Editing Rugby World Cup (section)

== History ==
{{Main|History of the Rugby World Cup}}

===Beginnings===
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,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=cycles |first1=This text provides general information Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct Due to varying update |last2=Text |first2=Statistics Can Display More up-to-Date Data Than Referenced in the |title=Topic: Six Nations Championship |url=https://www.statista.com/topics/11881/six-nations-championship/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> a tournament between [[England national rugby union team|England]], [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]], [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] and [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]. It expanded to the Five Nations in 1910, when [[France national rugby union team|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 national rugby union team|Italy]] joined the competition, which became the Six Nations.<ref name="history">{{cite web | url=http://www.6-nations-rugby.com/six-nations-history | title=A brief history of the Six Nations rugby tournament | publisher=6 Nations Rugby | access-date=31 October 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071108180856/http://www.6-nations-rugby.com/six-nations-history |archive-date = 8 November 2007}}</ref>

Rugby union was also played at the [[Summer Olympic Games]], first appearing at the [[1900 Summer Olympics|1900 Paris games]] and subsequently at [[1908 Summer Olympics|London in 1908]], [[1920 Summer Olympics|Antwerp in 1920]], and [[1924 Summer Olympics|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.<ref name="WorldRugbyOlympics">{{cite web | url=http://www.worldrugby.org/olympics/history | title=History of Rugby in the Olympics | website=World Rugby | date=9 November 2014 | access-date=21 July 2015 | archive-date=27 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627130524/http://www.worldrugby.org/olympics/history | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="olympics2">{{cite web | url = http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/167592.html | title = Rugby and the Olympics | last = Richards | first = Huw | date = 26 July 2012 | access-date = 13 April 2012 | publisher = ESPN}}</ref>{{efn|However an exhibition tournament, the [[1936 FIRA Tournament]],  did take place at the [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Games]]. Rugby [[Rugby sevens at the Summer Olympics|was reintroduced]] to the Olympics in 2016, but as men's and women's [[rugby sevens]] (i.e., seven-a-side rugby).<ref name="WorldRugbyOlympics" />}}

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.<ref name="wcweb" /> The idea resurfaced several times in the early 1980s, with the [[Rugby Australia|Australian Rugby Union]] (ARU; now known as Rugby Australia) in 1983, and the [[New Zealand Rugby|New Zealand Rugby Union]] (NZRU; now known as New Zealand Rugby) in 1984 independently proposing the establishment of a world cup.<ref name=Collins13>Collins (2008), p. 13.</ref> 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.<ref name="wcweb">{{cite web | publisher=worldcupweb.com | title=The History of RWC |url=http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/history.asp|access-date=25 April 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060414193531/http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/history.asp |archive-date = 14 April 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Collins13 />

The inaugural tournament, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, was held in May and June 1987, with sixteen nations taking part.<ref name=Peatey31>Peatey (2011) p. 31.</ref> The [[1987 Rugby World Cup|inaugural World Cup]] in 1987, did not involve any qualifying process; instead, the 16 places were automatically filled by seven eligible [[World Rugby|International Rugby Football Board]] (IRFB, now World Rugby) member nations, and the rest by invitation.<ref name=Peatey34>Peatey (2011) p. 34.</ref> [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] became the first-ever champions, defeating [[France national rugby union team|France]] 29–9 in the final.<ref name=Peatey42>Peatey (2011) p. 42.</ref> The subsequent [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991 tournament]] was hosted by England, with matches played throughout Britain, Ireland and France. Qualifying tournaments were introduced for the [[1991 Rugby World Cup|second tournament]], where eight of the sixteen places were contested in a twenty-four-nation tournament.<ref name="Peatey59">Peatey (2011) p. 59.</ref>  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.<ref name="Peatey59" /> Australia won the second tournament, defeating [[England national rugby union team|England]] 12–6 in the final.<ref name=Peatey77>Peatey (2011) p. 77.</ref>

In 1992, eight years after their last official series,{{efn|Against England in 1984.<ref name=Harding137>Harding (2000), p. 137</ref>}} [[South Africa national rugby union team|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.<ref name=Harding137 /><ref name=Peatey78>Peatey (2011) p. 78.</ref> With their return to test rugby, South Africa were selected to host the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]].<ref name=Peatey82>Peatey (2011) p. 82.</ref> After upsetting Australia in the opening match, South Africa continued to advance through the tournament and met New Zealand in the final.<ref name=Peatey87>Peatey (2011) p. 87.</ref><ref name=Harding159>Harding (2000), pp. 159–160</ref> After a tense final that went into [[Overtime (sports)|extra time]], South Africa emerged 15–12 winners,<ref name=Peatey99>Peatey (2011) p. 99.</ref> with then President [[Nelson Mandela]], wearing a Springbok [[Rugby shirt|jersey]],<ref name=Harding159 /> presenting the trophy to South Africa's captain, [[Francois Pienaar]].<ref name=Harding168>Harding (2000), p. 168</ref>

