Rugby World Cup

International men's rugby union competition

This article is about the men's rugby union tournament. For the women's World Cup in union, see Women's Rugby World Cup. For other world cups for rugby, see World cup of rugby.

Not to be confused with Rugby League World Cup.

"RWC" redirects here. For other uses, see RWC (disambiguation).

Rugby World Cup

Sport| Rugby union
Instituted| 1987; 38 years ago (1987)
Number of teams| 24
Regions| International (World Rugby)
Holders| South Africa (2023)
Most titles| South Africa (4 titles)
Website| rugbyworldcup.com

The opening ceremony of the 2019 tournament

* * *

Tournaments

* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027
* 2031

The Men's Rugby World Cup is a rugby union tournament contested every four years between the top international teams, the winners of which are recognised as the world champions of the sport.

The tournament is administered by World Rugby, the sport's international governing body. The winners are awarded the Webb Ellis Cup, named after William Webb Ellis who, according to a popular legend, invented rugby by picking up the ball during a football game and running with it.[1]

The tournament was first held in 1987 and was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. Four countries have won the trophy; South Africa four times, New Zealand three times, Australia twice, and England once. South Africa is the current champion, having defeated New Zealand in the final of the 2023 tournament.

Sixteen teams participated in the tournament from 1987 until 1995; in 1999, the tournament expanded to twenty teams. Japan hosted the 2019 Rugby World Cup and France hosted the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The tournament will expand again to twenty-four teams when it is held in Australia in 2027.

Starting in 2021, the women's equivalent tournament was officially renamed the Rugby World Cup to promote equality with the men's tournament. However, the 2021 event was the only one to use this naming convention as at the end of the 2023 World Cup, World Rugby announced that all preceding tournaments would include the words "Men's" or "Women's" in their titles. The first event to use this convention will be the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, while the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup will be the first to include "Men's" in its title.

## Format

[edit]

### Qualification

[edit]

Main article: Rugby World Cup qualification

Under the current format, 20 teams qualify for each Rugby World Cup. Twelve teams qualify automatically based on their performance in the previous World Cup—the top three teams in each of the four group (pool) stages of the previous tournament qualify for the next tournament as seeded teams.[2][3] The qualification system for the remaining eight places is region-based, with a total eight teams allocated for Europe, five for Oceania, three for the Americas, two for Africa, and one for Asia. The last place is determined by an intercontinental play-off.[4]

### Tournament

[edit]

The tournament involves twenty nations competing over six weeks in September and October.[3][5] There are two stages—a pool, followed by a knockout round. Nations are divided into four pools, A through to D, of five nations each.[5][6] The teams are seeded based on the World Rankings. The four highest-ranked teams are drawn into pools A to D. The next four highest-ranked teams are then drawn into pools A to D, followed by the next four. The remaining positions in each pool are filled by the qualifiers.[3][7]

Nations play four pool games, playing their respective pool members once each.[6] A bonus points system is used during pool play. If two or more teams are level on points, a system of criteria determines the higher ranked.[6]

Eight teams—the winner and runner-up from each of the four pools—enter the knockout stage. The knockout stage consists of quarter- and semi-finals, and then the final. The winner of each pool is placed against a runner-up of a different pool in a quarter-final. The winner of each quarter-final goes on to the semi-finals, and the respective winners proceed to the final. Losers of the semi-finals contest for third place, called the 'Bronze Final'. If a match in the knockout stages ends in a draw, the winner is determined through extra time. If that fails, the match goes into sudden death and the next team to score any points is the winner.[6]

## History

[edit]

Main article: History of the Rugby World Cup

### Beginnings

[edit]

Before the Rugby World Cup, there was no truly global rugby union competition, but there were a number of other tournaments. One of the oldest is the annual Six Nations Championship, which started in 1883 as the Home Nations Championship,[8] a tournament between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It expanded to the Five Nations in 1910, when France joined the tournament. France did not participate from 1931 to 1939, during which period it reverted to a Home Nations championship. In 2000, Italy joined the competition, which became the Six Nations.[9]

Rugby union was also played at the Summer Olympic Games, first appearing at the 1900 Paris games and subsequently at London in 1908, Antwerp in 1920, and Paris again in 1924. France won the first gold medal, then Australasia, with the last two being won by the United States. However rugby union ceased to be on Olympic program after 1924.[10][11][a]

The idea of a Rugby World Cup had been suggested on numerous occasions going back to the 1950s, but met with opposition from most unions in the IRFB.[12] The idea resurfaced several times in the early 1980s, with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU; now known as Rugby Australia) in 1983, and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU; now known as New Zealand Rugby) in 1984 independently proposing the establishment of a world cup.[13] A proposal was again put to the IRFB in 1985 and this time passed 10–6. The delegates from Australia, France, New Zealand and South Africa all voted for the proposal, and the delegates from Ireland and Scotland against; the English and Welsh delegates were split, with one from each country for and one against.[12][13]

The inaugural tournament, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, was held in May and June 1987, with sixteen nations taking part.[14] The inaugural World Cup in 1987, did not involve any qualifying process; instead, the 16 places were automatically filled by seven eligible International Rugby Football Board (IRFB, now World Rugby) member nations, and the rest by invitation.[15] New Zealand became the first-ever champions, defeating France 29–9 in the final.[16] The subsequent 1991 tournament was hosted by England, with matches played throughout Britain, Ireland and France. Qualifying tournaments were introduced for the second tournament, where eight of the sixteen places were contested in a twenty-four-nation tournament.[17] This tournament saw the introduction of a qualifying tournament; eight places were allocated to the quarter-finalists from 1987, and the remaining eight decided by a thirty-five nation qualifying tournament.[17] Australia won the second tournament, defeating England 12–6 in the final.[18]

