Records and statistics of the Rugby World Cup
Overall
Team
Titles
Team | Titles | Tournaments |
[|3] | 1987, 2011, 2015 | |
3 | 1995, 2007, 2019 | |
[|2] | 1991, 1999 | |
[|1] | 2003 |
Title win rate
Team | Win rate |
42.86% | |
33.33% | |
22.22% | |
11.11% |
Points
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 | 101–10 | 15 October 1999 |
Margins
Margin | Team | Opponent | Score | Date |
142 | 142–0 | 24 October 2003 | ||
128 | 145–17 | 4 June 1995 | ||
98 | 101–3 | 14 October 1999 | ||
98 | 111–13 | 2 November 2003 | ||
95 | 108–13 | 15 September 2007 |
Tries
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 |
Individual
Points
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 | Michael Lynagh | 15 | 4 | 36 | 33 | 2 | 1987, 1991, 1995 | |
191 | Dan Carter | 15 | 3 | 58 | 17 | 3 | 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 | |
170 | Grant Fox | 10 | 0 | 37 | 31 | 1 | 1987, 1991 |
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 | ||
36 | Paul Grayson | 15 October 1999 |
Tries
Tries | Name | Team | Tournaments |
15 | Jonah Lomu | 1995–1999 | |
15 | 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 | |
8 | Bryan Habana | 2007 | |
8 | Julian Savea | 2015 | |
7 | Marc Ellis | 1995 | |
7 | Jonah Lomu | 1995 | |
7 | Doug Howlett | 2003 | |
7 | Mils Muliaina | 2003 | |
7 | Drew Mitchell | 2007 | |
7 | Josh Adams | 2019 |
Tries | Name | Team | Opponent | Date |
6 | Marc Ellis | 4 June 1995 | ||
5 | Chris Latham | 25 October 2003 | ||
5 | Josh Lewsey | 2 November 2003 | ||
4 | John Gallagher | 27 May 1987 | ||
4 | Craig Green | 27 May 1987 | ||
4 | Ieuan Evans | 3 June 1987 | ||
4 | Brian Robinson | 6 October 1991 | ||
4 | Gavin Hastings | 26 May 1995 | ||
4 | Chester Williams | 10 June 1995 | ||
4 | Jonah Lomu | 18 June 1995 | ||
4 | Keith Wood | 2 October 1999 | ||
4 | Mils Muliaina | 17 October 2003 | ||
4 | Bryan Habana | 9 September 2007 | ||
4 | Vereniki Goneva | 10 September 2011 | ||
4 | Zac Guildford | 2 October 2011 |
Youngest try scorer in a World Cup game
- George North, aged
- Diego Ormaechea, aged
Conversions
Con. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
58 | Dan Carter | 2003–2015 | |
39 | Gavin Hastings | 1987–1995 | |
37 | Grant Fox | 1987–1991 | |
36 | Michael Lynagh | 1987–1995 | |
28 | Jonny Wilkinson | 1999–2011 |
Con. | Name | Team | Tournament |
30 | Grant Fox | 1987 | |
23 | Dan Carter | 2015 | |
22 | Percy Montgomery | 2007 | |
20 | Michael Lynagh | 1987 | |
20 | Simon Culhane | 1995 | |
20 | Leon MacDonald | 2003 | |
20 | Nick Evans | 2007 | |
20 | 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 | ||
12 | Leon MacDonald | 24 October 2003 |
Penalty goals
Pen. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
58 | Jonny Wilkinson | 1999–2011 | |
39 | Handre Pollard | 2015–2019 | |
36 | Gavin Hastings | 1987–1995 | |
35 | Gonzalo Quesada | 1999–2003 | |
33 | Michael Lynagh | 1987–1995 | |
33 | Andrew Mehrtens | 1995–1999 |
Pen. | Name | Team | Tournament |
31 | Gonzalo Quesada | 1999 | |
26 | Thierry Lacroix | 1995 | |
23 | Handré Pollard | 2015 | |
23 | Jonny Wilkinson | 2003 | |
21 | Grant Fox | 1987 | |
21 | Elton Flatley | 2003 |
Pen. | Name | Team | Opponent | Date |
8 | Gavin Hastings | 30 May 1995 | ||
8 | Thierry Lacroix | 10 June 1995 | ||
8 | Gonzalo Quesada | 10 October 1999 | ||
8 | Matt Burke | 30 October 1999 | ||
