National team appearances in the Rugby World Cup
This article presents the national team appearances in the Rugby World Cup. The article tracks the appearances, results, and debuts for all national teams that have participated in at least one Rugby World Cup.
Number of appearances
Team | 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 | Rd 1: 2 wins (2003, 2007, 2011) |
Tonga | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1987 | 2011 | Rd 1: 2 wins (2007, 2011) |
Romania | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1987 | 2011 | Rd 1: 1 win (1987, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007) |
United States | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1987 | 2011 | Rd 1: 1 win (1987, 2003, 2011) |
Georgia | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2003 | 2011 | Rd 1: 1 win (2007, 2011) |
Uruguay | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1999 | 2003 | Rd 1: 1 win (1999, 2003) |
Japan | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1987 | 2011 | Rd 1: 1 win (1991) |
Namibia | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1999 | 2011 | Rd 1: 0 wins |
Russia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2011 | 2011 | Rd 1: 0 wins |
Zimbabwe | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1987 | 1991 | Rd 1: 0 wins |
Portugal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2007 | 2007 | Rd 1: 0 wins |
Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1999 | 1999 | Rd 1: 0 wins |
Ivory Coast | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1995 | 1995 | Rd 1: 0 wins |
Results by tournament
- 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)
- L — Last place
- •• — Invited or qualified but declined or withdrew
- • — Did not qualify
- — Not invited (1987) / Did not enter / Withdrew
- — 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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | R1 13th |
R1 14th |
R1 13th |
QF 8th |
R1 9th |
3rd | QF 8th |
Australia | 4th | 1st | QF 5th |
1st | 2nd | QF 6th |
3rd |
Canada | R1 9th |
QF 8th |
R1 10th |
R1 12th |
R1 14th |
R1 17th |
R1 13th |
England | QF 5th |
2nd | 4th | QF 5th |
1st | 2nd | QF 6th |
Fiji | QF 8th |
R1 13th |
• | R2 10th |
R1 10th |
QF 7th |
R1 14th |
France | 2nd | QF 7th |
3rd | 2nd | 4th | 4th | 2nd |
Georgia | ••(2) | • | • | R1 19th |
R1 13th |
R1 15th | |
Ireland | QF 7th |
QF 6th |
QF 8th |
R2 9th |
QF 6th |
R1 11th |
QF 7th |
Italy | R1 12th |
R1 10th |
R1 11th |
R1 20th |
R1 12th |
R1 12th |
R1 11th |
Ivory Coast(1) | • | R1 15th |
• | • | • | • | |
Japan | R1 15th |
R1 9th |
R1 16th |
R1 17th |
R1 17th |
R1 16th |
R1 17th |
Namibia | • | R1 19th |
R1 20th |
R1 20th |
R1 20th | ||
New Zealand | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | 3rd | QF 5th |
1st |
Portugal | • | • | • | • | R1 19th |
• | |
Romania | R1 11th |
R1 12th |
R1 14th |
R1 14th |
R1 15th |
R1 15th |
R1 19th |
Russia | ••(2) | • | • | • | • | R1 18th | |
Samoa(3) | QF 7th |
QF 7th |
R2 11th |
R1 11th |
R1 14th |
R1 10th | |
Scotland | QF 6th |
4th | QF 6th |
QF 6th |
QF 8th |
QF 8th |
R1 9th |
South Africa(4) | 1st | 3rd | QF 5th |
1st | QF 5th | ||
Spain | • | • | R1 18th |
• | • | • | |
Tonga | R1 14th |
• | R1 12th |
R1 15th |
R1 18th |
R1 10th |
R1 12th |
United States | R1 10th |
R1 15th |
• | R1 16th |
R1 13th |
R1 18th |
R1 16th |
Uruguay | • | R1 13th |
R1 16th |
• | • | ||
Wales | 3rd | R1 11th |
R1 9th |
QF 7th |
QF 7th |
R1 9th |
4th |
Zimbabwe | R1 16th |
R1 16th |
• | • | • | • | • |
Debut of national teams
25 nations have thus far qualified for the Rugby World Cup. From 1987 until 2014, each edition featured at least one new debuting country.
Year | Nation(s) | Total |
---|---|---|
1987 | Argentina Australia Canada England Fiji France Ireland Italy Japan New Zealand Romania Scotland Tonga United States Wales Zimbabwe |
16 |
1991 | Samoa | 1 |
1995 | Ivory Coast South Africa |
2 |
1999 | Namibia Spain Uruguay |
3 |
2003 | Georgia | 1 |
2007 | Portugal | 1 |
2011 | Russia | 1 |
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 | |
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 |
---|---|---|
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 |
External links
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