As we close in on the seventh Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Tom Powell takes a look back at the history of international Rugby Union’s greatest competition.

Rugby World Cup 1987

The inaugural Rugby World Cup took place down under with New Zealand and Australia sharing hosting duties. The tournament ultimately failed to liven up until the last eight with the pool stages proving mundane as the five nations and tri nations sides (minus South Africa due to their boycott because of apartheid) cruised into the quarters at the expense of international Rugby’s minnow nations.

Wales flew the flag for the UK, eventually coming third but it was hosts New Zealand and captain David Kirk who was first to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy with a 29-9 victory over France, in doing so becoming one of just two host nations to win the World Cup.

Rugby World Cup 1991

Four years later the Rugby World Cup visited the Northern Hemisphere as the five nations took up hosting responsibilities. England bounced back from an opening Pool Stage loss to New Zealand to qualify for the last eight where they saw off runners-up from four years ago France before beating Scotland to earn a place in the final.

Unfortunately this proved to be a step too far is they were squeezed out by an Australia side wounded by a disappointing fourth place finish on home soil in ’87. Prop Tony Daly’s first half score and the boot of Michael Lynagh sent the Twickenham crowd home with heads bowed as Australia triumphed 12-6.

Rugby World Cup 1995

South Africa were back in the international rugby fold and they were back with a bang. Unbeaten in their pool, they then cruised to the final with ease making light work of Western Samoa and France along the way.

New Zealand were enjoying a similarly straight forward journey though. Having already picked up a Rugby World Cup record win of 145-17 over Japan they then killed off any British hopes as Jonah Lomu trampled all over Scotland and England en route to the final. But South Africa were ready for them and after a nervy 100 minutes of rugby, Joel Stransky’s drop goal lifted the roof off Ellis Park as South Africa became the second and last host nation to win the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup 1999

Wales, and their newly constructed Millennium Stadium, took charge of hosting the 1999 Rugby World Cup though Scotland, England, Ireland and France also staged a number of matches.

The usual suspects were again in the mix come the knockout stages and it was New Zealand who were heavily fancied to bounce back from their final disappointment four years previous. But a big upset was on the cards as France tripped the Kiwis up in the semis and went on to face Australia in Cardiff in the final. There was to be no repeat of those French heroics as Australia became the first nation to win the World Cup twice whilst France became the first to lose in two finals.

Rugby World Cup 2003

Holders Australia had the chance to become the first nation to win consecutive Rugby World Cups as they hosted the tournament for the second time but came up against the Golden Age of English rugby.

France and New Zealand again choked with the final in sight as the boot of Jonny Wilkinson (top scorer in the tournament with 113 points) kicked England all the way to the Telstra Stadium. Elton Flatley’s boot had proved equally as potent throughout the tournament and the two traded penalties for 100 minutes before Dawson fed Wilkinson 22 yards out. Inevitably the ball sailed between the uprights and 10,562 miles away the English nation celebrated their first Rugby World Cup victory.

Rugby World Cup 2007

It was Wilkinson again who was kicking England to victory as Brian Ashton’s side reached the final despite scoring just one try in the knockout stages. Host nation France again failed to cope with the pressure of playing in front of their home fans as they fell short in Paris against England having beaten New Zealand for the second time at the quarter final stage.

And so it was South Africa who faced England in Paris having enjoyed a simple run to the final (beating Fiji and Argentina) and having already beaten England in the Pool Stage they were comfortable 15-6 victors at the Stade de France as Percy Montgomery and Bryan Habana earned the accolades of top points scorer and tryscorer respectively.