7 | Gonzalo Quesada | 16 October 1999 | ||
7 | Jonny Wilkinson | 20 October 1999 | ||
7 | David Humphreys | 20 October 1999 | ||
7 | Gonzalo Quesada | 20 October 1999 | ||
7 | Matt Burke | 6 November 1999 | ||
7 | Piri Weepu | 9 October 2011 | ||
7 | Dan Biggar | 26 September 2015 |
Drop goals
Drop | Name | Team | Tournaments |
14 | Jonny Wilkinson | 1999–2011 | |
6 | Jannie de Beer | 1999 | |
5 | Rob Andrew | 1987–1995 | |
5 | 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 | |
3 | Rob Andrew | 1995 | |
3 | Andrew Mehrtens | 1995 | |
3 | Joel Stransky | 1995 | |
3 | Gregor Townsend | 1999 | |
3 | Theuns Kotzé | 2011 | |
3 | Dan Parks | 2011 |
Drop | Name | Team | Opponent | Date |
5 | Jannie de Beer | 24 October 1999 | ||
3 | Juan Martín Hernández | 30 September 2007 | ||
3 | Theuns Kotzé | 10 September 2011 | ||
3 | Jonny Wilkinson | 16 November 2003 |
Appearance statistics
App. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
22 | Jason Leonard | 1991–2003 | |
22 | Richie McCaw | 2003–2015 | |
21 | Alun Wyn Jones | 2007–2019 | |
20 | Schalk Burger | 2003–2015 | |
20 | George Gregan | 1995–2007 | |
20 | Keven Mealamu | 2003–2015 | |
20 | - | - | - |
App. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
20 | Richie McCaw | 2003–2015 | |
19 | Keven Mealamu | 2003–2015 | |
18 | Sonny Bill Williams | 2011–2019 | |
18 | Sam Whitelock | 2011–2019 | |
17 | François Steyn | 2007–2019 |
App. | Name | Team | Tournaments |
14 | Eugene Jantjies | 2007–2019 | |
12 | Ovidiu Tonița | 2003–2015 | |
12 | D.T.H. van der Merwe | 2007–2019 | |
11 | Jacques Burger | 2007–2015 | |
11 | Jamie Cudmore | 2003–2015 | |
11 | Tinus du Plessis | 2007–2015 | |
11 | Romeo Gontineac | 1995–2007 | |
11 | Hugo Horn | 1999–2011 | |
11 | Merab Kvirikashvili | 2003–2015 | |
11 | Johnny Redelinghuys | 2007–2015 |
Oldest player to appear in a World Cup match
- Diego Ormaechea,, aged
- Brad Thorn,, aged
- Brad Thorn,, aged
- Vasil Lobzhanidze,, aged
- Jonah Lomu,, aged
- François Steyn,, aged
By tournament
Miscellaneous
Winning coaches and captains
A foreign coach has never managed a World Cup-winning team. In the case of England, which is part of the United Kingdom and also one of the four Home Nations within the context of rugby, their Cup-winning coach was also an Englishman.Year | Host | Champion | Winning coach | Winning captain |
1987 | AUS NZL | Brian Lochore | David Kirk | |
1991 | ENG FRA IRL SCO WAL | Bob Dwyer | Nick Farr-Jones | |
1995 | RSA | Kitch Christie | Francois Pienaar | |
1999 | WAL ENG FRA IRE SCO | Rod MacQueen | John Eales | |
2003 | AUS | Clive Woodward | Martin Johnson | |
2007 | FRA SCO WAL | Jake White | John Smit | |
2011 | NZL | Graham Henry | Richie McCaw | |
2015 | ENG WAL | Steve Hansen | Richie McCaw | |
2019 | JPN | Rassie Erasmus | Siya Kolisi |
Draws
Team | Score | Opponent | Date |
20–20 | 23 May 1987 | ||
12–12 | 12 September 2007 | ||
23–23 | 27 September 2011 | ||
0–0 | 12 October 2019 | ||
0–0 | 12 October 2019 | ||
0–0 | 13 October 2019 |
Nil points
Team | Score | Opponent | Date |
0–89 | 26 May 1995 | ||
0–20 | 3 June 1995 | ||
0–48 | 16 October 1999 | ||
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 | 12 October 2019 | ||
0–0 | 12 October 2019 | ||
0–0 | 13 October 2019 |
Highest attendance
- 89,267 – v, 27 September 2015 at Wembley Stadium, London, England, 2015.
