About

RUGBY WORLD CUP

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