In 1992, eight years after their last official series,[b] South Africa hosted New Zealand in a one-off test match. The resumption of international rugby in South Africa came after the dismantling of the apartheid system.[19][20] With their return to test rugby, South Africa were selected to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup.[21] After upsetting Australia in the opening match, South Africa continued to advance through the tournament and met New Zealand in the final.[22][23] After a tense final that went into extra time, South Africa emerged 15–12 winners,[24] with then President Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok jersey,[23] presenting the trophy to South Africa's captain, Francois Pienaar.[25]

### Professional era

[edit]

The 1999 tournament was hosted by Wales with matches also being held throughout the rest of the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. The tournament included a repechage system,[26] alongside specific regional qualifying places.[27] The number of participating nations was increased from sixteen to twenty—and has remained to date at twenty.[28] Australia claimed their second title, defeating France in the final.[29] The combination of the sport turning professional after 1995 and the increase in teams from sixteen to twenty led to a number of remarkably lopsided results in both the 1999 and 2003 tournaments, with two matches in each tournament resulting in teams scoring over 100 points; Australia's 142–0 win over Namibia in 2003 stands as the most lopsided score in Rugby World Cup history.[30]

In 2003 and 2007, the qualifying format allowed for eight of the twenty available positions to be automatically filled by the eight quarter-finalists of the previous tournament. The remaining twelve positions were filled by continental qualifying tournaments.[31] Ten positions were filled by teams qualifying directly through continental competitions.[31] Another two places were allocated for a cross-continental repechage.[32]

The 2003 event was hosted by Australia, although it was originally intended to be held jointly with New Zealand. England emerged as champions defeating Australia in extra time. England's win broke the southern hemisphere's dominance in the event. Such was the celebration of England's victory that an estimated 750,000 people gathered in central London to greet the team, making the day the largest sporting celebration of its kind ever in the United Kingdom.[33]

Ireland v Argentina in 2007

The 2007 competition was hosted by France, with matches also being held in Wales and Scotland. South Africa claimed their second title by defeating defending champions England 15–6. The biggest story of the tournament, however, was Argentina who racked up wins against some of the top European teams—France, Ireland, and Scotland—to finish first in the Pool of death and finish third overall in the tournament.[34] The attention from Argentina's performance led to Argentina participating in SANZAAR[35] and the professionalization of rugby in Argentina.

A scrum between Samoa (in blue) and Wales (in red) during the 2011 World Cup

The 2011 tournament was awarded to New Zealand in November 2005, ahead of bids from Japan and South Africa. The All Blacks reclaimed their place atop the rugby world with a narrow 8–7 win over France in the 2011 final.[36]

The opening weekend of the 2015 tournament, hosted by England, generated the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history when Japan, who had not won a single World Cup match since 1991, defeated heavily favoured South Africa. Overall, New Zealand once again won the final, this time against Australia. In doing so, they became the first team in World Cup history to win three titles, as well as the first to successfully defend a title.[37]

Japan's hosting of the 2019 World Cup marked the first time the tournament had been held outside the traditional rugby strongholds; Japan won all four of their pool matches to top their group and qualify to the quarter-finals for the first time. The tournament saw South Africa claim their third trophy to match New Zealand for the most Rugby World Cup titles. South Africa defeated England 32–12 in the final.[38]

Starting in 2021, gender designations were removed from the titles of the men's and women's World Cups. Accordingly, all World Cups for men and women will officially bear the "Rugby World Cup" name. The first tournament to be affected by the new policy was the 2022 women's tournament held in New Zealand, which retained its original title of "Rugby World Cup 2021" despite having been delayed from its original schedule due to COVID-19 issues.[39]

France hosted the 2023 World Cup. The tournament was won by South Africa, who defeated New Zealand 12–11 to become the second nation to successfully defend their World Champion title and the first nation to win the tournament four times.

## Trophy

[edit]

Main article: Webb Ellis Cup

The Webb Ellis Cup

Winners of the Rugby World Cup are presented with the Webb Ellis Cup, named after William Webb Ellis. The trophy is also referred to simply as the Rugby World Cup. The trophy was chosen in 1987 for use in the competition, and was created in 1906 by Garrard's Crown Jewellers.[40][41] The trophy is restored and repaired by fellow Royal Warrant holder Thomas Lyte at the completion of each tournament or at any given time in the intervening years between each competition[42][43] The words 'The International Rugby Football Board' and 'The Webb Ellis Cup' are engraved on the face of the cup, and Thomas Lyte are responsible for engraving the name of the victorious teams on the plinth of the trophy.[44] The plinth features the names of every winner since the inaugural tournament in 1987. It stands thirty-eight centimetres high and is silver gilded in gold, and supported by two cast scroll handles, one with the head of a satyr, and the other a head of a nymph.[45] In Australia the trophy is colloquially known as "Bill"—a reference to William Webb Ellis.

In 2015, the World Cup Final was commemorated with a 24 carat gold-plated Rugby World Cup final match ball, made by Web Ellis Cup custodians, Thomas Lyte. Borrowing from the design of Gilbert's official match balls for the tournament, the full-scale replica featured the distinctive markings seen on the ball used in the final, held at Twickenham, between New Zealand and Australia.[46]

## Selection of hosts

[edit]

Main article: Rugby World Cup hosts

Tournaments are organised by Rugby World Cup Ltd (RWCL), which is itself owned by World Rugby. The selection of host is decided by a vote of World Rugby Council members.[47][48] The voting procedure is managed by a team of independent auditors, and the voting kept secret. The host nation is generally selected five or six years before the competition.