Hosting
- 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 also hosted the final twice in 1991 and 2015.
- 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. Edinburgh and Toulouse hosted matches in three tournaments. If the definition of "city" includes its metropolitan area, Paris has also hosted matches in three tournaments. The city of Paris hosted matches in 1991, its adjacent suburb of Saint-Denis hosted matches in 1999, and both cities hosted matches in 2007.
Head-to-Head
Legend | - |
R1 | Round 1 |
R2 | Round 2 |
QF | Quarter-Final |
SF | Semi-Final |
3rd | 3rd/4th Place Playoff |
F | Final |
Games | Team 1 | Head-2-Head Wins | Team 2 | Year | Rounds |
7 | 3–4 | 1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2019 | R1, F, QF, F, QF, R1, QF | ||
7 | 5–2 | 1987, 1991, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 | 3rd, R1, QF, R1,, R1, R1 | ||
7 | 2–5 | 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2011, 2015 | F, SF, 3rd, QF, R1,, QF | ||
6 | 3–2 | 1991, 1995, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2019 | QF, 3rd, SF, SF, QF, R1 | ||
6 | 0–5 | 1987, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2019 | R1, R1, R1, R1, R1, R1 | ||
5 | 4–1 | 1987, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2011 | QF, QF, R1, R1, R1 | ||
5 | 1–4 | 1999, 2003, 2007, 2007, 2019 | QF, R1, R1, F, F | ||
5 | 5–0 | 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2007 | QF, 3rd, QF, QF, R1 | ||
5 | 3–2 | 1995, 1999, 2003, 2015, 2019 | F, 3rd, QF, SF, R1 | ||
5 | 0–5 | 1995, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 | QF, R1, R1, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 2–2 | 1999, 2007, 2007, 2019 | QF, R1, 3rd, R1 | ||
4 | 3–1 | 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015 | R2, R1, R1, QF | ||
4 | 2–2 | 1991, 2003, 2011, 2015 | SF, SF, SF, F | ||
4 | 0–4 | 1991, 1999, 2011, 2015 | R1, R1, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 0–4 | 1991, 2003, 2011, 2019 | QF, R1, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 1–3 | 1991, 1995, 1999, 2019 | R1, SF, R1, SF | ||
4 | 4–0 | 1987, 1991, 2007, 2019 | R1, R1, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 0–4 | 1987, 1991, 1999, 2003 | QF, R1, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 1–3 | 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 | R1, R1, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 3–1 | 1995, 2003, 2007, 2015 | QF, QF, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 1–3 | 1991, 2003, 2015, 2019 | R1, R1, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 4–0 | 1999, 2003, 2011, 2015 | R1, R1, R1, R1 | ||
4 | 4–0 | 1987, 1995, 2003, 2019 | SF, R1, R1, 3rd | ||
4 | 0–4 | 1991, 1999, 2015, 2019 | QF, R2, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 0–3 | 1991, 2003, 2015 | R1, R1, SF | ||
3 | 0–3 | 1995, 2011, 2019 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 2007, 2011, 2015 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 2003, 2007, 2015 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 0–3 | 1987, 2011, 2015 | R1, QF, R1 | ||
3 | 1–2 | 1991, 1995, 1999 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 2007, 2015, 2019 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 1995, 1999, 2003 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 2–1 | 1995, 1999, 2011 | R1, SF, QF | ||
3 | 3–0 | 1987, 1999, 2011 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 1–2 | 1991, 1999, 2007 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 0–3 | 2003, 2015, 2019 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 2–1 | 1991, 1995, 2015 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 1987, 2003, 2011 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 0–3 | 1987, 2003, 2007 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 1991, 1995, 1999 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 1995, 2003, 2007 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 1999, 2007, 2019 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 1–2 | 1987, 2003, 2015 | QF, QF, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 1987, 1991, 2015 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 2–0 | 1987, 1995, 2003 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 2–1 | 1995, 2011, 2019 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 2–1 | 1991, 1995, 2019 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 1999, 2003, 2015 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 1–2 | 1987, 1995, 2011 | R1, R1, QF | ||
3 | 2–1 | 1999, 2015, 2019 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 1–2 | 1987, 2003, 2015 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 0–3 | 1995, 1999, 2007 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 0–3 | 1987, 2007, 2011 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 2–1 | 1991, 1999, 2011 | R1, R1, R1 | ||
3 | 3–0 | 2011, 2015, 2019 | R1, QF, SF | ||
2 | 1–1 | 1987, 1995 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2011 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2007, 2011 | QF, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 2007, 2015 | SF, 3rd | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2015, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 1991, 1999 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 1–1 | 1987, 1999 | SF, F | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1995, 2007 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1987, 2007 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2015 | QF, QF | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2015, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 1987, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–0 | 2007, 2011 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 1–0 | 1999, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 1995, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1999, 2015 | R2, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2011 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1991, 2011 | SF, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2007 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1999, 2011 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 2007, 2011 | QF, R1 | ||
