INTERNATIONAL RUGBY

THE RUGBY WORLD CUP invokes such great enthusiasm that in world sporting events it ranks only behind the Football World Cup and the Summer Olympics in terms of spectator popularity and television viewing numbers.

Begun in 1987, it is a rugby union competition for men, organised by the IRB to take place every 4 years with participating countries bidding to host the event.

The trophy presented to the winners is the Webb Ellis Cup after the name of the pupil at Rugby School reputedly involved in the invention of the game.

Countries worldwide take part in qualifying rounds leading up to the final games.

Since its inauguration in 1987, Rugby World Cup winners have been:

1987 - New Zealand
1991 - Australia
1995 - South Africa
1999 - Australia
2003 - England .

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2007 - FRANCE

WON BY SOUTH AFRICA

FRANCE was successful in its bid to host the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

In all, 20 nations from around the world participated in the competition during
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2007

The final, between England and South Africa, took place at Stade de France, in St. Denis, Paris.

The semi-finals, South Africa versus Argentina and England versus Australia, also took place at the Stade de France which holds 80,000.

During earlier stages of the competition, matches were held at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales and the Murrayfield Ground in Edinburgh as well as at venues throughout France, including many which hosted games during the 1998 FIFA World Cup:

Paris
Lens
Lyon
Nantes
Toulouse
Saint Etienne
Bordeaux
Montpelier

Responsibility for the various participating countries lies with the respective continent's organisation:
AFRICA - CAR
NORTH AMERICA + WEST INDIES - NAWIRA
ASIA - ARFU
EUROPE - FIRA AER
OCEANIA - FORU
SOUTH AMERICA - CONSUR

New Zealand will host 2010 Rugby World Cup

Take a look at some major INTERNATIONAL RUGBY UNION events:

RUGBY UNION SIX NATIONS TOURNAMENT

RUGBY UNION TRI NATIONS SERIES