The tournament has been hosted by multiple nations. For example, the 1987 tournament was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. World Rugby requires that the hosts must have a venue with a capacity of at least 60,000 spectators for the final.[49] Host nations sometimes construct or upgrade stadia in preparation for the World Cup, such as Millennium Stadium—purposely built for the 1999 tournament—and Eden Park, upgraded for 2011.[49][50] The first country outside of the traditional rugby nations of SANZAAR or the Six Nations to be awarded the hosting rights was 2019 host Japan. France hosted the 2023 tournament. The next tournament to be hosted by a nation outside the traditional nations will be the 2031 tournament in the United States.[51]

## Tournament growth

[edit]

### Media coverage

[edit]

Organizers of the Rugby World Cup, as well as the Global Sports Impact, state that the Rugby World Cup is the third largest sporting event in the world, behind only the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics,[52][53] although other sources question whether this is accurate.[54]

Reports emanating from World Rugby and its business partners have frequently touted the tournament's media growth, with cumulative worldwide television audiences of 300 million for the inaugural 1987 tournament, 1.75 billion in 1991, 2.67 billion in 1995, 3 billion in 1999,[55] 3.5 billion in 2003,[56] and 4 billion in 2007.[57] The 4 billion figure was widely dismissed as the global audience for television is estimated to be about 4.2 billion.[58]

However, independent reviews have called into question the methodology of those growth estimates, pointing to factual inconsistencies.[59] The event's supposed drawing power outside of a handful of rugby strongholds was also downplayed significantly, with an estimated 97 percent of the 33 million average audience produced by the 2007 final coming from Australasia, South Africa, the British Isles and France.[60] Other sports have been accused of exaggerating their television reach over the years; such claims are not exclusive to the Rugby World Cup.

While the event's global popularity remains a matter of dispute, high interest in traditional rugby nations is well documented. The 2003 final, between Australia and England, became the most watched rugby union match in the history of Australian television.[61] The 2023 tournament achieved 1.33 billion viewing hours across all programming making it the most viewed rugby event of all time.[62]

### Attendance

[edit]

See also: List of sports attendance figures

Attendance figures[63] Year  | Host(s)  | Total attend­ance  | Matches  | Avg attend­ance  | % change
in avg att.  | Stadium capacity  | Attend­ance as
% of capacity

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1987 |  Australia
New Zealand | 604,500  | 32  | 20,156  | —  | 1,006,350  | 60%
1991 |  England
France
Ireland
Scotland
Wales | 1,007,760  | 32  | 31,493  | +56%  | 1,212,800  | 79%
1995 |  South Africa | 1,100,000  | 32  | 34,375  | +9%  | 1,423,850  | 77%
1999 |  Wales  | 1,750,000  | 41  | 42,683  | +24%  | 2,104,500  | 83%
2003 |  Australia  | 1,837,547  | 48  | 38,282  | –10%  | 2,208,529  | 83%
2007 |  France  | 2,263,223  | 48  | 47,150  | +23%  | 2,470,660  | 92%
2011 |  New Zealand  | 1,477,294  | 48  | 30,777  | –35%  | 1,732,000  | 85%
2015 |  England  | 2,477,805  | 48  | 51,621  | +68%  | 2,600,741  | 95%
2019 |  Japan | 1,698,528  | 45*  | 37,745  | –27%  | 1,811,866  | 90%
2023 |  France  | 2,437,208  | 48  | 50,775  | +26%  | 2,586,173  | 94%
*Typhoon Hagibis caused 3 group stage matches to be cancelled. As a result, only 45 of the scheduled 48 matches were played in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Key

| Record high
| Record low

### Revenue

[edit]

Revenue for Rugby World Cup tournaments[63][64] Source  | 1987 | 1991 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2015 | 2019[c][65] | 2023

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Gate receipts (M £)  | —  | —  | 15  | 55  | 81  | 147  | 131  | 250  | 259[66] | —
Broadcasting (M £)  | —  | —  | 19  | 44  | 60  | 82  | 93  | 155  | 136  | —
Sponsorship (M £)  | —  | —  | 8  | 18  | 16  | 28  | 29  | —  | 105  | —
Surplus (M £)  | 1  | 4  | 18  | 47  | 64  | 122  | 92  | 150  | 136  | —

Notes:

* The host union keeps revenue from gate receipts. World Rugby, through RWCL, receive revenue from sources including broadcasting rights, sponsorship and tournament fees.[63]

## Results

[edit]

### Tournaments

[edit]

Keys

* aet: result/match won after extra time

Ed. | Year  | Host  | First place game  | Third place game  | Num.
teams

|
|
|
|
|

Champion  | Score  | Runner-up  | Third  | Score  | Fourth
1  | 1987 |  Australia
New Zealand |
New Zealand | 29–9 |
France |
Wales | 22–21 |
Australia | 16
2  | 1991 |  England
France
Ireland
Scotland
Wales |
Australia | 12–6 |
England |
New Zealand | 13–6 |
Scotland | 16
3  | 1995 |  South Africa |
South Africa | 15–12 (a.e.t.)  |
New Zealand |
France | 19–9 |
England | 16
4  | 1999 |  Wales |
Australia | 35–12 |
France |
South Africa | 22–18 |
New Zealand | 20
5  | 2003 |  Australia |
England | 20–17 (a.e.t.)  |
Australia |
New Zealand | 40–13 |
France | 20
6  | 2007 |  France |
South Africa | 15–6 |
England |
Argentina | 34–10 |
France | 20
7  | 2011 |  New Zealand |
New Zealand | 8–7 |
France |
Australia | 21–18 |
Wales | 20
8  | 2015 |  England |
New Zealand | 34–17 |
Australia |
South Africa | 24–13 |
Argentina | 20
9  | 2019 |  Japan |
South Africa | 32–12 |
England |
New Zealand | 40–17 |
Wales | 20
10  | 2023 |  France |
South Africa | 12–11 |
New Zealand |
England | 26–23 |
Argentina | 20
11  | 2027 |  Australia | To be determined | To be determined | 24[67]
12  | 2031 |  United States | To be determined | To be determined | 24