===Professional era===
The [[1999 Rugby World Cup|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,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/21971/7079435/rugby-world-cup-history-the-wizards-from-oz-in-1999 | title=Rugby World Cup history: The Wizards from Oz in 1999 | publisher=Sky Sports | date=11 September 2015 | access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref> alongside specific regional qualifying places.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/rugby/world_cup/news/1998/09/27/wc_qualifiers_standings/ | title=1999 World Cup Qualifiers | publisher=CNN Sports Illustrated | access-date=14 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040503171636/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/rugby/world_cup/news/1998/09/27/wc_qualifiers_standings/ | archive-date=3 May 2004 | url-status=dead}}</ref> The number of participating nations was increased from sixteen to twenty — and has remained to date at twenty.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/rwc-15-ireland-suffer-play-off-misery-against-argentina-1.2340253 | title=RWC #15: Ireland suffer play-off misery against Argentina | last=Madden | first=Patrick | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=4 September 2015 | access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref> Australia claimed their second title, defeating France in the final.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/rugbycup/Story/0,,196930,00.html | title=Wallaby siege mentality secures Holy Grail | last=Kitson | first=Robert | work=The Guardian | date=8 November 1999 | access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morse |first=Ben |date=27 September 2023 |title='What chance did we have': Remembering Namibia's record-breaking 142-0 Rugby World Cup defeat |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/27/sport/namibia-australia-2003-rugby-world-cup-record-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

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 [[continent]]al qualifying tournaments.<ref name="RNV38I9PG26">{{cite news| title=Doin' it the Hard Way |magazine=Rugby News |volume=38 |issue=9 |year=2007 |page=26}}</ref> Ten positions were filled by teams qualifying directly through continental competitions.<ref name="RNV38I9PG26" /> Another two places were allocated for a cross-continental [[repechage]].<ref name="RNV38I9PG27">{{cite news| title=Doin' it the Hard Way |magazine=Rugby News |volume=38 |issue=9 |year=2007 |page=27}}</ref>

The [[2003 Rugby World Cup|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 [[SANZAAR|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.<ref name="bbcrwc">{{cite news | work=bbc.co.uk | title=England honours World Cup stars |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/3300061.stm|access-date=3 May 2006 | date=9 December 2003}}</ref>

[[File:Paul O'Connell Ireland Rugby.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Ireland v Argentina in 2007]]
The [[2007 Rugby World Cup|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 [[Six Nations Championship|top European teams]] — France, Ireland, and Scotland — to finish first in the [[Group of death|Pool of death]] and finish third overall in the tournament.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/rugby/report?gameId=25545&league=164205 "Ireland exit courtesy of powerful Pumas"], ESPN, 30 September 2007.</ref> The attention from Argentina's performance led to Argentina participating in [[SANZAAR]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gowar |first=Rex |date=23 November 2011 |title=Argentina has talent to meet challenge, says Sanzar |website=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rugby-argentina-sanzar-idUKLDE7AL02H20111123/}}</ref> and the professionalization of rugby in Argentina.

[[File:2011 Rugby World Cup Wales vs Samoa (6168183024).jpg|thumb|alt=A player holds a ball in front of two opposing groups of eight players. Each group is crouched and working together to push against the other team.|A scrum between [[Samoa national rugby union team|Samoa]] (in blue) and [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] (in red) during the 2011 World Cup]]
The [[2011 Rugby World Cup|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 Rugby World Cup final|2011 final]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=New Zealand 8-7 France|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/15405316|access-date=6 June 2021}}</ref>

The opening weekend of the [[2015 Rugby World Cup|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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Zealand 34-17 Australia: Rugby World Cup 2015 final player ratings {{!}} Rugby World Cup 2015 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/oct/31/rugby-world-cup-final-new-zealand-australia-ratings|access-date=6 June 2021|website=The Guardian|date=31 October 2015 |last1=Aylwin |first1=Michael }}</ref>

Japan's hosting of the [[2019 Rugby World Cup|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.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Rugby World Cup 2019: fixtures, tables and results|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/ng-interactive/2019/sep/18/rugby-world-cup-2019-fixtures-tables-and-results|access-date=6 June 2021|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

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 pandemic|COVID-19]] issues.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.world.rugby/news/444250 |title=World Rugby announces gender neutral naming for Rugby World Cup tournaments |publisher=World Rugby |date=21 August 2019 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref>

France hosted the [[2023 Rugby World Cup|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.