Rugby World Cup


Previous winners

1999

Hosts: Wales

1st Australia

2nd France

3rd South Africa

2003

Hosts: Australia

1st England

2nd Australia

3rd New Zealand

2007

Hosts: France

1st South Africa

2nd England

3rd Argentina

2011

Hosts: New Zealand

1st New Zealand

2nd France

3rd South Africa



Highest score

New Zealand, 145–17 Japan

1995, South Africa

Most individual points

Jonny Wilkinson, 277

England, 1999, 2003, 2007

Most individual tries

Jonah Lomu, 15

1995, 1999

Youngest try scorer

George North, 19 years 166 days (Wales)

Wales v Namibia, 2011

Most team tries in one game

Australia, 22

v Namibia, 2003

Most individual tries in one game

Marc Ellis, 6 (New Zealand)

New Zealand 155 - 17 Georgia, 1995

Oldest player to appear in a match

Diego Ormachea, 40 years 26 days (Uruguay)

Uruguay v South Africa, 1999

Youngest player to appear in a match

Thretton Palamo, 19 years 8 days (USA)

USA v South Africa, 2007


The teams

Select a shirt below to discover more about the nations participating at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, including analysis by Stuart Barnes.


Stadiums

Use the arrows below to discover more about the 13 venues being used for the tournament, including travel tips and the best places to gran some pre or post match grub!


The 'Match XV' ball

Designed by Gilbert

Two years in development, player consultation has been central to the design details of the 2015 World Cup rugby ball – known as the Match XV. Makers Gilbert have said it is their most tested ball ever, and it has been used in the English Premiership, French Top 14 and top-level test matches throughout the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Striking and innovative artwork has been designed with performance and players in mind, but pleasingly for traditionalists the pimple pattern, weight and shape are all unchanged from 2011. Special emphasis has been given to ensuring that contrasting colours appear on the ends of the ball to enhance visibility for passing, while bold colours along the seams provide kickers with strong visual references.

Hand stitched, the ball is made of laminated three-ply backing material and features a high-performance rubber skin, which Gilbert say is softer and more pliable in hand with better water dispersion.


Tables and fixtures


Knockout stage

The trophy

The Webb Ellis Cup is named after William Web Ellis, the man credited with inventing the game of rugby in 1876. Standing 38 centimetre tall and weighing 4.5 kg, the trophy is silver gilt and has been presented to the winner of the Rugby World Cup since the first competition in 1987. On one of the handles is the head of a satyr and on the other the head of a nymph. In Greek mythology, the satyr represents the pursuit of physical pleasure while the nymph represents the object of desire.