 |
10 |
![]() Scotland
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 119 | 55 | 64 | 16 | 8 | 11 |
11 |
![]() Argentina
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 91 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
12 |
![]() Fiji
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 110 | 108 | 2 | 17 | 14 | 7 |
13 |
![]() Tonga
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 105 | -38 | 9 | 13 | 6 |
14 |
![]() Georgia
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 65 | 122 | -57 | 9 | 18 | 5 |
15 |
![]() Samoa
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 128 | -70 | 8 | 15 | 5 |
16 |
![]() Uruguay
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 140 | -80 | 6 | 22 | 4 |
17 |
![]() Namibia
|
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 175 | -141 | 3 | 27 | 2 |
18 |
![]() Canada
|
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 177 | -163 | 2 | 26 | 2 |
19 |
![]() USA
|
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 156 | -104 | 7 | 23 | 0 |
20 |
![]() Russia
|
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 160 | -141 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() Japan
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 62 | 53 | 13 | 7 | 19 |
2 |
![]() Ireland
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 121 | 27 | 94 | 18 | 2 | 16 |
3 |
![]() Scotland
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 119 | 55 | 64 | 16 | 8 | 11 |
4 |
![]() Samoa
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 58 | 128 | -70 | 8 | 15 | 5 |
5 |
![]() Russia
|
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 160 | -141 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() New Zealand
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 157 | 22 | 135 | 22 | 1 | 16 |
2 |
![]() Springboks
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 185 | 36 | 149 | 27 | 3 | 15 |
3 |
![]() Italy
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 98 | 78 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 12 |
4 |
![]() Namibia
|
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 175 | -141 | 3 | 27 | 2 |
5 |
![]() Canada
|
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 177 | -163 | 2 | 26 | 2 |
Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() England
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 119 | 20 | 99 | 17 | 2 | 17 |
2 |
![]() France
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 79 | 51 | 28 | 9 | 5 | 15 |
3 |
![]() Argentina
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 91 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
4 |
![]() Tonga
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 67 | 105 | -38 | 9 | 13 | 6 |
5 |
![]() USA
|
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 156 | -104 | 7 | 23 | 0 |
Pos | Team | PL | W | L | D | PF | PA | DIFF | TF | TA | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() Wales
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 69 | 67 | 17 | 9 | 19 |
2 |
![]() Australia
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 136 | 68 | 68 | 20 | 6 | 16 |
3 |
![]() Fiji
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 110 | 108 | 2 | 17 | 14 | 7 |
4 |
![]() Georgia
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 65 | 122 | -57 | 9 | 18 | 5 |
5 |
![]() Uruguay
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 140 | -80 | 6 | 22 | 4 |
There are currently no fixtures available. |
Team announcement
Hendrikse to start for Cell C Sharks in PretoriaFormer Junior Springbok star scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse will start in a settled Cell C Sharks team when they take the field in the Carling Currie Cup final against the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday, in the only change to Sean Everitt’s starting team.
News
Cell C Sharks expecting physical Carling Currie Cup finalSean Everitt said the Cell C Sharks were preparing for a physical onslaught from the Vodacom Bulls in Saturday’s Carling Currie Cup final at Loftus Versfeld as the hard work continues behind the scenes to devise a plan that could steer them to their first title since 2018.
From our archives
Carling Currie Cup finals – points galore at LoftusIf the last 20-odd years are anything to go by, Saturday’s Carling Currie Cup final between the Vodacom Bulls and the Cell C Sharks in Pretoria could be a high-scoring affair.
News
New challenges for Vodacom Bulls to respond toThe Vodacom Bulls showed better discipline and a simpler game plan when they defeated the Xerox Lions in Pretoria on Saturday, but for Jake White, the role of Duane Vermeulen could not be highlighted enough.
Special feature
Two-all in Carling Currie Cup FinalsSaturday's Carling Currie Cup final in Pretoria will be the fifth between the Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks, and the Durbanites third visit to Loftus Versfeld for a match of this magnitude. We look back at the previous four...