Rugby is a sport that is enjoyed all over the world, throughout the countries of the British Commonwealth in particular. It is a gruelling sport that involves 15 players on each side and is particularly fanatically supported in countries such as New Zealand and Wales where they see it as their main national sport. Due to the popularity of the sport, every four years there is a Rugby World Cup where all of the best teams in the world come to test themselves against each other in pursuit of the grandest prize of all.
The first of these tournaments was held in Australia and New Zealand in 1987. The inaugural tournament was won by the dominant team New Zealand in a final against France where the margin of victory was 29 points to 9.
Four years later the Rugby world cup came to Europe and was hosted by Great Britain throughout different stadiums in England, Ireland, and also France across the pond. For this tournament, a qualifying tournament was used to decide the final lineup of the 32 teams that were to compete. Four years ago it had been an invite only tournament, but now some of the lesser-known countries had to go through qualifying periods in order to make sure they got into the tournament.
On this occasion in 1991, the cup was won by Australia, keeping the heritage of rugby are firmly set down in the southern hemisphere. The hosts England were beaten at home by 12 points to 6 at the home of rugby at Twickenham.
Another four years went by, the World Cup came to South Africa and it was to be the first time that all of the matches in the World Cup were held in one single country. It was also the first time that South Africa were to be competing at themselves of the tournament due to the end of the boycott that was held during the apartheid era.
Fittingly, South Africa ended up winning the tournament in a world famous sporting moment, defeating the previous winners New Zealand in the final by 15 points to 12. It was a wonderful moment for the country, with the captain Francois Pienaar lifting the Webb Ellis trophy above his head the roars of tens of thousands of fanatical supporters.
In 1999 the World Cup was hosted primarily by Wales at matches were also played throughout the countries of the five Nations. At this World Cup one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game took place as one of the home European Nations France defeated the all Blacks by a relatively heavy margin in the final. However they were to be overturned by Australia in the final by 35 points to 12 in a fairly one-sided affair.
As such had become the first side to win the World Cup twice, but by 2003 the World Cup would finally make an appearance in the winners circle on European shores. Australia once again battled their way to the final against the odds by beating New Zealand in the semis. However, they came up against an England team that had dominated world rugby for a couple of years and were defeated by the trusty boot of Jonny Wilkinson in the most famous final that has ever been played.
Most recently, the World Cup has been played in 2007 and was hosted by France. South Africa became only the second team to win the trophy for a second time as they overturned the current champions and relatively unfancied England in the final. In 2011 the competition will be played in New Zealand. Were the best team in the world be able to complete a famous victory on this occasion? - 31829
The first of these tournaments was held in Australia and New Zealand in 1987. The inaugural tournament was won by the dominant team New Zealand in a final against France where the margin of victory was 29 points to 9.
Four years later the Rugby world cup came to Europe and was hosted by Great Britain throughout different stadiums in England, Ireland, and also France across the pond. For this tournament, a qualifying tournament was used to decide the final lineup of the 32 teams that were to compete. Four years ago it had been an invite only tournament, but now some of the lesser-known countries had to go through qualifying periods in order to make sure they got into the tournament.
On this occasion in 1991, the cup was won by Australia, keeping the heritage of rugby are firmly set down in the southern hemisphere. The hosts England were beaten at home by 12 points to 6 at the home of rugby at Twickenham.
Another four years went by, the World Cup came to South Africa and it was to be the first time that all of the matches in the World Cup were held in one single country. It was also the first time that South Africa were to be competing at themselves of the tournament due to the end of the boycott that was held during the apartheid era.
Fittingly, South Africa ended up winning the tournament in a world famous sporting moment, defeating the previous winners New Zealand in the final by 15 points to 12. It was a wonderful moment for the country, with the captain Francois Pienaar lifting the Webb Ellis trophy above his head the roars of tens of thousands of fanatical supporters.
In 1999 the World Cup was hosted primarily by Wales at matches were also played throughout the countries of the five Nations. At this World Cup one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game took place as one of the home European Nations France defeated the all Blacks by a relatively heavy margin in the final. However they were to be overturned by Australia in the final by 35 points to 12 in a fairly one-sided affair.
As such had become the first side to win the World Cup twice, but by 2003 the World Cup would finally make an appearance in the winners circle on European shores. Australia once again battled their way to the final against the odds by beating New Zealand in the semis. However, they came up against an England team that had dominated world rugby for a couple of years and were defeated by the trusty boot of Jonny Wilkinson in the most famous final that has ever been played.
Most recently, the World Cup has been played in 2007 and was hosted by France. South Africa became only the second team to win the trophy for a second time as they overturned the current champions and relatively unfancied England in the final. In 2011 the competition will be played in New Zealand. Were the best team in the world be able to complete a famous victory on this occasion? - 31829
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