Rugby World Cup History

New Zealand Rugby World Cup History

Rugby is a passion for many New Zealanders, both players and spectators alike. Find out the history of the sport and of the Rugby World Cup, the most sought after award in the world of international rugby.

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Legend would have it that in 1823 at Rugby School, Warwickshire, during a game of football against a team from Bigside, a young man named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it. While later investigation suggested this was not necessarily the case, young Mr Ellis is widely recognised as the founder of rugby football, named after the school for which he played. Little did he know that New Zealand rugby would become a national obsession and a symbol of Kiwi culture.

Played by gentlemen in its country of origin, rugby football was embraced in some of the farthest colonies by young men of all social standings. In some countries, most notably South Africa, Wales and New Zealand, rugby football became the national sport. In others - Australia, France, Scotland and Ireland, and later Argentina and Italy - rugby found its place as an important sport in the nation's psyche. For 100 years the sport developed fierce rivalries, between All Blacks and Springboks, between England and Wales, and as it slowly spread the globe between some of the lesser lights, Samoa and Tonga, USA and Canada.

1970's and 1980's: the birth of the Rugby World Cup
In the late 1970's, the International Rugby Football Board (now the IRB), were approached to develop a World Cup tournament, along the lines of the Football World cup, to be held around the world at four year intervals. Finally, in 1987, years of planning came to fruition when the first RWC was held in New Zealand and Australia. Sixteen teams took part - the seven IRB affiliates and nine invited nations - playing for a trophy named after the founder of rugby, the William Webb Ellis Cup.

That first Rugby World Cup tournament was a resounding success, ignited by a sublime score from young All Black winger John Kirwan against Italy and culminating in a fine win for the New Zealand hosts at Eden Park, Auckland. There, the All Blacks took the final in front of 46,000 fans from France, by 29 points to 9.

1990's - 2000's: the Rugby World Cup grows
For the second tournament, in England in 1991, a qualifying process was introduced, allowing Samoa to appear for the first time. The Samoan team caused shock and consternation when they progressed through a tough qualifying group to beat heavyweights Wales and Argentina to reach the quarter finals. This tournament was also Canada's finest year, when they too reached the quarter finals, losing by only 29-13 to the feared All Blacks. In the final at Twickenham, the efficient Wallabies from Australia held out an expansive England team by 12- 6.

1995 saw the triumphant return of South Africa to world rugby from the exile the country's Apartheid system had caused. The Rainbow nation hosted the tournament, which unleashed the phenomenon of Jonah Lomu onto the World Cup. One of two immortal moments from the tournament came as Lomu bulldozed his way over unfortunate full back Mike Catt to score one of his four tries in the All Blacks' semi final against England. The All Blacks were red hot favourites in the final at Ellis Park against the host nation. However, in front of 65,000 delirious fans, South Africa ended normal time equal with the Kiwis at 9 all, after All Black flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens missed a dropped goal by millimetres in the last seconds. In the second half of extra time, Joel Stransky sent his country into raptures as he coolly broke All Black hearts with a dropped goal which gave his team a 15-12 victory. The second unforgettable occurrence, and one of the greatest moments in sporting history, was the presentation of the cup to South African captain Francois Pienaar by Nelson Mandela, resplendent in Springbok jersey.

Wales hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1999, with matches also played in England, Scotland, Ireland and France. In this year, attending teams were extended to twenty. Ever effective Australia moved through to the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, against France, who had demolished perennial favourites New Zealand by 43-21 at Twickenham. The magic of the previous week was missing for France, so Australia cruised to a 35-12 victory in front of a crowd of 74,500. Australia became then, and still are, the only team to win the trophy twice.

The 2003 tournament was hosted alone by champions Australia after a bitter contractual dispute between supposed co-hosts New Zealand and RWC. Favourites were England and, as ever, the New Zealand All Blacks. However the host nation spoiled the Kiwi party again at semi –final time and England ground it’s way to the final beating France in a grim match at Telstra Stadium in Sydney. The final was another classic with scores even at 14 all at the end of normal time. Jonny Wilkinson supplied another great World Cup moment with his drop kick deep into extra time that took England to a famous 20-17 victory.

Looking ahead to World Cup France 2007
World Cup France 2007 brings all the usual suspects. The All Blacks are raging hot favourites. England is improving. Australia are still efficient and cunning. Who will it be this time? The answer will be known at the Stade de France, in Paris, on October 20th, 2007.

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Sports images from Flickr: Rugby World Cup 2003 Winners, Yachts and Cricket.