Rugby union in South Africa Rugby union in South Africa Rugby union in South Africa is a very popular team sport, along with cricket and football, and is widely played all over the country. The National team is among the strongest in the world and has been ranked in the top seven of the World Rugby Rankings since its inception in 2003. The country hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and won again the 2007 tournament in France. Given South Africa's history, as with much else in South Africa, the organisation and playing of rugby has been entangled with politics, and racial politics
Scotland at the Rugby World Cup host country and the number of qualified teams in each tournament (in parentheses) are shown. Gavin Hastings is by far the most successful Scottish world cup player, and has gained a number of records. Most overall conversions in final stages Most penalties in a match RWC qualifying countries which Scotland has not played at the tournament include Canada, Wales and Namibia. Scotland has never been the main host of the World Cup, but a number of Rugby World Cup games have been played in Scotland over the years. When World Cups have been in the Northern Hemisphere, Scotland has hosted