- National team appearances in the Rugby World Cup
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This article lists the début of national teams that have so far qualified for the Rugby World Cup and their number of appearances.
Contents
Début of national teams
25 nations have thus far qualified for the Rugby World Cup. After the inaugural 16 made their debut in 1987, at least one side has been new to every subsequent world cup.
Year Nation(s) Total 1987 Argentina
Australia
Canada
England
Fiji
France
Ireland
Italy
Japan
New Zealand
Romania
Scotland
Tonga
United States
Wales
Zimbabwe16 1991 Samoa 1 1995 Ivory Coast
South Africa2 1999 Namibia
Spain
Uruguay3 2003 Georgia 1 2007 Portugal 1 2011 Russia 1 2015 By number of appearances
Team # of appearances Record streak Active streak Debut Most recent Best result New Zealand 7 7 7 1987 2011 Champions (1987, 2011) South Africa 5 5 5 1995 2011 Champions (1995, 2007) Australia 7 7 7 1987 2011 Champions (1991, 1999) England 7 7 7 1987 2011 Champions (2003) France 7 7 7 1987 2011 Runners-up (1987, 1999, 2011) Argentina 7 7 7 1987 2011 Third place (2007) Wales 7 7 7 1987 2011 Third place (1987) Scotland 7 7 7 1987 2011 Fourth place (1991) Ireland 7 7 7 1987 2011 Quarterfinals (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011) Fiji 6 4 4 1987 2011 Quarterfinals (1987, 2007) Samoa 6 6 6 1991 2011 Quarterfinals (1991, 1995) Canada 7 7 7 1987 2011 Quarterfinals (1991) Italy 7 7 7 1987 2011 Round 1 Japan 7 7 7 1987 2011 Round 1 Romania 7 7 7 1987 2011 Round 1 United States 6 4 4 1987 2011 Round 1 Tonga 6 5 5 1987 2011 Round 1 Namibia 4 4 4 1999 2011 Round 1 Georgia 3 3 3 2003 2011 Round 1 Zimbabwe 2 2 0 1987 1991 Round 1 Uruguay 2 2 0 1999 2003 Round 1 Ivory Coast 1 1 0 1995 1995 Round 1 Spain 1 1 0 1999 1999 Round 1 Portugal 1 1 0 2007 2007 Round 1 Russia 1 1 1 2011 2011 Round 1 Comprehensive team results
- Legend
- 1st — Champions
- 2nd — Runners-up
- 3rd — Third place
- 4th — Fourth place
- QF — Quarterfinals (knockout round of 8)
- R2 — Round 2 (1999: quarterfinal playoffs)
- R1 — Round 1 (pool stage)
- •• — Invited or qualified but declined or withdrew
- • — Did not qualify
- — Not invited (1987) / Did not enter / Withdrew
- Q — Qualified for upcoming tournament
- — Hosts
For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.
Team 1987
(16)1991
(16)1995
(16)1999
(20)2003
(20)2007
(20)2011
(20)2015
(20)2019
(20)Argentina R1
13thR1
14thR1
13thQF
8thR1
9th3rd QF
8thQ Australia 4th 1st QF
5th1st 2nd QF
6th3rd Q Canada R1
9thQF
8thR1
10thR1
12thR1
14thR1
17thR1
13thEngland QF
5th2nd 4th QF
5th1st 2nd QF
6thQ Fiji QF
8thR1
13th• R2
10thR1
10thQF
7thR1
14thFrance 2nd QF
7th3rd 2nd 4th 4th 2nd Q Georgia ••(2) • • R1
19thR1
13thR1
15thIreland QF
7thQF
6thQF
8thR2
9thQF
6thR1
11thQF
7thQ Italy R1
12thR1
10thR1
11thR1
20thR1
12thR1
12thR1
11thQ Ivory Coast(1) • R1
15th• • • • Japan R1
15thR1
9thR1
16thR1
17thR1
17thR1
16thR1
17thQ Namibia • R1
19thR1
20thR1
20thR1
20thNew Zealand 1st 3rd 2nd 4th 3rd QF
5th1st Q Portugal • • • • R1
19th• Romania R1
11thR1
12thR1
14thR1
14thR1
15thR1
15thR1
19thRussia ••(2) • • • • R1
18thSamoa(3) QF
7thQF
7thR2
11thR1
11thR1
14thR1
10thQ Scotland QF
6th4th QF
6thQF
6thQF
8thQF
8thR1
9thQ South Africa(4) 1st 3rd QF
5th1st QF
5thQ Spain • • R1
18th• • • Tonga R1
14th• R1
12thR1
15thR1
18thR1
10thR1
12thQ United States R1
10thR1
15th• R1
16thR1
13thR1
18thR1
16thUruguay • R1
13thR1
16th• • Wales 3rd R1
11thR1
9thQF
7thQF
7thR1
9th4th Q Zimbabwe R1
16thR1
16th• • • • • 1 The team representing Côte d'Ivoire (also known as Ivory Coast) is recognised as Ivory Coast by the International Rugby Board.2 Georgia and Russia were part of the Soviet Union in 1987, whose national team declined an invitation to the inaugural World Cup on political grounds.3 Samoa was known as Western Samoa until 1997.4 South Africa did not compete in 1987 and 1991 as a result of being subject to an international sporting boycott; this was in opposition to the country's apartheid regime.Result of host nations
The best result by hosts is champions, achieved by New Zealand in 1987 and 2011, and by South Africa in 1995. The worst result was by Wales in 1991 with only one win in pool play, although they did not host the final. The worst result by a country who hosted the final is also held by Wales, being eliminated in the quarter-finals in 1999.
Year Host nation Finish 1987 New Zealand Champions Australia Fourth Place 1991 England Runners-up Scotland Fourth Place France Quarter Final Ireland Quarter Final Wales Group Stage 1995 South Africa Champions 1999 Wales Quarter Final 2003 Australia Runners-up 2007 France Fourth Place 2011 New Zealand Champions 2015 England To be decided 2019 Japan To be decided Results of defending champions
A defending champion has never won the World Cup. The best result is runners-up by Australia and England in 2003 and 2007, respectively. The worst results were by Australia in 1995 and South Africa in 2011, both exiting in the quarter-finals.
Year Defending champions Finish 1987 — — 1991 New Zealand Third Place 1995 Australia Quarter Final 1999 South Africa Third Place 2003 Australia Runners-up 2007 England Runners-up 2011 South Africa Quarter Final 2015 New Zealand To be decided External links
Rugby World Cup Overview Statistics Records and statistics • Hat-tricks • Try scorers • Red cards • Team appearancesTournaments Finals Squads Qualifying Nations who have competed in the Rugby World Cup by tier Tier 1 teams Argentina · Australia · England · France · Ireland · Italy · New Zealand · Scotland · South Africa · WalesTier 2 teams Canada · Fiji · Japan · Romania · Samoa · Tonga · USATier 3 teams Categories:
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