Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is a men's rugby The tournament is administered by

union tournament held 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.
The most recent tournament was in
the UK and was won by New Zealand,
defeating Australia in the final. The
2019 final will be in Japan and the
following one in France in 2023.
World Rugby, the sport's international
governing body. Sixteen teams were
invited to participate in the tournament
in 1987, however since 1999, twenty
teams have taken part.
Trophy
The winners are awarded the William
Webb Ellis Cup, named after William
Webb Ellis, the Rugby School pupil
who (according to a popular myth)
invented rugby by picking up the ball
during a football game. New Zealand
have won the tournament three times,
Australia and South Africa twice and
England once.

History
Prior to the Rugby World Cup, there
were only regional international
rugby union competitions. One of the
largest and oldest is the Six Nations
Championship, which started in 1883
as the "Home Nations" championship, a
tournament between England, Ireland,
Scotland and Wales. It became 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.

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 Rugby World Cup

Champions
Twenty-five nations have participated at the Rugby World Cup.
Of the seven tournaments that have been held, all but one have
been won by a national team from the southern hemisphere.
The southern hemisphere's dominance has been broken only in
2003, when England beat Australia in the final. Thus far, 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 hosts) and Australia (2003
hosts) finishing runners-up. France (2007 hosts) finished fourth, while Wales
(1999 hosts) failed to even reach the semi-finals.

Records and Statistics

The record for most points overall is held by English
player Jonny Wilkinson, who scored 277 over his
World Cup career. Grant Fox of New Zealand holds
the record for most points in one competition, with
126 in 1987; Jason Leonard of England holds the
record for most World Cup matches: 22 between
1991 and 2003. Simon Culhane holds the record
for most points in a match by one player - 45. Marc
Ellis holds the record for most tries in a match, six,
which he scored against Japan in 1995. The most
points scored in a game is 145 — by the All Blacks
against Japan in 1995.

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 Rugby World Cup

Questions
1. How often is the Rugby World Cup held?


2. How many teams competed in the first Rugby World Cup?



3. Which is considered to be the oldest Rugby tournament?



4. Which country became the sixth nation?



5. Who was William Webb Ellis?



6. How many times have England won the William Webb Ellis Trophy?


7. How many Rugby World Cup tournaments have been held?



8. Which host nation performed the least well during their tournament?


9. Which nations won the tournament whilst they were hosting?



10. Why is Jonny Wilkinson remembered?



11. What special achievement are the All Blacks known for?


12. How long was Jason Leonard’s Rugby World Cup career?


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 Rugby World Cup

Answers
1. How often is the Rugby World Cup held?
Every 4 years

2. How many teams competed in the first Rugby World Cup?

16 teams

3. Which is considered to be the oldest Rugby tournament?

Six nations

4. Which country became the sixth nation?

Italy

5. Who was William Webb Ellis?

A school boy who is said to have invented rugby by picking up the ball during a football
game.

6. How many times has England won the William Webb Ellis Trophy?
Once

7. How many Rugby World Cup tournaments have been held?

Eight

8. Which host nation performed the least well during their tournament?
Wales

9. Which nations won the tournament whilst they were hosting?

South Africa and New Zealand

10. Why is Jonny Wilkinson remembered?

For scoring the most overall points during his career.

11. What special achievement are the All Blacks known for?
The most points scored in a game

12. How long was Jason Leonard’s Rugby World Cup career?
12 years

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