### Performance of nations

[edit]

See also: National team appearances in the Rugby World Cup

Map of nations' best results (excluding qualifying tournaments)

Twenty-five nations have participated at the Rugby World Cup (excluding qualifying tournaments). The only nations to host and win a tournament are New Zealand (1987 and 2011) and South Africa (1995). The performance of other host nations includes England (1991 final hosts) and Australia (2003 hosts) both finishing runners-up, while France (2007 hosts) finished fourth, and Wales (1999 hosts) and Japan (2019 hosts) reached the quarter-finals. Wales became the first host nation to be eliminated at the pool stages in 1991 while England became the first solo host nation to be eliminated at the pool stages in 2015.[68] Of the twenty-five nations that have participated in at least one tournament, ten of them have never missed a tournament.[d]

### Team records

[edit]

Team  | Champions  | Runners-up  | Third  | Fourth  | Quarter-finals  | Apps in top 8

|
|
|
|
|
|

South Africa | 4 (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023)  | —  | 2 (1999, 2015)  | —  | 2 (2003, 2011)  | 8[69]
New Zealand | 3 (1987, 2011, 2015)  | 2 (1995, 2023)  | 3 (1991, 2003, 2019)  | 1 (1999)  | 1 (2007)  | 10
Australia | 2 (1991, 1999)  | 2 (2003, 2015)  | 1 (2011)  | 1 (1987)  | 3 (1995, 2007, 2019)  | 9
England | 1 (2003)  | 3 (1991, 2007, 2019)  | 1 (2023)  | 1 (1995)  | 3 (1987, 1999, 2011)  | 9
France | —  | 3 (1987, 1999, 2011)  | 1 (1995)  | 2 (2003, 2007)  | 4 (1991, 2015, 2019, 2023)  | 10
Wales | —  | —  | 1 (1987)  | 2 (2011, 2019)  | 4 (1999, 2003, 2015, 2023)  | 7
Argentina | —  | —  | 1 (2007)  | 2 (2015, 2023)  | 2 (1999, 2011)  | 5
Scotland | —  | —  | —  | 1 (1991)  | 6 (1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015)  | 7
Ireland | —  | —  | —  | —  | 8 (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)  | 8
Fiji | —  | —  | —  | —  | 3 (1987, 2007, 2023)  | 3
Samoa | —  | —  | —  | —  | 2 (1991, 1995)  | 2
Canada | —  | —  | —  | —  | 1 (1991)  | 1
Japan | —  | —  | —  | —  | 1 (2019)  | 1

### Qualification results

[edit]

As of the 2027 World Cup, 27 nations have qualified to compete across 11 tournaments.

Team  |
1987 |
1991 |
1995 |
1999 |
2003 |
2007 |
2011 |
2015 |
2019 |
2023 |
2027 |
2031 | Years

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Argentina | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Australia | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Canada | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | - | TBD | TBD | 9
Chile | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Q | TBD | TBD | 1
England | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Fiji | Q | Q | - | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 10
France | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Georgia | N/A[70] | N/A[70] | - | - | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 7
Hong Kong | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Q | TBD | 1
Ireland | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Italy | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Ivory Coast | - | - | Q | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | TBD | 1
Japan | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Namibia | - | - | - | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | TBD | 7
New Zealand | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Portugal | - | - | - | - | - | Q | - | - | - | Q | Q | TBD | 3
Romania | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | E[71] | Q | Q | TBD | 10
Russia | [72] | - | - | - | X | - | Q | - | Q | B[73] | - | TBD | 2
Samoa | - | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | TBD | 9
Scotland | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
South Africa | B[69] | B[69] | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 9[69]
Spain | - | - | - | Q | - | - | - | - | X | E[74] | Q | TBD | 2
Tonga | Q | - | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | TBD | 9
United States | Q | Q | - | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | - | TBD | Q | 9
Uruguay | - | - | - | Q | Q | - | - | Q | Q | Q | TBD | TBD | 5
Wales | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q | TBD | 11
Zimbabwe | Q | Q | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Q | TBD | 3
Total | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 |

Legend

* = Hosts
* Q = Qualified (or just for the 1987 World Cup, invited)
* - = Did not qualify (or not invited to the 1987 World Cup)
* X = Expelled during qualification
* E = Expelled after qualification
* B = Banned

## Records and statistics

[edit]

Main articles: Records and statistics of the Rugby World Cup, List of Rugby World Cup try scorers, and List of Rugby World Cup hat-tricks

Gavin Hastings of Scotland is one of four players to have kicked a record eight penalties in a single World Cup match.

The record for most points overall is held by English player Jonny Wilkinson, who scored 277 during his World Cup career.[75] New Zealand All Black Grant Fox holds the record for most points in one competition, with 126 in 1987;[75] Sam Whitelock of New Zealand holds the record for most World Cup matches: 26 between 2011 and 2023. All Black Simon Culhane holds the record for most points in a match by one player, 45, as well as the record for most conversions in a match, 20.[76] All Black Marc Ellis holds the record for most tries in a match, six, which he scored against Japan in 1995.[77]

New Zealand's Jonah Lomu is the youngest player to appear in a final—aged 20 years and 43 days in the 1995 final.[78] Lomu (playing in two tournaments) and South African Bryan Habana (playing in three tournaments) share the record for most total World Cup tournament tries, both scoring 15.[77] Lomu (in 1999) and Habana (in 2007) also share the record, along with All Black Julian Savea (in 2015) and Will Jordan (in 2023), for most tries in a tournament, with 8 each.[77] South Africa's Jannie de Beer kicked five drop-goals against England in 1999—an individual record for a single World Cup match.[78] The record for most penalties in a match is 8, held by Australian Matt Burke, Argentinian Gonzalo Quesada, Scotland's Gavin Hastings and France's Thierry Lacroix,[76] with Quesada also holding the record for most penalties in a tournament, with 31.