2 | 1–1 | 2015, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2011 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1999, 2007 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 1–1 | 2011, 2019 | SF, QF | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2007, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 1–1 | 2003, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2011, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2007 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 1995, 2019 | R1, QF | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2011, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 1–1 | 1991, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1999, 2011 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2007, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 1–1 | 1999, 2003 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1991, 2011 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 1995, 2011 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 1–1 | 2015, 2019 | R1, QF | ||
2 | 0–2 | 2015, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 2011, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2007, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 1999, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2003, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1987, 1991 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2007, 2015 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 1999, 2003 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 2–0 | 2007, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 1987, 2003 | R1, R1 | ||
2 | 0–2 | 2015, 2019 | R1, R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1987 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1999 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2003 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1991 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1987 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1987 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1987 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1991 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2003 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2003 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2015 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1995 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1995 | SF | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1987 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2015 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2003 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2003 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2015 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1987 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1991 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1995 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2003 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1995 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1995 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1991 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2003 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2015 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1991 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1995 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1999 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1987 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2019 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2011 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2003 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1999 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1995 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1999 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 1999 | R1 | ||
1 | 1–0 | 2007 | R1 | ||
1 | 0–1 | 1999 | R1 |
Tier 1 Nations Head-to-Head at World Cup
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 2019. 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 eight other tier 1 nations, and equal with one other. 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. There are three tier 1 Head-to-Head meetings that have never been played at a Rugby World Cup: England versus Ireland, Ireland versus South Africa, and Scotland versus Wales.Trivia
- 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.
- Three 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.
- Jonny Wilkinson, with 15 points in 2003 and 6 points in 2007, is the only player to have scored points in two Rugby World Cup Finals.
- Three 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 France in 2011, the latter being the only team to reach the final having lost two games.
- The teams involved in the most World Cup opening matches are Argentina and New Zealand. 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. The All Blacks defeated Italy in 1987, England in 1991, and Tonga in 2011.
- No player scored a conversion in a Rugby World Cup Final between Matt Burke of Australia in 1999 and François Trinh-Duc of France in 2011. Both Jonny Wilkinson and Elton Flatley failed with their sole conversion attempts in 2003, and no tries were scored in 2007's final.
- France, Australia 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 Two countries to have participated in every Rugby World Cup are Canada and Japan, with Canada making it to one quarter-final in 1991 and Japan proceeding to the quarter finals in 2019.
- Japan is the only team to have ever won three matches and not progressed beyond the pool stage, losing out to South Africa and Scotland in their pool by points difference in 2015.
- Of the Tier One 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 Two countries have made it to the quarter-finals – Fiji in 1987 and 2007, Samoa in 1991 and 1995, Canada in 1991 and Japan in 2019.
- The 2015 final between Australia and New Zealand is the highest scoring Rugby World Cup final ever, 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.
- 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 and South Africa losing to Japan in 2015.
- South Africa became the first nation to win a World Cup after losing a match in the pool stages in 2019.
- South Africa is the only country to have a 100% winning record in the finals.
- South Africa is the only country not to concede a try in the finals. All other teams have conceded at least one try during one of the finals.
- South Africa is the only team to win a World Cup in each decade since they have been reinstated 1995,2007 & 2019.
- There are three tier 1 Head-to-Head meetings that have never been played at a Rugby World Cup: England versus Ireland, Ireland versus South Africa, and Scotland versus Wales.