how many times has new zealand won the rugby world cup
Rugby World Cup The winners are awarded the William Webb Ellis Cup, named after William Webb Ellis, the Rugby School pupil who — according to a popular legend — invented rugby by picking up the ball during a football game. Four countries have won the trophy; New Zealand have won it three times, two teams have won twice, Australia and South Africa, while England have won it once.
History of the Rugby World Cup Seven places were automatically filled by the IRFB members, with invitations being sent out to fill remaining places. In total there were 16 nations in the competition. France played Australia in one of the semi-finals with New Zealand playing Wales in the other. New Zealand became the first ever Rugby World Cup Champions, defeating France 29 points to 9 at Eden Park in Auckland.
Rugby World Cup The inaugural tournament, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, was held in May and June 1987, with sixteen nations taking part.[16] New Zealand became the first ever champions, defeating France 29–9 in the final.[17] The subsequent 1991 tournament was hosted by England, with matches played throughout Britain, Ireland and France. 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.[1] Australia won the second tournament, defeating England 12–6 in the final.[18]
Rugby World Cup hosts To date the Rugby World Cup has been hosted by three southern hemisphere nations (Australia and New Zealand in Oceania, and South Africa in Africa), and five nations in Europe: England, France, Wales, Scotland and Ireland). Italy and Argentina are the only "Tier 1" nations that have not hosted a Rugby World Cup.