The most points scored in a game is 145, by the All Blacks against Japan in 1995, while the widest winning margin is 142, held by Australia in a match against Namibia in 2003.[79]

A total of 25 players have been sent off (red carded) in the tournament. Welsh lock Huw Richards was the first, while playing against New Zealand in 1987. No player has been red carded more than once.

## See also

[edit]

* Sports portal
* World portal

* International rugby union player records
* International rugby union team records
* Rugby World Cup Sevens – men's and women's tournaments held simultaneously at a single site

## References

[edit]

### Printed sources

[edit]

* Collins, Tony (2008). "'The First Principle of Our Game': The rise and fall of amateurism: 1886–1995". In Ryan, Greg (ed.). The Changing Face of Rugby: The Union Game and Professionalism since 1995. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84718-530-3.
* Davies, Gerald (2004). The History of the Rugby World Cup Sanctuary Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-86074-602-0.
* Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation. ISBN 0-642-36811-2.
* Harding, Grant; Williams, David (2000). The Toughest of Them All: New Zealand and South Africa: The Struggle for Rugby Supremacy. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-029577-1.
* Martin, Gerard John (2005). The Game is not the Same – a History of Professional Rugby in New Zealand (Thesis). Auckland University of Technology.
* Peatey, Lance (2011). In Pursuit of Bill: A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup. New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1-74257-191-1.
* Phillpots, Kyle (2000). The Professionalisation of Rugby Union (Thesis). University of Warwick.
* Williams, Peter (2002). "Battle Lines on Three Fronts: The RFU and the Lost War Against Professionalism" (PDF). The International Journal of the History of Sport. 19 (4): 114–136\. doi:10.1080/714001793. S2CID 145705183.

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ However an exhibition tournament, the 1936 FIRA Tournament, did take place at the 1936 Games. Rugby was reintroduced to the Olympics in 2016, but as men's and women's rugby sevens (i.e., seven-a-side rugby).[10]
2. ^ Against England in 1984.[19]
3. ^ Figures published by World Rugby (WR) are for the entire year, and are not specific to the tournament.
4. ^ Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales are the nations that have never missed a tournament, playing in all nine thus far. South Africa has played in all eight in the post-apartheid era (as of 2023).

