2011 Rugby World Cup the first Asian nation to host the first Rugby World Cup. Japan had the necessary infrastructure already in place, by virtue of its co-hosting the 2002 FIFA World Cup. South Africa had hosted the tournament in 1995. The 2011 South African bid, led by former national captain Francois Pienaar, had strong support from their national government. South Africa had also won the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The IRB Council meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005 announced that New Zealand had been selected after IRB inspections of each applicant host nation during June and July 2005.
Romania at the Rugby World Cup matches - Romania has not hosted any World Cup games. Romania at the Rugby World Cup Romania have played in the first eight editions of the Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987. They originally qualified for the ninth edition of the Rugby World Cup to be played in 2019. In 2018 after it was discovered that Romania were one of three countries guilty of fielding ineligible players in multiple qualifiers they received a points deduction. The points deduction meant Romania did not qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Pool 4 matches - Pool D matches -