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Rugby World Cup.

Played every four years since 1987. The 2027 tournament in Australia is the first with 24 teams.

FIRST · 1987 NZLNEXT · 2027 AUSTRALIA10 EDITIONS4 CHAMPIONSMEN
RUGBY WORLD CUPWOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP
EDITIONS COMPLETED
1987 → 2023
10
MOST TITLES
South Africa · 4 titles
RSA
NEXT EDITION
Australia · 1 Oct 2027
2027
Rugby players contesting a ruck in a floodlit stadium
Photo: Envato Elements
QUICK ANSWERS

Rugby World Cup: the short version.

Who has won the most Men's Rugby World Cup titles?
South Africa, with 4 titles (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023).
Who won the last Men's Rugby World Cup?
South Africa won the 2023 Men's Rugby World Cup in France, beating New Zealand 12–11 in the final.
When and where is the next Men's Rugby World Cup?
The next Men's Rugby World Cup is in Australia, from 1 Oct 2027 to 13 Nov 2027. 24 teams take part.
How many times has the Men's Rugby World Cup been held?
10 times, from 1987 to 2023.
Which countries have won the Men's Rugby World Cup?
4 nations have won it: South Africa (4), New Zealand (3), Australia (2) and England (1).
01 · TIMELINE

Drag the scrubber. Travel 44 years.

Each node opens that edition's full report.

EDITION
2023
HOST
France
20 TEAMS
CHAMPION
South Africa
RUNNER-UP · NEW ZEALAND
THE STORY
South Africa's fourth title, the most by any nation.
FULL REPORT →
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023
South Africa
2027
2031
◀ DRAG · ARROW KEYS · OR TAP ▶
03 · THE RECORD

Every edition.

Every host, champion, runner-up and final result. Tap a row for the full report.

YEARHOSTCHAMPIONRUNNER-UPFINAL
2031United StatesUPCOMING——
2027AustraliaUPCOMING——
2023FranceSouth AfricaNew Zealand12–11
2019JapanSouth AfricaEngland32–12
2015EnglandNew ZealandAustralia34–17
2011New ZealandNew ZealandFrance8–7
2007FranceSouth AfricaEngland15–6
2003AustraliaEnglandAustralia20–17 (aet)
1999WalesAustraliaFrance35–12
1995South AfricaSouth AfricaNew Zealand15–12 (aet)
1991EnglandAustraliaEngland12–6
1987New Zealand & AustraliaNew ZealandFrance29–9
04 · STATS

The numbers, drawn.

Pick a metric. Titles are counted by the name the team competed under.

TEAMS PER EDITION
16
'87
16
'91
16
'95
20
'99
20
'03
20
'07
20
'11
20
'15
20
'19
20
'23
24
'27
CHAMPIONS · COUNT
RSA
4
NZL
3
AUS
2
ENG
1
05 · MOMENTS & LEGENDS

The ones we still argue about.

'95
RUGBY UNION · 1995
Mandela's jersey
Nelson Mandela handed the trophy to François Pienaar after South Africa's extra-time win in Johannesburg.
01.
Jonah Lomu
1995 · 1999
15 World Cup tries, a record he shares with Bryan Habana.
02.
Jonny Wilkinson
1999 – 2011
277 points, the tournament record, and the drop goal that won 2003.
03.
Richie McCaw
2003 – 2015
Captained New Zealand to back-to-back titles.
04.
Siya Kolisi
2019 · 2023
Two titles as South Africa captain.
06 · TRIVIA

Hover or tap to flip.

Facts we'd bet on at the pub. Test yourself.

07 · WHAT'S NEXT

Future editions.

RUGBY UNION345 DAYS
Rugby World Cup 2027
Australia
1 OCT 202724 TEAMS
RUGBY UNION1776 DAYS
Rugby World Cup 2031
United States
SEP 2031