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ As per the narrative of the sport's origins, at this point in time, handling the ball, by way of taking a Mark, was within the laws of the Game. Webb Ellis' purported innovation was to then run with the ball in hand, giving the game its signature characteristic.
2. ^ "Rankings to determine RWC pools". BBC News. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
3. ^ a b c "AB boost as World Cup seedings confirmed". stuff.co.nz. NZPA. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
4. ^ "Caribbean kick off for RWC 2011 qualifying". irb.com. 3 April 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
5. ^ a b "Fixtures". World Rugby. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
6. ^ a b c d "Tournament Rules". World Rugby. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
7. ^ "2015 Rugby World Cup seedings take shape". TVNZ. Australian Associated Press. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 21 November 2012.
8. ^ cycles, This text provides general information Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct Due to varying update; Text, Statistics Can Display More up-to-Date Data Than Referenced in the. "Topic: Six Nations Championship". Statista. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
9. ^ "A brief history of the Six Nations rugby tournament". 6 Nations Rugby. Archived from the original on 8 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
10. ^ a b "History of Rugby in the Olympics". World Rugby. 9 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
11. ^ Richards, Huw (26 July 2012). "Rugby and the Olympics". ESPN. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
12. ^ a b "The History of RWC". worldcupweb.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2006.
13. ^ a b Collins (2008), p. 13.
14. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 31.
15. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 34.
16. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 42.
17. ^ a b Peatey (2011) p. 59.
18. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 77.
19. ^ a b Harding (2000), p. 137
20. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 78.
21. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 82.
22. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 87.
23. ^ a b Harding (2000), pp. 159–160
24. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 99.
25. ^ Harding (2000), p. 168
26. ^ "Rugby World Cup history: The Wizards from Oz in 1999". Sky Sports. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
27. ^ "1999 World Cup Qualifiers". CNN Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 3 May 2004. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
28. ^ Madden, Patrick (4 September 2015). "RWC #15: Ireland suffer play-off misery against Argentina". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
29. ^ Kitson, Robert (8 November 1999). "Wallaby siege mentality secures Holy Grail". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
30. ^ Morse, Ben (27 September 2023). "'What chance did we have': Remembering Namibia's record-breaking 142-0 Rugby World Cup defeat". CNN. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
31. ^ a b "Doin' it the Hard Way". Rugby News. Vol. 38, no. 9\. 2007. p. 26.
32. ^ "Doin' it the Hard Way". Rugby News. Vol. 38, no. 9\. 2007. p. 27.
33. ^ "England honours World Cup stars". bbc.co.uk. 9 December 2003. Retrieved 3 May 2006.
34. ^ "Ireland exit courtesy of powerful Pumas", ESPN, 30 September 2007.
35. ^ Gowar, Rex (23 November 2011). "Argentina has talent to meet challenge, says Sanzar". Reuters.
36. ^ "New Zealand 8-7 France". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
37. ^ Aylwin, Michael (31 October 2015). "New Zealand 34-17 Australia: Rugby World Cup 2015 final player ratings | Rugby World Cup 2015". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
38. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2019: fixtures, tables and results". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
39. ^ "World Rugby announces gender neutral naming for Rugby World Cup tournaments" (Press release). World Rugby. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
40. ^ "Second World Cup exists, Snedden confirms". The New Zealand Herald. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
41. ^ Quinn, Keith (30 August 2011). "Keith Quinn: Back-history of RWC – part three". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014.
42. ^ "Friday Boss: Kevin Baker of silversmiths Thomas Lyte". BBC News.
43. ^ "Thomas Lyte". royalwarrant.org.
44. ^ "Restorers of the Rugby World Cup - The Webb Ellis Cup". Thomas Lyte. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
45. ^ "The History of the Webb Ellis Cup". Sky Sport New Zealand. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
46. ^ "Thomas Lyte Rounds Off Rugby World Cup". Sport Industry Group. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
47. ^ "Official Website of the Rugby World Cup". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2007.
48. ^ "England awarded 2015 Rugby World Cup". ABC News Australia. AFP. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
49. ^ a b "New Zealand came close to losing Rugby World Cup 2011". Rugby Week. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
50. ^ "Millennium Stadium, Cardiff". Virtual Tourist. Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
51. ^ "Rugby World Cup Locations Confirmed Through to 2033" (Press release). World Rugby. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
52. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2015 Official Hospitality". RWC Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
53. ^ "Olympics and World Cup are the biggest, but what comes next?". BBC Sport. 4 December 2014.
54. ^ "Rugby World Cup: Logic debunks outrageous numbers game". The New Zealand Herald. 23 October 2011. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
55. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2003". sevencorporate.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 April 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2006.
56. ^ "Visa International Renews Rugby World Cup Partnership". corporate.visa.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2006.
57. ^ "Potential Impact of the Rugby World Cup on a Host Nation" (PDF). Deloitte & Touche. 2008. p. 5\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
58. ^ "Digital Divide: Global Household Penetration Rates for Technology". VRWorld. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
59. ^ Nippert, Matt (2 May 2010). "Filling the Cup – cost $500m and climbing". The New Zealand Herald. APN New Zealand. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
60. ^ Burgess, Michael (23 October 2011). "Logic debunks outrageous numbers game". The New Zealand Herald. APN New Zealand. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
61. ^ Derriman, Phillip (1 July 2006). "Rivals must assess impact of Cup fever". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
62. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2023 was the most viewed rugby event of all time". Rugby World Cup. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
63. ^ a b c International Rugby Board Year in Review 2012. International Rugby Board. p. 62. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
64. ^ "Year in Review 2015". World Rugby. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
65. ^ "World Rugby Consolidated Financial Statements Financial Year Ended 31 December 2019" (PDF). resources.world.rugby. World Rugby (WR). 2020.
66. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2019: Review of Outcomes" (PDF). assets.ey.com. Ernst & Young. 24 June 2020.
67. ^ "Rugby World Cup 2027 expanded to 24 teams". rugbyworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
68. ^ "England become first host nation eliminated at pool stage of Rugby World Cup", Evening Standard, Tom Dutton, 3 October 2015.
69. ^ a b c d South Africa was excluded from the first two tournaments due to a sporting boycott during the apartheid era.
70. ^ a b Georgia could not qualify or be invited to the 1987 and 1991 World Cups, as they were part of the USSR and not an independent country yet.
71. ^ Romania initially qualified for the 2019 tournament, but were deducted points for fielding ineligible players in 6 qualifying matches, resulting in their non-qualification.
72. ^ The USSR rugby team declined the invite to the 1987 World Cup.
73. ^ After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, World Rugby and Rugby Europe suspended Russia from international and European continental rugby union competition.
74. ^ Spain initially qualified for the 2023 tournament, but were deducted points for fielding ineligible players in two qualifiers, resulting in their non-qualification.
75. ^ a b Peatey (2011) p. 243.
76. ^ a b "All Time RWC Statistics". International Rugby Board. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
77. ^ a b c Peatey (2011) p. 244.
78. ^ a b Peatey (2011) p. 245.
79. ^ Peatey (2011) p. 242.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rugby World Cup.

Wikinews has news related to:

Rugby World Cup

* Official website
* World Rugby

* v
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* e

Rugby World Cup winners

* 1987: New Zealand
* 1991: Australia
* 1995: South Africa
* 1999: Australia
* 2003: England
* 2007: South Africa
* 2011: New Zealand
* 2015: New Zealand
* 2019: South Africa
* 2023: South Africa

* v
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Rugby World Cup

Tournaments|

* Australia / New Zealand 1987
* England / France / Ireland / Scotland / Wales 1991
* South Africa 1995
* Wales 1999
* Australia 2003
* France 2007
* New Zealand 2011
* England 2015
* Japan 2019
* France 2023
* Australia 2027
* United States 2031

Warm-up matches|

* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027
* 2031

Qualifying|

* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027
* 2031

Knockout stages|

* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027
* 2031

Finals|

* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027
* 2031

Squads|

* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027
* 2031

Statistics|

* 1987
* 1991
* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027
* 2031

Overview|

* History
* Hosts
* Qualification
* Theme song
* Trophy

Overall records|

* All-time table
* Hat-tricks
* Multiple winners
* Records and statistics
* Red cards
* Team appearances
* Try scorers

Notes: There was no qualification for the 1987 World Cup as places were given by invitation only.

* v
* t
* e

International rugby union competitions

* World Rugby
* Africa
* Asia
* Europe
* North America
* South America
* Oceania

Worldwide|

| Men|

* World Cup
* Nations Championship
* SVNS
* Project 7s
* U20 World Championship
* U20 Trophy

|

Women|

* World Cup
* WXV
* SVNS
* Project 7s

Multi-sport events|

* Olympic Games (7s)
* Asian Games
* Commonwealth Games (7s)
* Mediterranean Games
* Pacific Games (7s)
* Pan American Games
* World Games

Intercontinental|

* Americas Pacific Challenge
* Nations Cup
* Pacific Nations Cup
* Pacific Rugby Challenge
* The Rugby Championship
* Pacific Four Series
* Arab Rugby Sevens Men's
* Arab Rugby Sevens Women's
* The Rugby Championship U20

