How often is the Rugby World Cup held?

Every four years. Teams play in pools first, then quarter-finals, semi-finals, a bronze final and the final.

Why is the World Cup trophy called the Webb Ellis Cup?

It is named after the Rugby School legend of Webb Ellis running with the ball. The gilded silver cup is often called 'Bill', as in the chant 'Bring back Bill'.

Who won the first Rugby World Cup?

New Zealand, with David Kirk, beat France 29-9 in the 1987 final at Eden Park.

How did South Africa win the 1995 World Cup?

They won 15-12 after extra time in Johannesburg, with Stransky's drop goal deciding the final. Pienaar's number 6 shirt is part of the day's story.

How many World Cups have South Africa won?

Four. Their fourth came with a 12-11 final at Saint-Denis in 2023, after they had also won in 2019.

Which countries have hosted the Rugby World Cup?

France has hosted twice, Wales staged the 1999 tournament, Japan hosted in 2019 and Australia is the host for 2027. Some tournaments have been shared between countries.

Rugby · Level 10: Professional · Sub-level 10.1

The Rugby World Cup

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

The Rugby World Cup is the men's international tournament, held on a four-year cycle since 1987. Teams play in pools, then quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final, and the winners lift the Webb Ellis Cup, a gilded silver cup named after the Rugby School legend and nicknamed 'Bill'. The field grew from 16 teams to the twenty who played in France in 2023, and it expands to 24 for 2027 in Australia.

New Zealand won the first final 29-9 against France at Eden Park under David Kirk, and Australia, with Campese, beat England 12-6 at Twickenham in 1991. In 1995 South Africa won their first title 15-12 after extra time with Stransky's drop goal, Pienaar's number 6 shirt became an emblem, and the day became part of nation-building. Australia took a second title in 1999, 35-12 in the newly opened Millennium Stadium, and in 2003 Johnson's England won in Sydney with Wilkinson's late drop goal. Smit's South Africa won 15-6 in Paris in 2007, McCaw's New Zealand ended a 24-year wait at home in 2011 with an 8-7 win, and in 2015 they kept the cup with a 34-17 final at Twickenham. South Africa won 32-12 in Yokohama in 2019 and kept the cup in 2023, beating their old rivals 12-11 at Saint-Denis for a fourth title.

The facts below also cover every host from 1987 to 2031, upsets such as the 19-14 result in Wellington in 2011, and the opening ceremonies, bronze finals and podium presentations around the event.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1The tournamentTake a test

A four-year cycle.
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Named after the Rugby School legend.
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Twenty teams in France.
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Expanded for 2027.
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Pools then quarter-finals.
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'Bring back Bill'.
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A gilded silver cup.
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Pools to final.
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16, 20, 24.
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The World Cup trophy.
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Test 21987 and 1991Take a test

New Zealand beat France.
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29-9 at Eden Park.
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Eden Park.
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David Kirk.
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Australia beat England.
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12-6 at Twickenham.
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Campese.
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1987, 1991, 1995.
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20, 6, 3.
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The first champions.
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Test 31995Take a test

South Africa's first.
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15-12 after extra time.
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Stransky's drop goal.
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Stransky.
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Pienaar.
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Number 6, Pienaar's shirt.
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Nation-building.
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Greeting, extra time, drop goal, trophy.
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Extra time was longest.
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Johannesburg 1995.
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Test 41999 and 2003Take a test

Australia's second title.
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The Millennium Stadium opened.
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35-12.
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Eales.
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England in Sydney.
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Johnson.
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Wilkinson's late drop goal.
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1999, 2003, 2007.
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Winners, fourth, quarter-finals.
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Wilkinson's drop goal.
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Test 52007 and 2011Take a test

In Paris.
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15-6.
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Smit.
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Back in New Zealand.
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One point in it.
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24 years.
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McCaw.
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2007, 2011, 2015.
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1, 9, 23.
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8-7.
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Test 62015 and 2019Take a test

2011 and 2015.
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34-17 at Twickenham.
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England 2015.
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In Yokohama.
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32-12.
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International Stadium Yokohama.
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Kolisi.
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2015, 2019, 2023.
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17, 12, 7.
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Yokohama 2019.
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Test 72023Take a test

France 2023.
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Old rivals.
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A single point.
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Saint-Denis.
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2019 and 2023.
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England beat Argentina for bronze.
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Huge drama.
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Four titles.
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Winners, runners-up, third, fourth.
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12-11.
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Test 8The hostsTake a test

The first World Cup.
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Japan 2019.
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Australia 2027.
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France twice.
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Shared hosting.
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Wales 1999.
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1995.
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1995, 1999, 2003, 2007.
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2019, 2023, 2027, 2031.
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Hosts.
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Test 9Famous upsetsTake a test

19-14 in Wellington.
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Red card against France.
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Again, as in 1991.
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France came from 24-10 down.
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One try each.
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Giant-killing.
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Lomu in 1995.
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1991, 1999, 2011, 2015.
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2, 3, 5.
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Wellington 2011.
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Test 10The ceremoniesTake a test

A presenter on the podium.
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Medals.
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A launch show.
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Hosts open the event.
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Third place play-off.
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Packed schedules.
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The biggest stage.
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Semis, bronze, final, trophy.
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Highest to lowest.
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The opening.
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Questions people ask

How often is the Rugby World Cup held?: Every four years. Teams play in pools first, then quarter-finals, semi-finals, a bronze final and the final.
Why is the World Cup trophy called the Webb Ellis Cup?: It is named after the Rugby School legend of Webb Ellis running with the ball. The gilded silver cup is often called 'Bill', as in the chant 'Bring back Bill'.
How many teams play at the Rugby World Cup?: The field has grown from 16 teams to the twenty who played in France in 2023, and it expands to 24 for 2027.
Who won the first Rugby World Cup?: New Zealand, with David Kirk, beat France 29-9 in the 1987 final at Eden Park.
How did South Africa win the 1995 World Cup?: They won 15-12 after extra time in Johannesburg, with Stransky's drop goal deciding the final. Pienaar's number 6 shirt is part of the day's story.
How many World Cups have South Africa won?: Four. Their fourth came with a 12-11 final at Saint-Denis in 2023, after they had also won in 2019.
Which countries have hosted the Rugby World Cup?: France has hosted twice, Wales staged the 1999 tournament, Japan hosted in 2019 and Australia is the host for 2027. Some tournaments have been shared between countries.

Sources

World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.

General rugby union reference100