Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France
Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France
The trophy awarded to the winner of this competition is called the William Webb Ellis Trophy, in honour of the student who is said to have invented rugby in 1823. According to legend, he showed "contempt for the rules" by grabbing the ball and running with it.
WINNERS OF THE FIRST 9 EDITIONS
Only four nations have ever won a World Cup. New Zealand have won the trophy three times, in 1987, 2011 and 2015, as have South Africa in 1995, 2007 and 2019. Australia have won twice, in 1991 and 1999, and England emerged victorious from the competition in 2003, the only country from the northern hemisphere to claim the global trophy. France have reached the Final three times (1987, 1999, 2011).
FRANCE HOSTS ITS FIRST RUGBY WORLD CUP
France hosted its first Rugby World Cup in 2007. After a qualifying phase involving the national teams of 86 countries, just eleven teams will be taking part in the tournament, along with France, which automatically qualifies as the host country. The other eight nations have qualified on the strength of their results at the 2003 edition. As a special exception, the FFR has agreed to relocate four matches, including a Quarter Final in Cardiff (Wales) and two others in Edinburgh (Scotland).
South Africa won the World Cup for the second time. They beat England in a match without a try.
AND 2 FOR FRANCE
France has been chosen to host the competition for the second time, in 2023.
This 10th edition featured 20 teams, twelve of whom qualified directly by finishing in the top three of their pool in Japan in 2019, and eight of whom qualified through a global qualification process. In total, 48 matches were played over 51 days in 9 stadiums in 10 host cities.
The lineup at the Stade de France was truly exceptional! No fewer than 6 of the 8 best teams in the world - France, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Ireland - took to the pitch at the Stade de France for the group stage of the competition, including the opening match. The Stade de France also hosted 2 Quarter Finals, 2 Semi-Finals, the Bronze Final and, finally, the Final. South Africa were crowned world champions for the 4th time in their history, beating the All Blacks by a tiny point with a score of 12-11.