Continental|

| Africa|

* Rugby Africa Cup
* Rugby Africa Women's Cup
* Africa Men's Sevens
* Africa Women's Sevens
* U20 Barthés Trophy

|

Asia|

* Asia Rugby Championship
* Asian Sevens Series
* Asia Rugby Women's Championship
* Asia Rugby Women's Sevens Series
* U19 Championship

Europe|

* Six Nations
* Europe International
* Women's Six Nations
* Europe Women's
* Europe Sevens
* Europe Women's Sevens
* U20 Six Nations
* U20 Championship
* U18 Championship
* U18 Sevens
* U18 Women's Sevens

Oceania|

* Oceania Men's Championship
* Oceania Women's Championship
* Oceania Sevens
* Oceania Women's Sevens
* U20 Championship

North America|

* RAN Championship
* Americas Rugby Championship
* Americas Rugby Challenge
* RAN Women's Championship
* RAN Sevens
* RAN Women's Sevens

South America|

* South American Championship
* Americas Rugby Trophy
* Sudamérica Sevens
* Sudamérica Women's Sevens
* U20 Championship

Defunct|

* Olympic Games (15s)
* Pacific Games (15s)
* World Games (7s)
* Churchill Cup
* Crescent Cup
* Pacific Rim Championship
* Pan American
* Serendib International Cup
* Super Cup
* Tbilisi Cup
* U-19 World Championship
* U-21 World Championship
* Women's Nations Cup
* IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup
* World Cup Sevens
* Rugby X
* South Pacific Championship
* Super 10
* ARFU Asian Rugby Series

* Women's international rugby
* World Rugby Rankings
* World Rugby Awards

* v
* t
* e

World cups

* List of world cups

Team|

* Association football
* men
* men's club
* women
* women's club
* ConIFA
* Athletics
* Continental
* Australian rules football
* Badminton
* men
* women
* mixed
* Baseball
* men
* women
* Basketball
* men
* women
* Beach soccer
* Boxing
* Bull riding
* Cricket
* Test
* men ODI
* men T20
* women ODI
* women T20
* indoor
* Darts
* PDC
* WDF
* Fencing
* Field hockey
* men
* women
* Futsal
* FIFA men
* FIFA women
* AMF men
* AMF women
* Golf
* men
* women
* Ice hockey
* Kabaddi
* Circle
* Standard
* Kho kho
* Lacrosse
* women
* Para ice hockey
* men
* women
* Pesäpallo
* Pitch and putt
* Pool (nine-ball)
* Quidditch/Quadball
* Roll ball
* Motorsport
* auto racing
* motocross
* quadcross
* speedway
* trial
* Roller derby
* men
* women
* Rowing
* Rugby league
* men
* women
* nines
* wheelchair
* Rugby union
* men
* women
* sevens
* Sepaktakraw
* Snooker
* Softball
* men
* women
* Taekwondo
* Tennis
* men
* women
* mixed
* Touch football
* Volleyball
* men
* women
* Water polo
* men
* women
* Wrestling
* teams
* clubs

Individual|

* Archery
* Bowling
* Ten-pin bowling
* Nine-pin bowling classic
* Canoe slalom
* Wildwater canoeing
* Chess
* Cyclo-cross
* Diving
* Equestrian dressage
* Fencing
* Gymnastics
* artistic
* rhythmic
* Mountain bike racing
* Orienteering
* Paralympic
* summer
* winter
* Road bicycle racing
* men
* women
* Sailing
* Show jumping
* Sport shooting
* Swimming
* Table tennis
* Track cycling
* Triathlon
* Weightlifting
* Wushu
* Taolu
* Sanda

Winter sports|

* Biathlon
* Curling
* Skiing
* Alpine
* Cross-country
* Freestyle
* ski cross
* Nordic combined
* Ski jumping
* ski flying
* Snowboarding
* Ski mountaineering
* Ski orienteering
* Sledding
* Bobsleigh
* Luge
* Skeleton
* Speed skating
* Short track
* Telemark

* See also: World championships

* v
* t
* e

World championships

* List of world sports championships

Olympic sports|

| Team|

* Association football
* men
* men's club
* women
* women's club
* Baseball
* men
* men's 12
* women
* Basketball
* men
* women
* 3x3 basketball
* club
* Beach volleyball
* Cricket
* T20 (men)
* T20 (women)
* Curling
* mixed doubles
* mixed
* Field hockey
* men
* women
* Flag football
* Handball
* men
* women
* Ice hockey
* men
* women
* Lacrosse
* men
* women
* Rugby 7s
* Softball
* men
* women
* Volleyball
* men
* men's club
* women
* women's club
* Water polo
* men
* women

|

Individual|

* Aquatic sports
* Archery
* Athletics
* outdoor
* race walking
* Badminton
* men
* women
* mixed
* individual
* Biathlon
* Bobsleigh and skeleton
* Boxing
* women
* Canoeing
* slalom
* sprint
* Cycling
* BMX
* mountain biking
* road
* track
* urban
* Equestrianism
* dressage
* eventing
* show jumping
* Fencing
* Golf
* men
* women
* Gymnastics
* artistic
* rhythmic
* trampoline
* Ice skating
* figure
* short track
* speed
* Judo
* Luge
* artificial track
* natural track
* Modern pentathlon
* Rowing
* Sailing
* Olympic Class Combined Worlds
* Shooting
* Skateboarding
* Skiing
* alpine
* Nordic
* freestyle
* snowboarding
* Ski mountaineering
* Sport climbing
* Squash
* individual
* doubles
* team
* Surfing
* Table tennis
* Taekwondo
* Tennis
* men
* women
* Triathlon
* mixed relay
* Weightlifting
* Wrestling

Discontinued|

* Basque pelota
* Cricket
* Test
* Croquet
* singles
* team
* Dance sport
* breakdancing
* Karate
* Polo
* Rackets
* Real tennis
* Rugby union
* men
* women
* Tug of war
* outdoor
* indoor

