Rugby World Cup Trivia

Before the first Rugby World Cup in 1987, the USA was technically the reigning international champion because they had won the gold medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics rugby tournament.
The World Cup winners are awarded the William Webb Ellis Cup - William Webb Ellis was the Rugby School pupil who, according to popular myth, invented the game.
Australia (1991, 1999), South Africa (1995, 2007) and New Zealand (1987, 2011) have each won the Rugby World Cup twice.
The only nations to host and win a tournament are New Zealand (1987, 2011) and South Africa (1995)
The 2003 Rugby World Cup had a global cumulative audience of 3.5 billion, and was broadcast in 205 countries around the world. No doubt the latest event was even bigger.

The most points that have ever been scored against a team at a World Cup is 145 by New Zealand in a match against Japan in 1995. New Zealand scored 21 tries in that match.
The widest winning margin in a World Cup match is 142, achieved by Australia against Namibia in 2003.
England prop Jason Leonard made a record 22 appearances, and featured in four World Cups from 1991 to 2003.
New Zealander Michael Jones scored the opening try of the match at both the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups.
The first (and only so far) non-southern hemisphere country to win the world cup was England in 2003 (more firsts)
English player Mike Tindall married Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne of England, Prince William’s cousin and 13th in line to the British throne in 2011.

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