Paralympic sports|

| Team|

* Blind football
* Para ice hockey
* men
* women
* Wheelchair basketball
* Wheelchair handball
* Wheelchair rugby
* Wheelchair curling
* mixed team
* Goalball
* Sitting volleyball

|

Individual|

* Archery
* Athletics
* Badminton
* Bobsleigh and skeleton
* Climbing
* Cycling
* track cycling
* road cycling
* Powerlifting
* Shooting
* Snowboard
* Skiing
* alpine
* Nordic
* Swimming
* Table tennis

Combat sports|

* Brazilian jiu-jitsu
* Ju-Jitsu World Championships
* Kendo
* Kickboxing (amateur)
* Muaythai
* Sambo
* Sumo
* Wrestling
* beach wrestling
* catch
* grappling
* Wushu

Cue sports|

* Carom billiards
* Three-cushion
* men
* women
* team
* Five-pins
* individual
* team
* artistic
* English billiards
* amateurs
* women
* Pool
* blackball
* chinese eight ball
* eight-ball
* men nine-ball
* women nine-ball
* team nine-ball
* pyramid
* ten-ball
* straight pool
* Snooker
* men
* women
* team
* amateurs
* six-red

Mind sports|

* Backgammon
* Bridge
* Chess
* open
* women
* team
* Draughts
* men
* women
* checkers
* draughts-64
* draughts-64 women
* Go
* Puzzles
* Scrabble
* Sudoku
* Xiangqi

| Esports|

* Call of Duty
* Counter-Strike
* Dota 2
* eSailing
* FIFA
* Fortnite
* League of Legends
* Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
* NES Tetris
* Overwatch
* Pro Evolution Soccer
* Rainbow Six Siege
* Rocket League
* Smite
* StarCraft II
* Valorant

|

Motorsport|

| Auto racing|

* Formula E
* Formula One
* Hill climb
* Karting
* Rallying
* Rallycross
* Rally raid
* Bajas
* Sports Car Endurance
* Touring Car

|

Motorcycle sports|

* Endurance
* Enduro
* Beach Racing
* SuperEnduro
* Hard Enduro
* team endurance
* Ice racing
* individual
* team
* Grand Prix
* MotoGP
* Moto2
* Moto3
* MotoE
* Motocross
* individual
* women
* nations
* Supercross
* SuperMotocross
* Sidecarcross
* Snowcross
* Production
* Superbike
* Supersport
* Supersport 300
* Women
* Rally raid
* Bajas
* Sidecar
* Speedway
* individual
* team
* long track
* team long track
* flat track
* Supermoto
* team
* Trial
* nations
* E-Bike
* cross

Other|

* Aeroplane sport
* Aerobatic
* Aerobatic GP
* Powerboating
* Aquabike
* F1
* F4s
* offshore
* Radio-controlled racing
* 1:10 electric off-road
* 1:8 nitro off-road
* Tank biathlon

Other sports|

| Team|

* American football
* men
* women
* Australian football
* Baseball5
* Ball hockey
* Bandy
* men
* men's club
* women
* women's club
* Cricket
* ODI (men)
* ODI (women)
* Beach handball
* Beach soccer
* Beach tennis
* Canoe polo
* Dancesport
* Formation Latin
* Dodgeball
* Fistball
* Floorball
* men
* women
* Futsal
* men
* women
* men's club
* women
* Indoor hockey
* men
* women
* Inline hockey
* Kabaddi
* Circle
* Standard
* Kho kho
* Korfball
* Lacrosse
* indoor
* Life saving
* Minifootball
* Netball
* Padel tennis
* Quadball
* Ringette
* Rogaining
* Roll Ball
* Roller derby
* men
* women
* Roller hockey
* men
* women
* Rugby league
* men
* men's club
* women
* Sailing
* Yachts
* Dinghies
* Sepaktakraw
* Socca
* Synchronized skating
* Tchoukball
* Underwater hockey
* Underwater rugby

|

Individual|

* Air sports
* ballooning
* gliding
* parachuting
* paragliding
* Aquatics
* water skiing
* Armwrestling
* Archery
* indoor
* 3D
* field
* Athletics
* cross country
* half marathon
* indoor
* women's decathlon
* relays
* 100 km
* mountain running
* long distance mountain running
* snowshoe running
* skyrunning
* trail running
* Bowling
* Tenpin
* Ninepin (singles, team)
* Bowls
* indoor
* outdoor
* Canoeing
* marathon
* ocean race
* wildwater
* SUP
* canoe sailing
* freestyle
* waveski
* Crokinole
* CrossFit
* Cycling
* cyclo-cross
* indoor
* mountain bike marathon
* trials
* Darts
* WDF
* PDC
* team
* Finswimming
* Fishing
* freshwater
* fly fishing
* Gymnastics
* acrobatic
* aerobic
* parkour
* Ice Climbing
* Modern pentathlon
* biathle
* triathle
* laser run
* Mounted games
* Orienteering
* foot
* ski
* mountain bike
* trail
* Pétanque
* Powerlifting
* Racquetball
* Roller Sports
* artistic skating
* inline alpine
* inline downhill
* inline speed skating
* roller freestyle
* scootering
* Rowing
* coastal
* indoor
* Shooting
* practical handgun
* practical rifle
* practical shotgun
* Skiing
* flying
* speed
* telemark
* Summer biathlon
* Strength athletics
* men
* women
* Surfing
* short board
* long board
* big wave
* SUP/paddleboard
* Swimming
* short course
* Teqball
* Triathlon
* Aquathlon
* Duathlon
* Ironman
* Ironman 70.3
* cross
* cross duathlon
* long distance
* long distance duathlon
* sprint
* winter
* Yo-yo

* See also: World cups

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[Ed.]: Edition
*[Num.
teams]: Number of teams
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template